Any one out there with, or familiar with, multiple myeloma have any good advice?

I've been diagnosed with Mulitiple Myeloma. It was discovered after I fractured 3 vertebrae that really shouldn't have fractured. I've done steroid therapy and radiation therapy on the vertebrae. I'm about to start on chemo. I'm scared. I've been a believer in naturopathic healing for a long time. I just want to make sure I'm taking the right course toward some kind of definite healing or remission on this. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

Although there is no cure for MM, most of the experts now believe that in many cases it can be controllable. There are many treatments available now, including 2 approved in recent years specifically for MM, Velcade and Revlimid, and a number of others are in clinical trials. A lot of us are living many years with it -- I recently hit my 10th anniversary since diagnosis, and I have met people diagnosed much earlier. If you haven't already, check out the web sites for the International Myeloma Foundation and the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation for a lot of good info. Consider getting a second opinion from an MM specialist -- the IMF has a hot line during business hours (Pacific Time) and can help find one in your area. . There are also local support groups in many cities, and there is a "listserv" (sort of a community bulletin board) available through the ACOR website (www.acor.org) where you can ask questions and get answers from fellow MM patients all over the world.

Check out www.bu.edu/prs/mm/ There is a study going on now @Boston University on multiple myeloma. It can be very informative and helpful. Good luck to you and God Bless.