Hello everyone! This is my first post on this platform. As a 66 year old MM survivor who was diagnosed in 2013 and who is gratefully thriving today, I just want to say a word about exercise and encourage you to stay physically active. I realize that some of us have had severe bone/skeletal issues and are limited as far as physical activity - but if your skeletal frame is stable enough for normal, daily activity, I want to recommend weight-bearing and strength training exercise. When diagnosed, 80% of my bone marrow was displaced by malignant plasma cells, my kidneys were severely damaged, and I had scattered lyric lesions throughout my skeletal frame. With treatment, bone deterioration stopped and things stabilized. As soon as I regained some energy I began to diligently strength train, first at home with body weight exercises, and then at a gym with weights. What benefits have I seen as a result? - Resistance training builds bone mass. My bones are stronger now. - Increased muscle mass. Muscles serve to stabilize the skeletal frame and protect bones and joints - all the more important as we age. - Increased muscle mass boosts metabolism and results in more energy. Fatigue is a frequent complaint of MM patients and exercise improves energy levels. - Resistance training boosts the immune system. - Resistance training is one of the best ways to manage weight. Excess weight puts strain on the body in a variety of ways - joints, cardiovascular system, and respiratory system. Resistance training burns more calories over a longer period of time than simply walking or running. I travel internationally for work, to some very difficult places (going to Sudan next week), and regular exercise has been a key to maintaining my health and stamina, even while doing monthly maintenance chemo to keep the myeloma in check. I encourage you to get active, stay active, and build strength! I’m happy to respond to questions about this post. Wishing everyone the best!