Personal stories of myeloma

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Collage of people of different ages and races from the myeloma community

There is no single myeloma experience

Myeloma touches the lives of tens of thousands of Canadians. Whether you are living with the disease, caring for someone who is, or connected another way, your experience and your story are important. We strive to share stories representing the multitude of experiences myeloma can bring.

There is no single myeloma experience

Myeloma touches the lives of tens of thousands of Canadians. Whether you are living with the disease, caring for someone who is, or are connected another way, your experience and your story are important. We strive to share stories representing the multitude of experiences myeloma can bring.

Filter these stories by topic, or scroll through them chronologically.

Personal stories

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Spotlight on Nancy Bies

Remote living and strength in adversity

September, 2024

Hi, my name is Nancy Bies, and I am living with multiple myeloma (MM). I’m originally from Victoria, BC but my husband and I live in Yellowknife, NWT.

In May 2019, at the age of 48, I was diagnosed with MM when doctors discovered abnormal protein levels in my blood while investigating why my heart was malfunctioning. This diagnosis was overwhelming, and initially, I struggled with the term “cancer,” so my doctor described it as a blood disorder.

Spotlight on Asheley Taker

Taker money and run… My 100+km journey for my mom and stepdad

August, 2024

My name is Ashely Taker and our story starts in October 2017. 

After a summer where my mom, Carolyn, wasn’t feeling herself and had some pain, and test after test came back negative, we all assumed she was just getting older and finally slowing down a bit. 

Boy, were we wrong.

Spotlight on Kevin Jacobs

Above all, don't give up!

June, 2024

Good day everyone. My name is Kevin Jacobs.

My journey with multiple myeloma began when I was diagnosed in March 2023. I was 53 years of age and up until then my life was full.

Married, 2 grown up children, a long and active career in law enforcement, firstly in England and now in Ottawa, Canada. I was a sporty person and played rugby well into my early 40’s. I was a football coach, active in my children’s lives and enjoyed many vacations with my very understanding wife!

Yolande Paine
Spotlight on Yolande Paine

Living well with myeloma

May, 2024

My name is Yolande Paine and I was diagnosed with myeloma at age 58. In June 2012, while waiting to board a plane at Vancouver International Airport, I received a phone call that would forever change my life.  The hematologist wanted to see me the next morning to perform a bone marrow biopsy for suspected multiple myeloma. I did get him to agree to wait until the following Monday and, in a daze, I boarded that plane to Montreal.

Spotlight on Nic Ahola

Living with multiple myeloma

April, 2024

In 2016, my personal cancer journey started during a routine doctor’s visit. I was diagnosed with multiple myeloma. At the time, I had never heard of multiple myeloma. After my diagnosis, I learned that multiple myeloma is the second most common form of blood cancer in Canada, and it has no cure.

Spotlight on Jessica Slack

Finding myeloma by fluke

March, 2024

My name is Jessica Slack. In February 2023, I was diagnosed with multiple myeloma at the age of 43. My journey to diagnosis began the previous summer. I was feeling perfectly healthy and living a busy life as a full-time working mom to two teenagers, completely unaware of the danger lurking within. 

Spotlight on Lilowtie Ramdass

Through the eyes a daughter and caregiver with personal and professional experience with multiple myeloma

February, 2024

When immigrating to Canada in December 2007, my mother Lilowtie Ramdass’s arm suddenly broke while packing the suitcases. We managed to get her arm casted so that she could get on the flight with some degree of comfort. We hail from Guyana, South America and at this point, mom had spent her entire lifetime working on the immigration application to Canada for a better life and long-term conditions of her 6 daughters.  

Megan and Dwight Gardiner
Spotlight on Megan and Dwight Gardiner

Supporting our loved ones and others is key

January, 2024

Hello. My name is Megan, and I am Dwight’s wife and caregiver. Dwight was diagnosed with multiple myeloma (MM) in February 2018. Confusion and feelings of devastation followed as it was found that he had high risk smoldering myeloma. Then, four months later, Dwight was also diagnosed with AL amyloidosis in his kidneys and heart. He was 53 years old.  

Ashley Dieks
Spotlight on Ashley Dieks

I refuse to stop for myeloma!

December, 2023

Hello, my name is Ashely Dieks.In 2022, at the age of 36, I was diagnosed with myeloma. And I was in shock.
 It all started in December of 2021, when I had to lift a patient at work. I felt a pop in my sternum, followed by some pretty intense pain.

dominic jean
Spotlight on Dominic Jean

Honouring Aldo’s legacy

November, 2023

My name is Dominic Jean and my experience with multiple myeloma is a bit different than most of the other experiences you may have read about in previous Spotlight stories. While you may not know me, you may have heard of my late partner. His name was Aldo Del Col and he was the co-founder of Myeloma Canada.

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