Medicare covers many cancer treatments, but is the coverage enough in the age of new immunotherapies like CAR T? This topic was addressed in a recent New York Times article where Medicare is trying to balance newer treatments with cost.   According to the article:  Cancer patients, doctors and drug companies are urging the Trump administration[...]

Kathy Kupka is a portrait photographer, a cancer survivor of multiple myeloma for 17 years, and the author of “Cancer is Ruff, But There is Treatment,” a photo book that has brought laughter and light to many patients in treatment. This past week, Kathy found HealthTree, a place to share her story and bring a message[...]

Recent findings of male participants in the Agricultural Health Study showed that certain blood levels can change after someone has been exposed to the pesticide permethrin and that those changes can persist for at least 3 weeks. The study was shared at the AACR conference (American Association for Cancer Research) happening in Atlanta this week. [...]

There are several patient assistance programs available by pharmaceutical companies but many patients don’t know that they exist. Takeda Oncology has a program called Takeda 1Point that can help you obtain financial assistance. Here’s more about what the program covers and how you access the help.  If You’re Waiting on Insurance Approval If you are[...]

Clinical trial expert Dr. Richard L. Schilsky, from the America Society of Clinical Oncology, and Cecilia Mann, care partner and community outreach volunteer at The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS), joined Andrew Schorr in a recent Clinical Trial MythBusters segment on Patient Power. Here’s the issue: How do we know what we’re testing in clinical trials applies to people[...]

March 20, 2019 The Today Show featured Jenny and Paul Ahlstrom as they described a new patient platform they created called HealthTree. The mission of HealthTree is to help doctors, researchers and patients better collaborate around each patient’s treatment options, with the hope that connecting the patient data will accelerate a cure for myeloma.  A[...]

  You have cancer.  No one ever expects to hear those words.  Other people get cancer, not you.  Multiple Myeloma?  What in the world is that?  Most individuals diagnosed with myeloma have never heard of it before they were diagnosed.  But once diagnosed, they are immediately  flooded with information, questions, and options for treatment.  They[...]

March is Myeloma Awareness Month and we’re reviewing why expanding your knowledge of myeloma  and being your own best advocate can actually help lengthen your overall survival. There is so much that patients can do to get the best care possible. This article is focused on how to find a myeloma specialist. First of all,[...]

We all know that exercise is important to maintaining a healthy lifestyle, especially as a myeloma patient. But what if you can barely walk or use the stairs without feeling exhausted or short of breath? Melanie House, MPT, DPT, NCS says that when it comes to exercising safely as a multiple myeloma patient, we should[...]

Obesity is a rising and very dangerous epidemic – the latest federal numbers state that an ever-increasing 36% of Americans aged 20-39 are obese. Even more alarming is that if trends continue, 57% of children in the United States will be obese by age 35. According to research, rates of six different cancers (multiple myeloma, colorectal, endometrial,[...]