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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Jean Lelievre
Spotlight on Jean Lelievre

Fulfilling my dreams in spite of multiple myeloma!

October, 2023

My name is Jean Lelievre and I was diagnosed with multiple myeloma in June 2021 at the age of 65. In the spring of 2021, following a hike with our dog Charlie, I thought I had pinched the sciatic nerve in my right leg. Unfortunately, even after several physio treatments, the pain was worsening.

Betty Boudreau
Spotlight on Betty Boudreau

Multiple myeloma, you picked the wrong gal to mess with!

September, 2023

My name is Betty Boudreau and I was diagnosed with multiple myeloma (MM) on July 4th, 2018. I was 62 and had never heard of multiple myeloma.Two years into my diagnosis my eldest daughter Misty was also diagnosed with multiple myeloma.

Susan McElwain
Spotlight on Susan McElwain

Soaring and enlightened

August, 2023

My name is Susan McElwain. I was born in Toronto, Ontario, 1960. I was diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma in December 2016. Previous to my assessed illnesses I was an avid sports enthusiast and relished in the idea of worldwide travel. During my twenties I resided in Kailua and Honolulu, Hawaii, and in Porto Ercole and Rome, Italy.

woman
Spotlight on Germaine Nadon

Living solo with myeloma

July, 2023

My name is Germaine Nadon, I live solo and I am a myeloma patient. At the time of my diagnosis, I Iived in Kelowna, in the interior of British Columbia. I had access to a cancer centre that provided some treatments, but no transplant options.

black man
Spotlight on Bayo Oladele

De-stigmatizing cancer for Black Canadians

June, 2023

I would like to share my experiences with you as a Black African cancer patient, the series of battles I fought against cancer, the barrage of treatments I underwent, the notions people in our community still have about cancer, the Art of Caregiving to ca

woman
Spotlight on Alison Walsh

This is my story

May, 2023

What makes some so compelling are their depictions of heroism, struggle, stamina and courage often in the face of impossible odds or dangerous situations. (Think Amelia Earhart flying solo across the Atlantic, the Prophet Moses leading the Exodus of the I

man
Spotlight on Danny Wade

Living life to its fullest!

April, 2023

April 26 will mark 7 years since I first heard the words ‘multiple myeloma’, and the shock that came with it! While it will soon be 7 years since my diagnosis, it still feels like it was yesterday. Fortunately, with time, the first anxieties and fears I

man
Spotlight on Anthony Mohamed

From hospital staff to hospital patient

March, 2023

I walked out to my bike in front of St. Michael’s Hospital, where I had been working since 1995. It was just after 5:00 pm on a lovely Monday evening in late August 2015. I was catching up with a colleague, telling him about how much fun last week’s campi

woman
Spotlight on Tania Bertrand

Live life. Don't just be alive!

February, 2023

It was 2011, I was 42 years old. I had just started kickboxing. A couple of weeks in I had a pain in my back. I thought I had pulled a muscle. Over the next 2 weeks the pain in my back was getting worse. I went to my family doctor who prescribed painkille

woman
Spotlight on Ev McDowell

23 years and counting!

January, 2023

My journey with multiple myeloma began 23 years ago in 2000. I had blood work done when I had my physical two or three months earlier and results came back showing a low hemoglobin with a comment by the lab, “sticky cells.”