Laurie C

multiple myeloma coach since 2023

I am a 60 year old female who was diagnosed with high risk [t(4,14)] IgG Lambda light chain Multiple Myeloma on Nov 1, 2021 after a tumor in my spine cracked my T4. I had 4 cycles of KRd, then an autologous stem cell transplant mid June 2022. I resumed treatment September '22: on Revlimid 10 mg daily and Velcade 100 mg 2 x per month. I am just changing to Revlimid 5 mg + Velcade 2x monthly due to bad headaches and blurry vision. I also got shots of Xgeva once every 3 months for bone strength, this is now being changed to every month. I can talk to people about life hacks for a successful autologous stem cell transplant. I can talk about what I've read about high risk MM. I can talk about the importance of managing your bone strengthener properly and what happens if your doctor forget a dose. I read all of the Myeloma Research that I can find. I am still working. I would like to bring kindness and support to the lives of those diagnosed with Myeloma. WAYS I CAN BE HELPFUL: tips on having a great bone marrow transplant; how to prepare questions to discuss with your doctor, how to help yourself heal through diet, music, exercise, reading and love. Understanding blood test changes. I can support patients in English and in French. I read alot about new CAR T therapies and related clinical trials for my work. Please write me! My email is HEALINGMYELOMA@GMAIL.com I AM NOT THE BEST RESOURCE FOR: discussing issues related to end of life, grief management, palliative care, prognosis, etc. I am not knowledgeable about anything related to insurance issues and or the health insurance appeal process. healingmyeloma@gmail.com IS MY EMAIL healingmyeloma.blogspot.com IS MY BLOG I love coaching, so please reach out. Wishing peace and love to all.

Harvey Church

multiple myeloma coach since 2025

I was diagnosed in May of 2021. I discovered a tumor on my right femur. After several other test I discovered I had swine additional lesions and was diagnosed with MM. I selected UAMS in Little Rock as my main treatment center. Dr Fritts VanRhee. Shortly after surgery to remove the tumor I started treatment. 2 rounds of VDT- Pace. At the beginning of my evaluation my FIsH test revealed I had 4/14 and chromosome 1q deletion 1p. Then on to 2 stem cell transplants. I completed all yhese treatments by 2/2022. On 2/17/22 I was considered in remission. Maintenance through 2022 was carfilzomib, Revlimid and Dex. Levels climbed in 23 so I switched to Darzalex Faspro. During second round of treatment I developed a tumor on my jaw. This tumor progressed to 5 cm over the next few months. My doctor decided to do stem cell #3. It basically didn’t work and the tumor continued to grow. Out next step was bio-specific (teclistamab). I started this treatment in the fall of 2023. After a few weeks my jaw tumor was gone and my levels were considered at complete response. I have maintained these levels for 6 month. All is good so far with the teclistamab. I have been amazed at my progress. While some of the treatment have been short lived the bio specific drugs have shown great promise. I live outside of Nashville so my local treatment center is Sarah Cannon. Dr Jesus Berdeja is my oncologist here in Nashville. Both Dr VanRhee and Dr Berdeja are amazing and have taken great care of me. On the personal side-I have been married to my wife Carol for 36 years. I have two grown children and three grandchildren. I have worked as a banker for 38 years. In December I retired as president and Chief Operating Officer of TriStar Bank. I will continue to serve on the banks board after my retirement. My family enjoys spending time at our lake house. My hobbies are mostly related to lake life.

Angela Byrd

multiple myeloma coach since 2024

Hello, I was diagnosed in July 2021. What I didn’t know was for 11 years before I was MGUS. I was started on Revlimid in Oct 21 and still take 25mg daily for 21 days monthly. I have adrenal insufficiency, stage 3 kidney disease, chronic anemia which I did not have before I was diagnosed. Because I felt so good with really no problems I don’t think I took this diagnosis seriously. I’m a Mom of 2 adult daughters and 4 Grandchildren. I have a great support system but my family has no idea what this Cancer is. I’m a Veteran, but I have no idea if this Cancer came from something I could have been exposed too. No one in my family have cancer and I come from a large Military family.