Author Archives: MMSupport

Financial Worries Top Psychosocial Concern of Cancer Patients

Posted by on March 5, 2011 No comments

Elsevier Global Medical News. 2011 Feb 28, B Bates
ANAHEIM, CALIF. (EGMN) -Highlighting shifting priorities after the recession, nearly half of all recent psychosocial consultations with patients at a leading cancer center involved financial worries, rather than adjustment issues or other pressing mental health concerns.
Among 313 single-episode encounters at the Cleveland Clinic’s Taussig Cancer Institute during one month in late summer 2010, 49% focused on financial issues, according to a study presented at the annual conference of the American Psychosocial Oncology Society.
These included a lack of adequate health insurance, inability to afford medications, housing crises, and/or difficulties in meeting basic financial obligations during cancer treatment, reported Christa Poole, a social worker at the institute. Read more »

Welcome to MMSupport!

Posted by on March 2, 2011 4 comments

This web site is dedicated to the memory of Chris Hollyer, and has been created for those of us with Multiple Myeloma, our caregivers and friends and families to use as a resource. The content is 100% contributed by members.

For many of us who suffer the incurable cancer called multiple myeloma,there was one person we turned to above all for information, guidance and wit, Chris Hollyer. MM took your life, Chris, but it will never take the patient and gentle spirit you left behind.
- Ed Gorman

You’re encouraged to contribute content about your experiences in order to help others learn by sharing your knowledge. You may use the “Contact Us” link to send your stories, news or comments. Thanks for visiting!

There’s a new menu system.  You can choose to participate in informal polls, read what others have contributed and print essential information by clicking on the appropriate menu selection.

Please use the search feature to find what you’re looking for if you don’t find it readily.

When registering, you don’t have to use your full name if you don’t wish to.  Simply use your initials, first name and first letter of your surname or a nickname.

Myeloma Blogs

Posted by on March 4, 2010 No comments

There’s a new list of a collection of myeloma blogs written by patents, friends and caregivers.  If you’re a blogger and would like to see yours listed there, please follow the link on the site.

The first visit is a little slow, since the feeds all load.  That takes a little while, so please be patient.

http://www.myelomablogs.org/

PN and Muscle Cramping

Posted by on February 4, 2009 3 comments

I’ve been taking thalidomide for the past 4 years, and putting up with the gradually increasing neuropathy. The sudden-onset muscle cramping, however, does get downright annoying, especially when one of my super exciting dreams is interrupted by a golf-ball sized muscle cramp hitting in the calf of one leg. An interesting question comes up: does the activity in my dreams (leaping from building to building a la Spiderman) cause the cramp, or does the onset of the cramp influence what I am dreaming? I should mention that I have always had really great dreams – now that I’m 71 years old, it’s the only real excitement that I get. LOL
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Plasmaphoresis

Posted by on February 10, 2008 No comments

In March of 2007 I was at my monthly oncologist appt for routine labs. I had previously had creatinine levels in the 0.8-1.0 range. Looking back in my records my creatinine on January 2, 2007 was 0.9. January 30th it was 1.0. February 27th it was 1.5. March 30th it jumped to 4.0. At this last level my doctor advised me he was going to admit me to the hospital.
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