Natalie Dorm Shares Her Advice for Newly Diagnosed Myeloma Patients

Natalie Dorm was diagnosed with multiple myeloma and AL amyloidosis after a blood clot diagnosis in 2022. She shared her story with HealthTree Foundation. 

After being diagnosed with a blood clot in the summer of 2022 by my primary care physician, I was referred to a hematologist for further testing. After she ordered more bloodwork, a fat pad biopsy, and a PET scan, I was diagnosed with multiple myeloma and AL amyloidosis. 

The hematologist suggested that I start treatment immediately, but I decided to seek a second opinion at Dana Farber. I met with the Boston doctor, but it was agreed that I would receive my treatments locally. My first treatments were weekly with Xgeva. I met with a nutritionist to help with the nausea and weight loss. The hardest part was not being able to travel to see my family. However, I learned to be grateful for friends and my church family. 

My advice for patients with myeloma

Ask for help. Accept help graciously, and do not be too proud to ask for help. 

Change doctors if you need to. After a few visits with my Boston doctor, I changed to a different specialist because I felt she wasn't listening to me. Don't be afraid to change specialists if you are not comfortable.

Seek out resources. There are many resources available for patients. The Black Myeloma Health Community on Facebook is a very informative resource as well as HealthTree programs. Oftentimes, they offer more information than the specialists. 

My experience connecting my health records to HealthTree

I joined HealthTree because I didn't feel confident in my understanding of my disease. The educational videos that HealthTree offers are invaluable. Also, I can call and get any questions answered once I sync my labs, which helps me prepare for medical visits. 

What has been most valuable are videos with the specialists. Having access to the HealthTree medical team has made me a more educated patient. I would tell anyone who is newly diagnosed to join as soon as possible. Having access to support other than your specialist will help you deal with the feeling of being overwhelmed. 

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• Lab tracking
• Personalized treatment options
• Information about clinical trials
• Side effect solutions

and more!

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