Margo Holleran

multiple myeloma coach since 2022

I was diagnosed with MM IgG Kappa on October 12th 2017 after 6 months of numerous sinus and bladder infections. A knowledgable nurse practitioner and radiologist took the time to understand my issues and infections. I followed their advice of a CT scan to rule out kidney stones and acquired additional blood work. My PCP ruled out multiple myeloma, had additional blood work suggested by the radiologist that viewed my scans. I went to see a hematologist-oncologist who suggested a 24 hour urine test and additional MM panel. Bloodwork came back, Mspike of 3.14, I had a bone marrow biopsy on September 29th, 2017. Two weeks later I was diagnosed with IgG Kappa MM. Started RVd right away, went into complete remission, although the Velcade gave me horrible neuropathy. I am being treated at UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, second opinion Dana Farber. I still continued to work full time in medical device cardiac surgery sales and finally took off 3 months to become a patient and sought additional treatment for my neuropathy. Took one year off of treatment to give my neuropathy a rest, it came back with a vengeance. I went back on Revlimid and dexamethasone, neuropathy continued to get worse, switched to Pomalyst and Darzalex, went back into complete remission. Currently on maintenance Darzalex every 6 weeks as a monotherapy. COVID vaccines X5 I worked full time for 6 yrs. I was a sales Director for a Vascular & Cardiac Surgery. Now semi-retired except for my advocacy work with the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, and The International Myeloma Foundation, and HealthTree Foundation. Current Status: MRD negative I am now a Board Certified patient Advocate and have my certification in non profit management. I also have a certification in cannabis horticulture & business. I believe humor is the cure for all that ails. I started an irreverent cancer blog called www.cathychemo.org Please feel free to contact me at margoholleran@gmail.com

Liz Levine

multiple myeloma coach since 2024

Hi! I am 52 years old, married with 2 amazing kids in college. I was diagnosed with kappa light chain MM 2 years ago. Those first months were a fog to me but I stumbled across Healthtree online and started talking to a coach. My coach was beyond helpful. Multiple Myeloma is an uncommon cancer, complicated and simply put - overwhelming. I had a SCT on September 3rd, 2024 after 2 years on treatment. I am now feeling great and this picture is of me in my wig. I am a good listener and I now understand this disease. I’m very hopeful for all our futures. I would like to support someone else who is feeling overwhelmed with MM. if you’re going through transplant soon I can support you through it. If you have decided to harvest and wait, ineligible for SCT, or just decided against transplant I can support you as well.

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!). As of January, 2026, I am still MRD-. 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 and 4 international trips in 2025 plus a few domestic trips to visit family and friends. Of course I wear an N95 mask on planes and trains. I eat out often (I hate to cook) and have had 3 instances of food poisoning since being diagnosed and was actually hospitalized 3 days in 2025 with salmonella (from poke bowl). I prefer to eat outside but when dining indoors, I ask for a table with a little extra space around it du to me being very immunocompromised. I find restaurants are very accommodating. 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!