Newly Diagnosed? The Myeloma Crowd is here for you!

Are you or someone you know newly diagnosed with myeloma?  When my husband Richard (pictured above waiting to receive his first Velcade injection) was diagnosed at the age of 39 we were scared to death.  We were in complete shock and as my husband described it trying to “drink from a firehose” with all of the new and unfamiliar information coming at us.   Immediately upon being formally diagnosed we were presented with a treatment plan to begin that same day.  We had no idea if it was a good plan or not.  We were in foreign territory, unfamiliar with our enemy and too scared to ask any questions.   Luckily, we connected with a friend and fellow myeloma patient who empowered us to begin asking questions and advocating for ourselves (thank you Jenny Ahlstrom!).  She gave us courage to put together a team and plan that was right for Richard.

No one is prepared to receive a diagnosis of myeloma.  However, the Myeloma Crowd is here for you!  We have outlined six steps on our website that will help reduce your anxiety and take steps toward meaningful action to advocate for yourself.

Following these six steps will help you:

• Gather an appropriate team - don’t forget to recruit  a myeloma specialist and Myeloma Coach.
• Give your team all of the right information by having the right tests completed.
• Organize your test and lab results in HealthTree- this will allow you to make your own personalized game plan.
• Educate yourself by enrolling into HealthTree University.  You will learn from top myeloma experts from around the country, and tuition is free!

6 steps for newly diagnosed myeloma

A Myeloma Coach (a myeloma patient or caregiver willing to share what they’ve learned with others) can help you with any or all of these six steps.  They personally know what you are experiencing and can relate to what you are going through.

Find a myeloma coach

While none of us chose myeloma, we are all in this together and will help each other along the way.  Come and join the “Crowd”!  As you engage with the Myeloma Crowd community you will learn and make friends along the way.