Long-Term Myeloma Survivor: What I Wish I Knew at Diagnosis (Evidence-Based Lessons)

Multiple Myeloma Stages

What Can Multiple Myeloma Patients Learn from Long-Term Survivors?

  • Learn your diagnosis (MGUS, SMM, MM staging)
  • Combine conventional and integrative therapies
  • Manage side effects early
  • Focus on long-term survivorship, not short-term response
  • Personalize your treatment plan

My Multiple Myeloma Diagnosis Story

I went under the knife and woke up eight hours later. My pathologist, Dr. Makely, gently explained that I had multiple myeloma (MM).  A week later, my oncologist, Dr. Berger, told me I had a single plasmacytoma of bone (SPB). I later learned that these were two different diagnoses. The first was full multiple myeloma, and the second was pre-myeloma, aka not cancer.  

Two “experts”, two different diagnoses. Wait, what?

My path to becoming a long-term myeloma survivor has been filled with ups and downs and short, long-term, and late-stage side effects. I wish I knew at diagnosis what I know now. Myeloma is a complicated blood cancer. The more we learn, the better our decision-making will be.

Pre-myeloma (SPB, MGUS, SMM) is a rare blood disorder. Multiple myeloma (stage I, II, III) is a rare, incurable blood cancer. At the time of my diagnosis, diagnostic testing was not as thorough as it has become today. There were many fewer chemotherapy regimens specific to myeloma than there are now. Many oncologists today specialize in the treatment of multiple myeloma.

When I reached end-stage myeloma, my oncologist told me, “there is nothing more we can do for you.”

Dr. Rassiga actually did me a favor. By kicking me out the door, she forced me to stop relying on conventional oncology for treatment of my blood cancer.

The Biggest Mistake I Made Early

👉 Relying only on conventional oncology, I learned the hard way that the key is to treat both your myeloma as well as your health when you are diagnosed with cancer.

What I Wish I Knew at Diagnosis

  • Understand staging and diagnostics (CRAB, SLiM)
  • Learn treatment options early
  • Think long-term, not just remission

Conventional Therapy vs. Whole-Body Management

Go to our Resources Center and download free information on pre-myeloma, full myeloma, and short-, long-, and late-stage side effects.

Evidence-Based Integrative Therapies I Use

I have to begin by admitting that it took me years to focus my attention on my physical and mental health through nutrition, lifestyle, nutritional supplementation, etc., but eventually, I got there.

If you have been diagnosed with Pre-Myeloma (SBP, MGUS, SMM) or full Multiple Myeloma (stage I, II, III), research shows that you will live a better, longer life and make better treatment decisions about your care by learning about your own prognosis,  diagnostic criteria, and therapy plan, including your:

Conventional oncology is excellent at what it does. But conventional therapies are one small piece of the total Myeloma Puzzle- if you want to enjoy both quality of life and quantity of life. The cancer coaching courses are free and outline the strengths and weaknesses of conventional oncology. Evidence-based information that will help you make better decisions to reach your own treatment goals.

I learned that evidence-based, non-toxic therapies must be a part of your therapy plan.

Since undergoing a controversial non-conventional cancer therapy and achieving complete remission in early 1999,

I’ve learned that there are dozens of evidence-based, complementary and integrative therapies that research has shown can both reduce toxicity while enhancing the efficacy of chemotherapy and radiation and/or can kill Multiple Myeloma.

I’ve utilized these evidence-based non-conventional, non-toxic therapies to remain in complete remission from my incurable blood cancer. Anti-oxidant/anti-inflammatory/anti-angiogenic nutrition, supplementation and lifestyle therapies can kill myeloma as well as help myeloma survivors stay strong before, during and after therapy.

My myeloma experience illustrates why conventional oncology is only a small piece of the cancer care picture.

Learning about your multiple myeloma will help you reduce your risk of the short-term, long-term, and late-stage side effects that I now live with.

Long-Term Side Effects of Myeloma Treatment

Side effects such as:

  1. Treatment-Induced Short-Term Side Effects
  2. Treatment-induced Aging
  3. Chronic Non-Cancer  Pain
  4. Treatment-induced Relapse
  5. Treatment-related Secondary Cancer
  6. Steroid-induced cataracts-
  7. Corticosteroid-induced Avascular Necrosis
  8. Treatment-induced Cognitive dysfunction-Chemobrain
  9. Treatment-induced Nerve Damage-CIPN and RILP
  10. Treatment-induced Cardiomyopathy- Heart Damage
  11. Treatment-induced Atrial Fibrillation- Afib
  12. Treatment-induced hypertension –High blood pressure
  13. Treatment-induced Hemorrhagic Cystitis-Irritible bladder
  14. Therapy-induced Dysphagia-Difficulty Swallowing
  15. Therapy-induced Xerostomia- Dry Mouth
  16. Therapy-induced Deep Vein Thrombosis- blood clot
  17. Managing Mental Health as a Cancer Survivor-

If you have any questions or comments, please send me your questions here.

David Emerson

To learn more about multiple myeloma-

Recommended Reading:

long-term myeloma survivor long-term myeloma survivor long-term myeloma survivor