Understanding Your Emotions

Most likely you were shocked to hear you had cancer. However, take consolation in the fact that there is potential for living longer today than ever before.

That’s not to say the journey will be easy. But it’s worth the effort to learn all you can about how you might feel as you move through your journey with multiple myeloma. It's important to do all you can to stay positive and stay engaged. People who learn as much as they can about their cancer often feel more in control and better about making treatment decisions because they know what to expect. 

Your Inner Power

Knowing you have cancer may change the way you feel about life and what is important.  It is often more than biology and medicine – it’s a life-altering, humbling experience.

It may challenge you in ways you’ve never been challenged before. It will test you, your determination to live the way you want under the circumstances, and ultimately, who you are.  There’s one thing it won’t change – that you are the expert on you and how you feel about your own life. 

Nearly 12 million people with a history of cancer are alive in the United States. As a result, “cancer survivorship” has become an important part of care for all types of cancer. It embraces people going through active treatment, those in remission, those who have relapsed – sometimes several times – and those who are not actively receiving cancer treatment.  The experience changes people's lives; and, even though treatment may be complete or over for a time, ongoing monitoring with tests and checkups continue.

 

view

Strengthening your spirit

Your thoughts may turn to your spiritual side as you begin trying to figure out how you will cope with a diagnosis of cancer for yourself or a loved one. Or, you may question your faith. These are normal reactions, as is vacillating between the two. Faced with this challenge, you may find strength, deeper meaning in life, and peace as you examine what is sacred to you and the things that mean the most.  To evaluate your spiritual beliefs, you might want to:

  • Meditate or pray to help bring you a sense of calm and faith in yourself and your ability to deal with the diagnosis and treatment challenges
  • Read your spiritual text of choice, if you have one. Studying these sacred writings may help you connect with wisdom that has sustained many for ages
  • Keep a journal or write a blog to express your thoughts. Recording how this experience is affecting you can be cathartic, helpful to your loved ones, and if you blog, helpful to others
  • Seek help from your spiritual leader, or join a group for meditation, prayer and support
  • Seek enjoyment by visiting beautiful natural settings or attending inspirational events to help you experience a sense of peace.  It might be a lovely park, the sea, the country, or your own back yard.  Some people find going to church, synagogue, mosque or temple satisfying or visiting museums, or attending concerts to listen to great music

*Adapted from CancerCare.

WORKING WITH YOUR TEAM

It’s a two-way street: Your oncologist and your medical team learn as much from you, your cancer and your body, as you learn from them. You need to keep them informed so they can take their best shot at helping you do your best.

 

JAMES D. BOND
Multiple Myeloma Survivor

"I was in excellent shape when a routine physical showed questionable results. Within a month I was diagnosed. An incurable cancer! I felt like I'd been hit in the stomach. I couldn't breathe.”

 

 

THE POWER OF CONNECTIONS

Human contact is important. Although Internet-based support groups help on a day-to-day basis, regular meetings... eye contact, personal communication, a hand to hold, an arm around your shoulder, sometimes a hug... can bring reassurance and comfort.

 

 

 
 
 
 
Find out what is best for you
 

 

JAMES D. BOND, CPA

Diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma

I was in excellent shape when a routine physical showed questionable results. Within a month I was diagnosed. An incurable cancer! I felt like I'd been kicked in the stomach. I couldn't breathe.

My wife, Kathleen, and I decided early to give it our best shot, and both of us have been intimately involved in my treatment decisions, often using approaches that, at the time, were being studied in clinical trials and that today are available for all of us. I credit research with getting me to this point. We helped by giving it our best shot, staying active, and I know we also had a lot of help from our family, friends and faith.

Throughout our journey, I've worked full time in my office, at home, in my company's satellite offices, and with a laptop in hotels and hospitals. Kathleen and I are both active in speaking to cancer organizations such as support groups. My activities range from serving as a myeloma mentor with a national foundation to riding my bike to raise awareness for multiple myeloma and other cancers.

I've been very fortunate to have seen our sons graduate from college, start their careers and marry. I'm enjoying my recent mandatory retirement and am spending more time with our grandchildren. One takeaway from our story is that in the face of adversity the right attitude and purpose make a tremendous difference. Another takeaway is tenaciously finding the best way to treat your myeloma. Sometimes that might be one drug, a combination of drugs, a transplant, or a drug being studied in a clinical trial. With the right medical team, persistence and information, you can agree on what is best for you at each point of your journey.

 
 

 

THE POWER OF CONNECTIONS

Human contact is important. Although Internet-based support groups help on a day-to-day basis, regular meetings ... eye contact, personal communication, a hand to hold, an arm around your shoulder, sometimes a hug ... can bring reassurance and comfort. Other people who are going through many of the same things you are can be comforting. Together, you can even laugh at some of your experiences or worries. Even when they're not funny, they're real.

Actively participate in your support group – go to meetings regularly, get involved in discussions, help as much as you can with events, get tips about coping with emotions, feelings of isolation and, sometimes, hopelessness. In the process of simply being together, you inspire hope – sometimes in yourself, sometimes in your new friends.

Listen to and learn from helpful, well informed patients who can serve as role models, like Maddie Hunter and James Bond.

Become a role model by letting others know how you are coping AND managing. Don't feel you have to do anything perfectly. Your willingness to share your cares and woes – just being able to talk about them and how you “got through the day” – can help others.

 
 

 

 

When Phil and I were dating we lightheartedly called ourselves "Team P&C" to represent our loyalty and support for one another. Deciding at diagnosis that we would continue to operate as a cohesive unit, Phil and I relied on each other as teammates and used faith, humor and open communication to navigate Phil's health challenges. Always willing to go to bat for one another or to pick up slack if necessary, we know what it means to make sacrifices and see things through.

Phil has a positive attitude and natural charisma which are a perfect match for my practical approach to life. Phil's genuine love of people and my strong empathy for both patients and caregivers inspired us to connect with the myeloma community in as many meaningful ways as possible.

 
 

 

 

 

You are now leaving the My Multiple Myeloma website. Millennium Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is not responsible for the information contained in any of the linked sites.