Myeloma Matters: A Podcast Series from the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation

In this episode, we discuss supportive care, which encompasses the management of both treatment side effects and complications of multiple myeloma rather than the disease itself. We’ll hear from a patient living with myeloma and a social worker working in oncology as they discuss their experiences with supportive care and what you can do to improve your quality of life.

Topics of discussion:

(4:54) Supportive care and quality of ...

In this episode, you’ll learn what being a cancer survivor means, why the concept of survivorship is important to patients living with myeloma, how to be an empowered advocate for your care, and what to expect day-to-day in your myeloma journey.

MMRF patient navigators Erin Mensching, Grace Allison, and Brittany Hartmann join the podcast to provide up-to-date information on myeloma management, talk about resources that are availab...

In this episode of Myeloma Matters, you’ll learn about autologous stem cell transplantation and why it is considered the standard of care for eligible newly diagnosed patients. You’ll hear from four patients who have undergone the procedure—sometimes even twice.

Topics of discussion:

(22:45) Stem cell transplantation as a treatment option

(28:30) What type of support is needed before and after a transplant?

(40:05) Potential long-t...

In this episode of Myeloma Matters, you’ll learn about targeted immunotherapy, a unique type of myeloma treatment that specifically targets myeloma cells. You’ll hear from three patients who have been on a targeted immunotherapy to get a sense of the patient experience and how these patients wound up receiving targeted immunotherapy.

Topics of discussion:

(0:00) Introduction to myeloma and targeted immunotherapy

(17:15) Differences...

In this episode, you’ll learn about smoldering multiple myeloma, a condition that precedes multiple myeloma. This podcast describes how smoldering myeloma is diagnosed, how it differs from active myeloma, and how it’s usually managed. You’ll also hear from two patients, who talk about their experience with this disease.

This episode is supported by AbbVie, Amgen, CURE, Genentech, GSK, Johnson & Johnson, Karyopharm, Legend Biote...

This episode of Myeloma Matters reviews the latest data on bispecific antibody (bsAb) therapy for relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma (RRMM), as discussed at the 2024 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) and European Hematology Association (EHA) annual meetings. Myeloma experts place research findings into clinical context and discuss strategies—including fixed-duration dosing—for preventing and managing bsAb-associated ad...

This episode of Myeloma Matters features discussions of bispecific antibody therapy, a powerful form of targeted immunotherapy that has produced high response rates and helped patients—even those with multiply relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma (RRMM)—achieve deeper and more sustained responses. This podcast, developed for health care providers, will also review strategies for preventing and managing the serious, potentially l...

In this episode, you’ll learn about the main side effects associated with CAR T-cell and bispecific antibody therapies, two newer multiple myeloma treatments. You’ll also hear from a patient and a nurse practitioner, who describe how these treatments are administered and share their accounts of what being on these immunotherapies is like.

(1:16) Differences between CAR T cells and autologous stem cell transplantation    

(10:48) A...

In this episode, we’ll be discussing caregivers—the spouses, partners, family members, and friends who play such an important role in helping myeloma patients manage everything from health care visits to the activities of everyday living.

Topics of discussion:

• The importance of being a caregiver 
• Steep learning curve
• Alleviating burdens

This episode is supported by AbbVie, Amgen, Bristol Myers Squibb, CURE, Genentech...

In this episode, myeloma patients provide first-hand accounts on the importance of continuing treatment after induction therapy and autologous stem cell transplant—and about what to expect with this type of ongoing treatment.

Topics of discussion:  

(19:20) Getting on maintenance therapy

(30:23) Response after maintenance therapy (31:45) Logistical and physical impact of maintenance therapy

(53:16) Options when maintenance stops wo...

In this episode, you’ll learn that there are many paths forward from a multiple myeloma diagnosis and that multiple myeloma can be a highly manageable disease. To understand how a diagnosis of myeloma is reached, you’ll hear from three patients, each with their own unique clinical history. These patients will describe the steps they took to get on the right track for management of their myeloma, as well as how the diagnosis has aff...

In this episode, we tackle the difficult topic of what happens when a patient’s treatment doesn’t work or stops working. You’ll hear from three patients who’ve faced this situation and learn how they navigated the process of making decisions about their treatments, including how they approached discussions with their health care team to determine the best plan for this new stage of their diagnosis.

Topics of discussion:

(18:50) Em...

In this episode of Myeloma Matters, you’ll learn how and why multiple myeloma affects the bones and how patients can maintain their bone health. You’ll also hear from two patients who experienced drastically different complications from bone disease, as well as how their bone disease was managed and how they continue to maintain the strength and health of their bones.

Topics of discussion:

(0:00) Introduction to myeloma and bone d...

In this episode of Myeloma Matters, you’ll learn about clinical studies and why they’re important to patients who have multiple myeloma or one of its precursor conditions. You’ll hear from three patients who have participated in clinical studies about their experiences and the steps they took to enroll in the studies.

Topics of discussion:

(0:00) Introduction to clinical studies

(17:24) Availability of clinical studies

(25:36) T...