Dealing with a Cancer Relapse | Beth's Multiple Myeloma Patient Story (3 of 5) | The Patient Story

Beth was just 29 years old and the mother of two young kids when she was diagnosed with multiple myeloma. After first-line treatment of radiation, chemotherapy, and a successful stem cell transplant, she lived 12 years with no sign of myeloma. Beth shares about how she managed through her cancer relapse, discovered 16 years after initial diagnosis, what treatments worked and didn't work, and how she's been able to live her life to the fullest with myeloma.

In this segment (time codes below), Beth shares the first symptoms that led her to believe something was wrong and how she had to continue to speak up about her pain in order to finally get diagnosed with her first multiple myeloma relapse.
She also dives into radiation therapy, chemotherapy, and the different side effects from her second line treatment, and how she pushed forward mentally and emotionally. Thank you for sharing your story, Beth!

Our 5 part series:
Video 1: Getting Diagnosed
Video 2: Getting Cancer Care in a Small Town
THIS VIDEO: The Relapse
Video 4: Relapsed/Refractory Cancer Treatment + Newest Options
Video 5: Living Life with Myeloma

Full story & transcript → https://www.thepatientstory.com/cance...

Thank you to Karyopharm for its support of our educational program. The Patient Story has full editorial control of our content. The interview has been edited only for clarity.

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TIME CODES
Part 1: 1st Symptoms of Relapse
(00:42)What were the symptoms you experienced for the relapse?
(1:40)The oncologist didn’t see anything

Part 2: The Relapse Diagnosis
(2:24) How did the relapse get diagnosed?
(3:09) Another example of importance of speaking up
(4:36) How have you learned how to speak up with your doctor?

Part 3: 2nd Line Treatment
(6:19) Describe the radiation therapy
(7:24) What were the radiation side effects?
(8:58) Describe the chemotherapy, side effects & what helped you lessen them [bortezomib (Velcade) + cytoxan + dexamethasone]

Part 4: Living Life with Myeloma
(15:56)Being vigilant with myeloma “symptoms”
(19:33)What helps motivate you