In part 2, we get practical: planning treatment around family calendars and holidays, deciding between inpatient and outpatient treatment, arranging travel and temporary housing, syncing records between centers, getting financialassistance, and advocating for yourself. With insights from Dr. Joshua Dower (Stamford Health) and lived experiences from myeloma patients Kim and Annie, this episode is your playbook for navigating the details.

Topics of discussion:

(01:13) Navigating travel and scheduling for CAR T-cell therapy

(06:02) Navigating travel and scheduling for bispecific antibody therapy

(09:25) Support from the care team

(11:23) Advocating for the best possible care during transition of care

This episode is supported by Pfizer Inc.

To learn more about bispecific antibody and CAR T-cell therapy, download the Immunotherapy booklet here.

To learn more about multiple myeloma, visit themmrf.org.

To learn more about the MMRF’s FREE resources for patients and caregivers, visit the MMRF Education Hub.

If you have additional questions, call our MMRF Patient Navigation Center at 1-888-841- 6673.

Part 1 of this two-part Myeloma Matters episode focuses on introducing the concept of transition of care for myeloma patients: how treatment often begins at specialized centers and then shifts to local providers. Dr. Joshua Dower of Stamford Health explains why CAR T and bispecific therapies typically start at specialty centers, how care teams coordinate, and what early co-management betweenacademic and local doctors looks like. Myeloma patients Kim and Annie discuss their experiences with navigating this transition. This episode also touches on finding myeloma specialists, building trust with care teams, and the rolecaregivers fill in the early treatment phases.

Topics of discussion:

(01:51) Why treatment often starts at academic or specialized cancer centers

(03:40) Choosing bispecific antibody or CAR T-cell therapy

(05:54) Finding a myeloma specialist

(11:48) The path from specialized center to local care

(14:24) Caregiver roles

(18:04) Final thoughts

This episode is supported by Pfizer Inc.

To learn more about bispecific antibody and CAR T-cell therapy, download the Immunotherapy booklet here.

To learn more about multiple myeloma, visit themmrf.org.

To learn more about the MMRF’s FREE resources for patients and caregivers, visit the MMRF Education Hub.

If you have additional questions, call our MMRF Patient Navigation Center at 1-888-841- 6673.

In this episode, we explore an exciting and rapidly evolving area of myeloma treatment: immunotherapy, with a focus on two groundbreaking approaches, CAR T-cell therapy and bispecific antibody therapy. These therapies are changing myeloma care, offering new hope for patients whose treatment no longer works. You’ll hear about the decisions they faced when considering these treatments; the ways they prepared mentally, physically, and emotionally; and what their experience has been.

Topics of discussion:

(4:05) Decision-making process for CAR T-cell therapy

(8:15) Experience receiving CAR T-cell therapy

(12:35) Experience receiving bispecific antibody therapy

(14:58) Considerations for enrolling in a clinical trial

(20:15) Role of caregivers and patient advocates

(24:05 Managing side effects

(33:18) Impact of CAR T-cell and bispecific antibody therapy

This episode is supported by AbbVie, Amgen, CURE, Genentech, GSK, Johnson & Johnson, Karyopharm, Legend Biotech, Pfizer, Regeneron, and Sanofi.

To learn more about CAR T-cell therapy, download A Guide to CAR T-Cell Therapy in Myeloma here.

To learn more about bispecific antibody therapy, download Bispecific Antibodies for Multiple Myeloma: What you Need to Know here.

To learn more about multiple myeloma, visit www.themmrf.org.

If you want to learn more about the MMRF’s FREE resources for patients and caregivers, visit the MMRF Education Hub.

If you have additional questions, call our MMRF Patient Navigation Center at 1-888-841- 6673.

In this episode, we discuss supportive care, which encompasses the management of both treatment side effects and complications of multiple myeloma rather than the disease itself. We’ll hear from a patient living with myeloma and a social worker working in oncology as they discuss their experiences with supportive care and what you can do to improve your quality of life.

Topics of discussion:

(4:54) Supportive care and quality of life

(7:26) Role of a social worker

(9:06) Fatigue

(13:31) Pain

(19:44) Peripheral neuropathy

(21:56) Mental health distress

(27:42) Gastrointestinal symptoms

(31:08) How to communicate with your health care team

This episode is supported by AbbVie, Amgen, CURE, Genentech, GSK, Johnson & Johnson, Karyopharm, Legend Biotech, Pfizer, Regeneron, and Sanofi.

To learn more about supportive care, visit www.themmrf.org/support.

To learn more about multiple myeloma, visit www.themmrf.org.

If you want to learn more about the MMRF’s FREE resources for patients and caregivers, visit the MMRF Education Hub.

If you have additional questions, call our MMRF Patient Navigation Center at 1-888-841- 6673.

In this episode, you’ll learn what being a cancer survivor means, why the concept of survivorship is important to patients living with myeloma, how to be an empowered advocate for your care, and what to expect day-to-day in your myeloma journey.

MMRF patient navigators Erin Mensching, Grace Allison, and Brittany Hartmann join the podcast to provide up-to-date information on myeloma management, talk about resources that are available to myeloma patients, and offer suggestions on connecting with other myeloma patients, caregivers, and experts.

(0:00) Definition of survivorship

(2:04) Learning the diagnosis

(10:24) Shared decision-making

(39:28) Empowerment through knowledge

This episode is supported by AbbVie, Adaptive, BMS, CURE, Genentech, Kite/Arcellx, Pfizer, Regeneron, and Sanofi.

To learn more about newly diagnosed multiple myeloma, download the Survivorship Fast Facts in Myeloma here.

To learn more about multiple myeloma, visit www.themmrf.org.

If you want to learn more about the MMRF’s FREE resources for patients and caregivers, visit the MMRF Education Hub.

If you have additional questions, call our MMRF Patient Navigation Center at 1-888-841- 6673.

In this episode of Myeloma Matters, you’ll learn about autologous stem cell transplantation and why it is considered the standard of care for eligible newly diagnosed patients. You’ll hear from four patients who have undergone the procedure—sometimes even twice.

Topics of discussion:

(22:45) Stem cell transplantation as a treatment option

(28:30) What type of support is needed before and after a transplant?

(40:05) Potential long-term complications from a transplant

(43:40) Fertility issues when diagnosed at a young age

(45:24) Potential concerns when considering a transplant

(50:15) Concerns about the risk of secondary cancers from maintenance therapy

(57:57) Advice to those considering a transplant

(1:07:04) Can a transplant be saved for relapse?

This episode is supported by Adaptive, Amgen, Bristol Myers Squibb, GSK, and Janssen.

To learn more about autologous stem cell transplantation, download the Multiple Myeloma: Autologous Stem Cell Transplantation information sheet here.

To learn more about multiple myeloma, visit www.themmrf.org.

Stay up to date on the MMRF’s FREE programs and resources at the MMRF Education Hub.

If you have additional questions, call our MMRF Patient Navigation Center at 1-888-841- 6673.

In this episode of Myeloma Matters, you’ll learn about targeted immunotherapy, a unique type of myeloma treatment that specifically targets myeloma cells. You’ll hear from three patients who have been on a targeted immunotherapy to get a sense of the patient experience and how these patients wound up receiving targeted immunotherapy.

Topics of discussion:

(0:00) Introduction to myeloma and targeted immunotherapy

(17:15) Differences between targeted immunotherapy and traditional drugs

(18:58) Preparing for CAR T-cell therapy compared to an autologous stem cell transplant

(22:34) The role of the caregiver during and after hospitalization for treatment

(32:25) Experience with a bispecific antibody

(36:21) Handling being off treatment after CAR T-cell therapy

To learn more about immunotherapy, download the Multiple Myeloma Immunotherapy booklet here.

To learn more about multiple myeloma, visit www.themmrf.org.

If you want to learn more about the MMRF’s FREE resources for patients and caregivers, visit the MMRF Education Hub.

If you have additional questions, call our MMRF Patient Navigation Center at 1-888-841- 6673.

In this episode, you’ll learn about smoldering multiple myeloma, a condition that precedes multiple myeloma. This podcast describes how smoldering myeloma is diagnosed, how it differs from active myeloma, and how it’s usually managed. You’ll also hear from two patients, who talk about their experience with this disease.

This episode is supported by AbbVie, Amgen, CURE, Genentech, GSK, Johnson & Johnson, Karyopharm, Legend Biotech, Pfizer, Regeneron, and Sanofi.

(0) Introduction to smoldering myeloma

(7:00) Learning the diagnosis

(8:49) The importance of finding a myeloma specialist

(17:22) The psychological burden of a smoldering myeloma diagnosis

(29:06) Patient navigators and other helpful resources

(33:15) Watchful waiting and helpful resources

(47:58) Lifestyle changes

(51:11) Caregivers

To learn more about smoldering myeloma, download the Monoclonal Gammopathy of Undetermined Significance and Smoldering Multiple Myeloma: Multiple Myeloma Precursor Conditions booklet here.

To learn more about multiple myeloma, visit www.themmrf.org.

If you want to learn more about the MMRF’s FREE resources for patients and caregivers, visit the MMRF Education Hub.

If you have additional questions, call our MMRF Patient Navigation Center at 1-888-841- 6673.