Valarie’s Myeloma Journey: From Fear to Fueling Research

In the fall of 2014, Valarie began experiencing troubling symptoms: severe fatigue, minor back pain, nosebleeds, frequent infections, and anemia. Visit after visit to urgent care left her frustrated. She was given antibiotics and even told to “be more active” to help with the fatigue, but deep down, she knew something more was going on.

By early 2015, Valarie finally had an answer: multiple myeloma. She was only 42 years old. The shock was overwhelming. She thought she was too young to have cancer, and the idea of it being incurable was downright frightening.

During those early days, Valarie leaned heavily on her close group of friends and her church family, since her loved ones lived several states away. Their encouragement and prayers carried her when she felt like she couldn’t carry herself.

Valarie first started treatment with thalidomide, Velcade, and dexamethasone (VTd). Looking back, she remembers how blindly she began that first treatment. She assumed the doctor knew best and wasn’t aware that she had a voice in her care. 

“At the time, I didn’t know about shared decision-making, that there were other treatments available, or how to advocate for myself. Those are things I wish I had known at the time of diagnosis,” she reflects.

“I’ve learned that patients have a voice in their care — and that voice matters.”

A second opinion with a myeloma specialist quickly changed her treatment plan to Revlimid, Velcade, and dexamethasone (RVd) — a turning point that taught her the importance of seeking expert care. Over time, she was also treated with Pomalyst, Kyprolis, and dexamethasone (KPd), and eventually underwent an autologous stem cell transplant.

As Valarie regained strength, she felt ready to give back. She became a Myeloma Coach with HealthTree, walking alongside other patients as they navigated the uncertainty of diagnosis and treatment. 

“These are the lessons I’ve learned and now share with others on the journey,” she says. HealthTree has become an important part of that mission, providing the kind of education and empowerment she wishes she had at the very beginning.

When HealthTree Cure Hub was introduced, Valarie wasn’t immediately comfortable signing up. “I wasn’t comfortable just handing over my records,” she admits. “But once I understood how secure it was, I realized my data could help more than just me.”

She had important questions at first: Who would see her information? How would it be used? Could she trust the system? “I had questions about privacy and who would see my information,” Valarie recalls. “Learning that it was protected and used only for research gave me peace of mind.”

With that reassurance, she connected her records. Cure Hub became her one-stop shop for managing care across multiple facilities, tracking labs, and staying on top of her progress. But she soon realized it meant much more. “Sharing my records isn’t just about tracking my care — it’s about helping researchers discover better treatments for all of us.”

Through Cure Hub, Valarie saw how her information could contribute to something larger: insights that might one day change the future of myeloma. “My data has purpose beyond me. Every record shared is a step toward a cure.”

Today, Valarie is in a good place. She currently leads the HealthTree Black Myeloma Health Program and is very active in patient and research advocacy. She knows that by sharing her records, and her story, she’s helping shape the future of myeloma care.

Every record shared is a step toward a cure. Connect your records to Cure Hub today.

JOIN CUREHUB