Have you ever heard the saying “Only the good die young?” Recent science, however, has proven that the opposite is true! The “good” are living longer, and science is finding empirical evidence that connects an attitude of giving with increased healing, longevity and overall happiness. A new science of health and giving is emerging. Over [...]
Read MoreMultiple myeloma patient Stacy Erholtz's stunning response to the Mayo Clinic's measles vaccine in 2015 for her multi-relapsed multiple myeloma was a surprise to everyone, including Stacy. But when the vaccine was used in other myeloma patients, they did not see similar responses. Why? A new study by myeloma French researchers showed that myeloma patients with [...]
Read MoreDay 5 of Myeloma Giving: Give the Gift of PROMISE Towards a Cure (Donate a Blood Sample) From December 10 – 21, the Myeloma Crowd is sharing 12 Days of Myeloma Giving. Please share this post and invite your friends and family to participate. Each day we will share something you can give to lift [...]
Read MoreTom Brokaw visited the recent American Society of Hematology (ASH) meeting and took some time to share his personal myeloma story. He opened up about cancer, how he feels about community and his love for our country. When Tom was diagnosed in 2013 at the age 74 he faced his diagnosis as he does everything [...]
Read MoreDay 4 of Myeloma Giving: Give Gratitude for Multiple Myeloma Progress From December 10 – 21, the Myeloma Crowd is sharing 12 Days of Myeloma Giving. Please share this post and invite your friends and family to participate. Each day we will share something you can give to lift others. These gifts will save lives, [...]
Read MoreDay 2 of Myeloma Giving: Share your Myeloma Story From December 10 - 21, the Myeloma Crowd is sharing 12 Days of Myeloma Giving. Please share this post and invite your friends and family to participate. Each day we will share something you can give to lift others. These gifts will save lives, lengthen lives [...]
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Friday, December 14, 2018 @ Noon Pacific, 1 pm Mountain, 2 pm Central, 3 pm Eastern Call In by Phone to Listen Live: (347) 637-2631 or Listen Live Via Computer. Each myeloma patient's tumor is unique and can change over time. Dr. Rodriguez is using a new 3D organoid tumor modeling platform which allows the [...]
Read MorePrecision medicine is a catch-phrase that is all the rage nowadays. It’s becoming clearer that medicine is not one-size-fits-all. For example, a treatment that helps shrink one person’s tumor or eases their arthritis symptoms doesn’t always work for somebody else. This is especially true in cancer, where a patient's experience is more than their genetic [...]
Read MoreDay 1 of Myeloma Giving: Share the gift of accurate information with your friends and family. I don't have the skin cancer melanoma, I have a blood cancer called multiple myeloma. From December 10 - 21, the Myeloma Crowd is sharing 12 Days of Myeloma Giving. Please share this post and invite your friends and [...]
Read MoreDuring the hustle and bustle of the holiday season, I think we all know that the most appreciated gifts are those that we give from the heart. These gifts are usually simple acts of service - a listening ear, a smile or note of concern. Philosophers know that giving is key to our own sense of [...]
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Tuesday, December 11, 2018 @ 10 am Pacific, 11 am Mountain, Noon Central, 1 pm Eastern Call In by Phone to Listen Live: (347) 637-2631 or Listen Live Via Computer. Why do multiple myeloma patients relapse after myeloma therapy? Many myeloma experts believe that myeloma stem cells (or early progenitor cells before they become plasma [...]
Read MoreDavid Chung, MD Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center Interview Date: November 19, 2018 Thanks to our episode sponsor Summary Why do some multiple myeloma patients relapse early after stem cell transplant while others stay in remission for many years? The patient’s immune system may be a key factor. David Chung, MD, PhD of [...]
Read MoreThe Myeloma Crowd would like to honor the life and memory of myeloma patient advocate and Myeloma Crowd Patient Advisory Board member Eric Hansen, who died on Thursday in a single-car accident while driving in British Columbia. His accident could have been medically related but the details of the accident are unknown. Eric Hansen (1943-11/27/2018) [...]
Read MoreDr. Meletios A Dimopoulos presented an abstract which compared the use of Ixaomib to a placebo for maintenance after a stem cell transplant. This clinical trial was called Tourmaline-MM3, and was chosen as a top 5 abstract by 2 of the 4 doctors who had provided their "Best of the Best" abstracts. Abstract 301 - [...]
Read MoreThe Friday symposium sessions are some of the best at ASH, even though they are not an official part of the American Society of Hematology session. Dr. Keith Stuart of the Mayo Clinic spoke at a morning session on the topic of high risk myeloma, with some key points. He said that while treatment is [...]
Read MoreThe ASH conference has started with the early, "unofficial" sessions. Dr. Maria Victoria Mateos spoke at a Friday morning session about the role of maintenance therapy. It has become obvious that in general, maintenance therapy is suggested for all patients and extends remission times. Dr. Mateos broadly described the use of maintenance therapy with immunomodulators [...]
Read MoreSan Diego-based Fortis Therapeutics is creating a new antibody drug conjugate for multiple myeloma and prostate cancer. The new drug will target CD46, not typically a target used in multiple myeloma. The study will open by the end of 2018. FOR46 targets a new immune system receptor, CD46, which is highly expressed in several tumor [...]
Read MoreThis weekend is the beginning of the American Society of Hematology (ASH) meeting. What is ASH and why does it matter to multiple myeloma patients? ASH is the world’s largest hematology meeting where experts in blood cancers share their recent findings. At ASH, over 30,000 physicians and researchers converge on a city (this year [...]
Read MoreDonate to the MCRI Today The first Myeloma Crowd Research Initiative (MCRI) successfully raised $500,000 for two immunotherapy research projects for high-risk myeloma (CAR T and T cell treatments). Now, the MCRI will fund research to match the right treatment with the right patient at the right time. A small fraction of multiple myeloma [...]
Read MoreThalidomide was the first immunomodulatory drug used for the treatment of multiple myeloma. It went on to become the base of a series of multiple myeloma drugs offered by Celgene Corporation who now produces Thalomid, Revlimid and Pomalyst - all variations of this immunomodulatory drug class. In a recent study, Thalidomide used as induction therapy [...]
Read MoreMonday, November 19, 2018 @ 10 am Pacific, 11 am Mountain, Noon Central, 1 pm Eastern Call In by Phone to Listen Live: (347) 637-2631 or Listen Live Via Computer Why do some multiple myeloma patients relapse early after stem cell transplant while others stay in remission for many years? The patient's immune system may be [...]
Read MoreCarl June, MD of the University of Pennsylvania and colleagues announced in a recent paper that faster production of the CAR T cells improves the strength of the treatment. The CD19 CAR T therapy has been in development for many years, launching initially in leukemia. This new therapy holds significant promise for all blood cancer [...]
Read MoreEmpliciti (elotuzumab) was approved yesterday by the FDA for use with pomalidomide and dexamethasone in relapsed myeloma, according to a press release by Bristol-Myers Squibb. The combination was approved for patients who relapsed after two prior treatments including lenalidomide and a proteasome inhibitor. The immunotherapy was tested in a study called the ELOQUENT-3 trial. In [...]
Read MoreAshraf Badros, MD University of Maryland Interview Date: October 3, 2018 Thanks to our episode sponsor, Celgene Corporation. Summary African Americans are more than twice as likely to develop multiple myeloma. But they are not getting the longest life possible for a variety of reasons. How can they obtain better outcomes and live [...]
Read MoreA new pathway to stop myeloma progression is being studied with a new drug, according to a recent report by UK multiple myeloma specialists. A pathway that helps myeloma cells survive, called nuclear factor (NF)‐κB, is activated in all cases of multiple myeloma. Many companies have tried to target this pathway over the last 30 [...]
Read MoreThere's nothing funny about cancer, but what if comedy could help get out an important message for multiple myeloma patients? That was the spark of an idea behind comedian Dave Vance's brilliant new video on HealthTree featured on his Spellchek channel. His question is valid. Why haven't we cured cancer yet? And why isn't technology [...]
Read MoreRecent Phase II/III study results by Celgene showed that Revlimid (lenalidomide) extended time to disease progression from smoldering myeloma to active myeloma for high-risk smoldering myeloma patients. Smoldering myeloma patients may never progress to active myeloma, so the question they and their doctors ask is "Do I need treatment?" For those who have high-risk smoldering [...]
Read MoreStem cell collection is the first step of the stem cell transplant process. In myeloma, patients typically use their own stem cells for transplant. This is called an autologous transplant, or "auto" transplant. In order to obtain stem cells for your transplant, you will go through a stem cell collection, or "harvest" process. While the [...]
Read MoreNeutropenia is when a person has little to no neutrophils, a type of white blood cell. This means that your body’s immune system is not strong enough to fight infections, bacteria, or other foreign antibodies. When one is neutropenic, it can lead to serious infections because the body has no way to fight it. Neutropenia can occur during [...]
Read MoreMonday, October 29, 2018 @ 10 am Pacific, 11 am Mountain, Noon Central, 1 pm Eastern Call In by Phone to Listen Live: (347) 637-2631 or Listen Live Via Computer In the World Series and the world of baseball, a strategy for success means planning ahead - doing everything you can to come out a [...]
Read MoreAs seen on PR Newswire The Myeloma Crowd™, a division of the CrowdCare Foundation, today announced the launch of HealthTree®, a new online tool to help Multiple Myeloma patients find their best myeloma treatments and accelerate research toward a cure. HealthTree is the first resource of its kind where patients can track their myeloma lab values across [...]
Read MoreIrene Ghobrial, MD Dana Farber Cancer Institute Interview Date: September 20,2018 Thanks to our episode sponsor Summary Dr. Irene Ghobrial shares the new PROMISE study, the biggest myeloma screening study ever run to help prevent the blood cancer from occurring by catching it at an early stage. The PROMISE study is supported by [...]
Read MoreIrene Ghobrial, MD Dana Farber Cancer Institute Interview Date: September 20,2018 Thanks to our episode sponsor Summary Dr. Irene Ghobrial shares the new PROMISE study, the biggest myeloma screening study ever run to help prevent the blood cancer from occurring by catching it at an early stage. The PROMISE study is supported by [...]
Read MoreMayo Clinic Rochester researchers have identified three specific gene types that are responsible for the two-to-three times increase in multiple myeloma for the black community. The study results were published in Blood Cancer Journal. In myeloma, patients can have certain genes deleted, gene additions, or "translocations", where parts of one gene have swapped places with [...]
Read MoreImmediate family members of multiple myeloma patients have a significantly higher risk for a myeloma precursor condition called monoclonal gammopathy of underdetermined significance (MGUS), according to a recent study published in Leukemia. The Mayo Clinic Rochester, with the work founded by Dr. Robert Kyle, pioneered the study of early myeloma conditions. Dr. Clay-Gilmour and Mayo [...]
Read MoreAccording to the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, the standard autologous stem cell transplant may actually be considered an immunotherapy. In a recent article by Susan Keown, new research suggests that stem cell transplant isn't effective just because high-dose chemotherapy is given. It changes the game for the immune system. “Autologous transplant is more than [...]
Read MoreMaria Chaudhry, MD The Ohio State University, The James Cancer Center Interview Date: September 13, 2018 Thanks to our episode sponsor, Celgene Corporation. Summary A new drug by GlaxoSmithKlein drew attention at last year's American Society of Hematology (ASH) meeting for multiple myeloma patients. Learn more about this antibody drug conjugate which carries [...]
Read MoreAccording to a new report published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, having active prescription coverage for oral drugs for multiple myeloma through Medicare Part D is strongly associated with improved survival for patients with this disease. In recent years, new oral drugs have helped improve multiple myeloma patient outcomes. Many times these drugs are [...]
Read MoreTesting minimal residual disease is becoming an important step to determine how patients are responding to multiple myeloma therapy. The first MRD test in multiple myeloma has now been approved by the FDA. The clonoSEQ® test by Adaptive Biotechnologies® is being used by doctors to determine how much myeloma a patient still might have following treatment. [...]
Read MoreA recent population study from Sweden showed that measuring abdominal fat is a better indicator of predicting multiple myeloma and other blood cancers than testing body mass index (BMI). High body mass index (BMI) is associated with development of blood cancers like myeloma. However, it may not accurately reflect body composition (like fat vs. muscle [...]
Read MoreWednesday, October 3, 2018 @ 7 am Pacific, 8 am Mountain, 9 am Central, 10 am Eastern Call In by Phone to Listen Live: (347) 637-2631 or Listen Live Via Computer African Americans are twice as likely to be diagnosed with the rare blood cancer called multiple myeloma than white Americans and other ethnicities. Why [...]
Read MoreDr. Edward Stadtmauer of the University of Pennsylvania spoke today at the 2nd Annual Multiple Myeloma Patient and Caregiver Symposium in Wisconsin about the status of CAR T and other immunotherapies in multiple myeloma. Dr. Stadtmauer said that myeloma patients shouldn't be unfamiliar with immunotherapies. Some of the most common drugs and treatments (like allo [...]
Read MoreDr. Parameswaran Hari spoke today at the Multiple Myeloma Symposium in Wisconsin. This is the 14th year that the Medical College of Wisconsin has hosted this event for 400 patients who come from surrounding states for excellent education. Dr. Hari described myeloma as an ancient disease, with skeletons showing bone lesions found in Egyptian mummies [...]
Read MoreJoin the new Facebook African American Multiple Myeloma Group Today Multiple myeloma is a rare blood cancer, but for African Americans it is more common. If you are African American or know a family member or friend who is, you can share this information on Facebook, which could lead to earlier diagnosis and longer [...]
Read MoreIn recent studies, weekly carfilzomib (Kyprolis) has been proven to show benefit over twice weekly administration. Amgen is now submitting an FDA request based on study results to provide this frequency of administration in the clinic. The request is based on results from the Amgen Phase III ARROW trial. In this trial, 478 patients were [...]
Read MoreDonate for John John Runyon, a fighter and myeloma advocate passed away this week of multiple myeloma, surrounded by his family. He is survived by his wife Jane and his children Victoria, David and Katherine. In June, John and his wife Jane hosted the "Swing for a Cure" myeloma golf tournament fundraiser, raising over $50,000 [...]
Read MoreBrenda Jenkins was diagnosed with multiple myeloma in March of 2009. She was diagnosed by an internist who noticed irregular blood numbers and referred her for follow-up with an oncologist. At her first appointment with the oncologist, she endured her first of many bone marrow biopsies. Brenda's faith has helped her face her experience with [...]
Read MoreOriginally seen on Deseret News by Wendy Lenoard LEHI — In the days and weeks after being told she had multiple myeloma, Jenny Ahlstrom was forced to make a decision regarding her treatment. It's no different for anyone facing a terminal disease. "It took me three years to get up to speed on the science [...]
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Thursday, September 20, 2018, @ 8 am Pacific, 9 am Mountain, 10 am Central, 11 am Eastern Call In by Phone to Listen Live: (347) 637-2631 or Listen Live Via Computer Stand Up To Cancer has announced a $10 million award to a Stand Up To Cancer Dream Team focused on revolutionizing the treatment of multiple myeloma [...]
Read MoreAmgen recently announced that it has acquired global development and commercial rights from Boehringer Ingelheim for a bispecific (BiTE) antibody targeting BCMA in multiple myeloma. The BiTEs are yet another method to engage the immune system to target this common protein found on the surface of myeloma cells. Although they use a different and more [...]
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