What are some issues multiple myeloma patients face that may be different from other cancers?
Susie Novis: It’s a rare disease and doesn’t get as much attention as the major cancers. One of the things I hear is: Where is my myeloma? It’s not associated with a body part; it’s not like breast cancer or prostate cancer. You can’t cut it out. First of all, when they’re diagnosed, patients have never heard of it and they often think it’s melanoma. And because it is a cancer of the bone marrow, it’s hard to associate where it is and what is happening in your body. It’s also an incredibly complicated disease because it’s a blood cancer. There is no cure and although we can tell people it’s treatable and we can put you in a good remission, it’s still there. Even with a transplant, you never really get rid of it all. It’s like they are waiting for the other shoe to drop. Is it going to come back? When is it going to come back? Q: Multiple myeloma was once considered an incurable disease. How has this changed? Brian Durie, MD: There is a paradox in the search for the cure. It takes time
