Ann Chenoweth

multiple myeloma coach since 2023

I was diagnosed at 64 years old in August, 2022 after my primary care physician ordered a urinalysis during my annual physical. It was abnormal and she quickly referred me to a Myeloma specialist/hematologist. I had no symptoms at all and was very active. I was surprised to say the least! I am stage 3 with high LDH and have ALL amyloidosis. I had between 50-100 bone lesions at diagnosis. My induction therapy was D-Vrd and I had to FIGHT my insurance company to pay for the Dara. They kept denying it. I worked in the healthcare industry my entire career and fortunately understand the concept of medical necessity and the denial process. My hematologist and I each wrote a letter and I appealed to the state insurance board. They overturned the denial and I was reimbursed for the entire amount I paid for Dara out-of-pocket (which was not cheap!). Now I'm on Medicare so there are different challenges to navigate! My ASCT (inpatient) was in January 2023 (MRD- after transplant) and now doing 10 mg Revlimed maintenance 28/28. Three months after starting Revlimed, I developed a horrible rash (head to toe) and discontinued Revlimed for 5 weeks which was pretty stressful. It was slowly reintroduced and I was back to my normal dose after 4 months with no side effects. My hematologist added Dara in Feb. 2024 because perivascular amyloids were present on bone marrow biopsy 1/24 (1 year post transplant) though I remain MRD-. In 12/24, my hematologist reduced my Revlimed dose to 5mg 28/28 due to consistently low ANC (I feel fine!). I’ve continued to be very active - hiking in the mountains, tennis, reformer pilates - all at the same intensity/frequency as before my diagnosis. It was important for me to stay active and I was playing tennis 5-6 weeks after ASCT. Back to league play after 2 months. I also love to travel and received approval by my hematologist to go on a planned trip to France 3 1/2 months after ASCT. I traveled to Europe three times in the first year after transplant (2023) and had 3 additional European trips in 2024. Four (maybe five!) international trips planned for 2025! Of course I wear an N95 mask on planes and trains. I've received tremendous value from HealthTree coaches and I am passionate about paying it forward and want to help/support you anyway that I can in your myeloma journey. If the times I posted don’t work for you just let me know. I’m very flexible!

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.

Lisa Hatfield

multiple myeloma coach since 2024

Radiation, surgery, chemo. In that order. It was decided while we sat in a sterile room at MD Anderson with my radiation oncologist who was speaking with my neurosurgeon, while both examined the images of my spine. Damaged by myeloma. A blood cancer. I was numb. A plasmacytoma was asserting itself and growing dangerously close to my spinal cord. The debate: radiation first vs surgery first. Chemo wasn’t even on the table. My spine had to be stabilized. I wanted to talk about the cancer and all the other lesions and malignant cells in my bone marrow. But that would have to wait. That was May of 2018. We left our daughters with family, on Mother’s Day. MD Anderson asked us to commit to being there a week. We were there a month. I returned home with a walker, a lot of pain, some fear, and a chemo cocktail recipe written by my medical oncologist (who I was finally able to meet). My chemo was administered in my hometown. Kyprolis, Revlimid, and dex. Kyprolis was not approved at that time for first-line therapy, but my myeloma specialist at MDA was able to get approval for me to receive it at my local cancer center. 6 months of KRd followed, while still recovering from major spine surgery. With a short break from KRD, I had stem cells harvested. And frozen. I opted to delay autologous stem cell transplant (ASCT), as I was still recovering from surgery and did not want to be away from our kids for another extended period. Revlimid was not my friend. Following the 6 months of KRD, I continued Revlimid maintenance for 4 years until the cumulative effects altered by quality of life. (Still dealing with those, even after discontinuing Rev almost two years ago). Most recent Clonoseq bone marrow biopsy showed 572 cells per million (my daughters’ birthdays and my anniversary date used to be the most important numbers to me… this “572” has crept a little too close to the space of those important numbers…I guess that’s how myeloma is). All of my decisions have been made with the two myeloma specialists I see on a regular basis. I am a HUGE advocate for expert opinions with myeloma. And… I believe that myeloma specialists are extraordinary people (mine are incredible human beings). I love good coffee, good chocolate, good books, good conversations, and good, genuine connections. I believe that connecting with others is a critical piece in our myeloma journey and enhancing our quality of life. Not every day will be good, but every day can have hope. I hope I can be a soft but strong support for others and a giver of hope.