Pat’s Place: What Can Long-Lived Multiple Myeloma Survivors Teach Us?

Last week I shared a list of traits long-lived multiple myeloma survivors—those of us fortunate enough to have lived ten years or longer after our myeloma became active—tend to have in common.  

The one overriding trait the large majority of long-lived multiple myeloma survivors share is determination and focus. 

That is as close to a magic bullet as I can find.  Living with multiple myeloma isn’t easy.  In order to stay alive, we need to be determined to do so.  We need to tell ourselves:  “I want to live.  I will do whatever it takes to live with my cancer.”

Just like in sports, the arts, or building a career, focusing on your end goal helps make all of the little ups and downs a bit easier to handle. 

Sometimes some of us forget we have cancer.  That’s OK—as long as you don’t take your “eye off the ball” and start forgetting to take your medication, exercise, eat right, and make your scheduled appointments.

Last week I promised you a “closer look” at some of the common traits long-lived myeloma survivors share.  Check-out some specific suggestions a number of these survivors shared with me: 

• Learn all you can about multiple myeloma and your treatment options.
• Carefully follow your doctor’s instructions.
• Don’t be afraid to seek a second or third opinion.
• Rely on your “gut” to help you make the right treatment decisions.
• Take care of your overall health.  Continue to see your regular doctor and get yearly check-ups.  
• Keep your body strong!  Eat lots of good food and exercise regularly.
• Reduce stress by becoming organized.  Write everything down.
• Try not to feel sorry for yourself.
• Carefully balance hope and reality.  Try to do everything you can, but accept the things you can’t change.
• Surround yourself with positive people.
• Don’t be afraid to ask for help—but don’t rely on it unless you must.
• Expect set-backs, and try not to let them get you down.

It is important to remember that you don’t have to live every suggestion from this list in order to live a long time with multiple myeloma, just as taking the advice of these long-lived myeloma survivors won’t guarantee you a longer life. 

But maybe it’ll help.  So I’m going to heed their advice whenever I can.  Feel good and keep smiling!   Pat