Personal stories of myeloma

At 35, I was working at a school for the Commission scolaire de Saint-Hyacinthe. For what felt like a long time, I was constantly tired and suffering from pain in my sternum. Just to get through each day, I took pain medication. I didn't understand what was happening to me, but I had a deep sense that something was wrong.  As my symptoms worsened and my worries multiplied, I decided to contact the Centre hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal (CHUM hospital) directly. I was already followed there because of a family history with breast cancer. Blood tests were taken and revealed an abnormally...

Living with myeloma looks different for everyone. The treatment decisions, the side effects, the emotional weight, the adjustments to daily life — no two journeys are the same. Hearing directly from people who live with myeloma moves us beyond the clinical and into the heart of what this disease truly means for the people who face it every day. This month’s Spotlight brings you three stories in video format, so you can connect on a...

Myeloma Canada: Tell us a bit about yourself Phil Barker: My name is Phil Barker. I’m 65 years old. I’ve lived in Canada most of my life, with a few years in the US during my training. My wife and I have been married for 30 years, the second marriage for both of us. We’ve blended our families: two kids each, plus a “late addition.” They now range from 16 to 38 years old. Professionally,...

Editor’s note: To celebrate Myeloma Action Month, which is just around the corner, the Spotlight column for February focuses on the action one person took to make a big impact in her local community. Introducing…Lisa Bowden. After her first taste of advocacy, Lisa Bowden was hooked.  In late 2023, Lisa joined Myeloma Canada staff and a group of myeloma advocates at the Ontario Legislature for meetings with decision-makers and walked away from the experience inspired to do more.  ...

My name is Bonnie Hall, and this is my story. I am a myeloma patient, or as I like to think of myself, a Myeloma Warrior.  Most people want to know how I knew something was wrong in the beginning, so let’s start there. In the months leading up to my diagnosis, I had been feeling incredibly tired, a different tired than I had ever experienced before. I remember telling my husband, “It feels like my bones are heavy.” I was living that expression “bone tired.” I was only 53 years old but felt like...

I would imagine that for most of us, the day we were told we had multiple myeloma was traumatic. I remember my hematologist’s exact words: “Your results [of your bone marrow biopsy] are shocking.” My husband Jude and I were dumbfounded. It was 2017 and I was 61 years old.  It took seven years for my diagnosis. By that time, I had gone from being an extremely active mountain biker to not being able to walk more than 100 yards.    When I was finally diagnosed,...

My name is Andrew Gray and I was diagnosed with myeloma when I was 67 years old. It was back in 2017 when I first noticed something was off. I was out exercising and realized I just couldn’t do what I used to. I was losing energy, and it became obvious to me that something wasn’t right. I went to my family doctor and asked for a colonoscopy. I got the test done.  The colonoscopy came back fine, but the doctor who performed it...

Everything happens for a reason  In July 2020, my life changed forever. I was 68, retired from my career as an electrical engineer, and living in Mississauga, Ontario. I am originally from Guyana, South America, but I moved to Canada 55 years ago.   I had always been pretty active. I used to play a lot of sports. Cricket was my passion, and I loved traveling with my spouse, Olney. But a freak accident — a...

Dr Steven Shih is a hematologist at the Cross Cancer Institute in Edmonton, specializing in myeloma and cellular therapy. His professional life has been shaped by unexpected opportunities and a deep commitment to improving access to treatment for people living with myeloma. In this interview, Dr Shih shares how clinical trials have become a cornerstone of his work, the role Myeloma Canada played in his career, and what inspires him about the future of myeloma...

Hello, my name is Lyzane Bissonnette and I was diagnosed with multiple myeloma at the age of 43. Married mother of two boys, primary school teacher, and former military reservist, I was a busy woman with a full life.  In September 2012, I told my family doctor about my recurring fatigue, believing it was a result of the pneumonia I had had six months earlier. Concerned, she sent me for blood tests. A few weeks...