April 16, 2026
Tanya Zigomanis, Sherry Lynn Brake, and Yolande and Bill Paine
Moving Forward with Myeloma: Three Stories of Life With Myeloma
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 new level with people whose lives have been impacted by myeloma. Introducing the “Moving Forward with Myeloma” video series.
Tanya Zigomanis
Tanya Zigomanis of Vaughan, ON, talks about navigating life with myeloma. She speaks about receiving her diagnosis while working as a litigation lawyer and parenting two young children
“I shared my journey not just to tell my story but to remind others that even having multiple myeloma, an incurable cancer with many unknowns, resilience can grow even in the shadow of uncertainty.”
– Tanya Zigomanis
Sherry Lynn Brake
Sherry Lynn Brake of Corner Brook, NL, speaks about her road to diagnosis, the challenge of travelling for treatment, and the emotional impact of navigating life with myeloma.
“I tell my story because I believe it is a good story to tell. My hope is that others can draw strength from it.”
– Sherry Lynn Brake
Yolande and Bill Paine
Yolande Paine of British Columbia and her husband Bill speak about facing myeloma together and “becoming a student of your disease.”
“I did not think that, years ago, I would have been so open to talking about myself or my disease. Illness has a way of changing your life, changing your perspective, and emboldening you to try to make sense of it all.
I want to help our community of patients and advocate for access to new, novel treatments which can increase both the length and quality of our lives.
I feel grateful to be living in this time, where so many great strides have been made, with more to come. Although it has been a challenging journey, at times fraught with anxiety and fear, I am optimistic that there is a cure on the horizon.”
– Yolande Paine
Tanya, Sherry Lynn, Yolande, and Bill don’t speak in statistics. They speak from experience. Across three provinces and three very different lives, they share what myeloma has meant for them. Their stories remind us that behind every diagnosis is a person, a family, and a life that deserves to be understood on its own terms.