Has anyone ever had pleural fluid analyzed and it shows mpe? My research shows Darzalex can cause this?

Medicare Advantage plan participants should be aware of upcoming changes and reach out to their plans. "UnitedHealthcare, Humana and Aetna are eliminating unprofitable Medicare Advantage plans, exiting unprofitable markets and scaling back benefits, and Cigna, Premera Blue Cross and others are exiting the MA business entirely. Insurers are also raising premiums and reducing broker commissions as they struggle to adapt to a new risk adjustment model, according to Brooks Conway at Oliver Wyman. A million or more MA subscribers may be affected and may have to find a new plan, switch to conventional Medicare or find in-network health care providers." MedCity News If assistance is needed, please reach out to Healthtree and ask for a financial coach.

My husband is 3 1/2 years into IgG Lambda light chain MM treatment by a myeloma specialist at a notable cancer (all types) center in California. We're looking for a doctor who relies not only on the science but also on situational analysis and personal judgment. Where can we go to find out how many MM patients a specialist actually treats? Hematologist-Oncologists treat a number of blood diseases and their practice may include only a handfull, at best, of MM patients. We're on a hunt for 1) a specialist who treats as many MM patients as possible and 2) a specialist who is interested enough in patient side effects to use the available tools to mitigate them based on patient status, not on a standardized protocol. We are able to relocate anywhere in the US. We would settle for a specialist with only a few MM patients who is proactive about using IVIG, blood transfusions, medications and blood building methods. After 5 hospital admissions for pneumonia the first year of treatment none of these were offered. When we asked for IVIG it was refused because my husband wasn't sick enough based on a standardized protocol. Please note: We are not looking for a 'nice' doctor. Ours is nice enough. We are looking for an interest and willingness to do what's best for the patient in side effect management. Do you have a personal experience with a MM Hematologist-Oncologist who thinks outside the standard protocol box and is proactive in terms of managing actual and predictable side effects? Many thanks for your comments.

Did You Know About NORD? 🤔 The National Organization of Rare Diseases (NORD) offers incredible support to individuals and families affected by RARE diseases, often providing crucial copay assistance! Many aren't aware of the amazing benefits they offer, like helping with the costs of medications for Copay Assistance. NORD covers a wide range of rare conditions, including: AL Amyloidosis POEMS Syndrome Gaucher Disease Cystic Fibrosis And many more! If you or someone you know is living with a rare disease, exploring NORD's resources could be a game-changer. They provide valuable assistance and support. ➡️ Check them out at rarediseases.org!

Has anyone experienced issues with dry eyes following CarT therapy?

CPR Funds Now Open: Metastatic Colorectal Cancer, Multiple Myeloma, Pancreatic Cancer The specific eligibility criteria for each fund can be found at https://copays.org/funds/. For personal assistance with the application process please contact us toll-free at 866-512-3861 or visit our application portals at https://portal.copays.org/#/login, with access available for patients, providers, and pharmacies. PAF on Facebook CPR Website PAF YouTube Channel Copyright © 2025 Patient Advocate Foundation, All rights reserved. You signed up for this list in order to receive messages, newsletters, event announcements and other relevant information from Patient Advocate Foundation. Our mailing address is: Patient Advocate Foundation 421 Butler Farm Road Hampton, VA 23666 Add us to your address book Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list.

CPR Funds Now Open: Metastatic Colorectal Cancer, Multiple Myeloma, Pancreatic Cancer The specific eligibility criteria for each fund can be found at https://copays.org/funds/. For personal assistance with the application process please contact us toll-free at 866-512-3861 or visit our application portals at https://portal.copays.org/#/login, with access available for patients, providers, and pharmacies. PAF on Facebook CPR Website PAF YouTube Channel Copyright © 2025 Patient Advocate Foundation, All rights reserved. You signed up for this list in order to receive messages, newsletters, event announcements and other relevant information from Patient Advocate Foundation. Our mailing address is: Patient Advocate Foundation 421 Butler Farm Road Hampton, VA 23666 Add us to your address book Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list.

My Cancer Journey – Lewis J. Christie My story begins as a 9/11 cancer survivor. Ten years later at the age of seventy one, I was diagnosed with Leukemia (AML).This was after having a bone marrow biopsy, where a needle was inserted in my lower back to take out some fluid. The doctor looking at it said that my white blood cells were way too many. My red blood cells were being squeezed out. He sent me immediately to the hospital to receive two blood transfusions. The red blood count was very low and dangerous. The diagnosis was devastating because I was always in good health. Also, I had no idea, what I should do next. The first oncologist I consulted advised me that the prognosis was very bad, I only had one year to live. My wife and I, then scheduled appointments with other oncologists,who also told me to take a vacation, while I could, since I also had one year to live. There was no encouragement or path to take to survive. I started chemo which lasted for fourteen months, whereby my oncologist said that I should think about a bone marrow transplant, because my cancer could come back much worse, since she only had success with the chemo for about fourteen months. Again, my wife and I found a wonderful oncologist who provided hope that a transplant could save or prolong my life. She searched for a donor through the national bone marrow registry. She found a donor who was a match. In March of 2014, I received the transplant. I spent thirty days in the Bone Marrow Unit in the hospital. I had relatively few side effects, however, six months later it failed for reasons unknown. My red and white blood counts dropped to zero. I was then put back on chemo, while they searched for another donor. Another donor could not be found, however, my oncologist advised that she had success using children of the cancer patient In September 2014, my younger daughter donated her stem cells. She spent a whole day in the hospital, where they took her blood through a machine. Her stem cells were taken out and the rest of her blood was returned to her body. After, I was given a blood transfusion with her stem cells.The side effects were completely different from my first transplant. I had many bad side effects. I could hardly walk, rashes, coughing, blurred eyesight, uncontrollable hiccups, no appetite, muscle cramping, indigestion, numbing (couldn't feel my feet) and night sweats (woke up wet with perspiration) So after thirty days, when I could walk again, I was released from the hospital. Being home was not easy. Our home had to be cleaned so that I would not develop an infection. I had to be very careful of what I ate. There was a list of things I could not eat such as any deli meats, fruits such as strawberries and raspberries (they could not be properly washed), and any bakery products. My wife cooked all of our meals, absolutely no takeout food. I was also confined to my home for one year. If I went out, I had to wear gloves and a mask. I only went out to doctor visits. Being home, I still had low blood counts. I went to the cancer center weekly to receive blood platelets that help stop bleeding and an injection to boost my white blood count because it was still low. It took months before I was feeling much better. I slowly returned to where I could start eating normally, going outside to walk and seeing friends and relatives. Avoiding any contact with them helped so that I wouldn't get an infection. It has now been thirteen years since first getting diagnosed. I feel very good and back to almost a normal life. My brother got me started playing golf, My wife and I walk every day. I was a runner, however, that was no longer able for me to do. This does not end my cancer story. I developed Graph Verses Host Disease (GVHD). This disease is only gotten by cancer patients that received a bone marrow transplant. It can be serious. My case has not been very bad. The symptoms are easily bruising, skin peeling constantly, trouble swallowing because food gets stuck in my throat (small bites & drinking helps), harding and cracking of toe and hand nails, dry eyes (use eye drops daily), reduced lung capacity making it hard to breathe at times, tooth decay, and annoying white patches in my mouth. While this may sound terrible, it’s not as bad as it seems. After being through two transplants, I can certainly handle all of this because I am still here! Being positive, is probably one key to getting better. What really helped me were attending support groups, talking to other cancer patients who thought about having a bone marrow transplant or had one, and working as a patient advisor to a company that was developing a computer program to relieve stress in cancer patients. I have a lot of good things to look forward too for the rest of my life.

Another in-person opportunity to represent HealthTree in the Southeast! Cornerstone Baptist Church in Fayetteville, GA will host a Health and Wellness Fair on Saturday, September 13th from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. If you're in the area and willing to share HealthTree resources with the community, please reach out to me directly to coordinate details!

I was diagnosed with IgG lambda smoldering multiple myeloma a year ago, after being followed for seven years with MGUS. BMB report said standard risk of progression for SMM, but high risk MM. I've been seeing a general oncologist for the last year, and am going for a second opinion with a myeloma specialist at Roswell Park. I'm 58, very close to the age my grandmother was when diagnosed with MM, but I have no known genetic cancer markers. I'm looking for suggestions on questions I should ask during my visit.