I found out that I had multiple myeloma (MM) when I was 39 years old. I was always tried and just could not get enough energy to do much of anything. When I fell and could not walk for more than a month is when my family found out something was wrong. During this time, I almost lost my life because my kidney was shutting down, and I still could not walk. My husband then took me to another hospital where they found out that I had MM. We have been dealing with this for seven years, and we just found out that I am out of remission. I have to find a new treatment to go with now after already going through one bone marrow transplant, 17 treatments of radiation, a blood transfusion, and chemo. Now we have to go through this all over again.

For about a year and a half I had been very tired, and I kept getting sick and it took so long to get well that I would be sick all over again I also started throwing up which is something I never do I was working 7 days a week but had to drop down to 5 days and almost couldn't do the 5 days, I have always been a hard worker when I had a job, my boss got real mean with me and started loading me down with impossible work loads, which I did but not easily, I was barely able put one foot in front of the other. I never went to the doctor. I kept thinking I would get better until I went to work at 5:30 am and by 9:00 I had to call my boss I was so sick, I went home and lay down for 2-3 hours and when I awoke my neck was so swollen I didn't look human and I couldn't breathe my daughter took me to the hospital my kidneys were shutting down along with a long list of other things that is how I found out that I have this cancer.

After a bad fall, I continually felt weaker and had lower back and leg pain. I hurt so bad at the time, I felt I was doomed to suffer the rest of my life. Doctors simply told me to go home and get some rest, take pain pills and literally call them in the morning. Continued breaking ribs and back pain were no clue to them. Later that year I could no longer walk and suffered with continual back spasms. The ER found Stage III Multiple Myeloma after 1 day of tests.

MY MOTHER IS AGE 65/ IN RENAL FAILURE /LIFE EXSPECTANCE 1-3 MONTHS DEAD BY 4MONTHS/ THANK GOD WE ARE AT 6-MONTHS WEIGHT 221 NOW 171 SOME CONFUSSION BED RIDDEN SINCE 6-1-08 IN STAGE 3 THE WHOLE TIME/LIFE LONG SMOKER/ONLY ON DYALISIS AND A DEX-STERIOD.PHONE DR ERIC BATTS OR DR KATHERYN ALGUIRE IN MUSKEGON MICHIGAN AT THE JOHNSON CANCER CENTER IF YOU CAN HELP OR ANY NEW DRUG TREATMENTS THAT CAN EXTEND LIFE/CURE MY MOM. THANK YOU.231-737-3469

My father was being treated for a chest infection for six weeks but antibiotics brought no improvement. His mobility was more impaired by pain in the torso and eventually, after dramatic immobility an A & E visit showed kidney failure subsequently confirmed as a result due to Multiple Myeloma. My Dad is a 76 year old gardener who spent a lot of time with pesticides and petrol lawn mowers. His deterioration was very fast and he worked as long as possible. His rib cage and shoulder blades continue to be most affected and his lungs, although healthy, are his greatest cause of discomfort.

I had anemia of unknown source. My multiple myeloma manifested itself through my kidneys. I had bone marrow biopsy and kidney biopsy to confirm. It took almost 6 months to diagnose.

My mother thought she was "coming down" with something. She could not pin point how she felt different, other than feeling very tired. She was restless, but did not mention bone pain. She often was cold. After trying to "beat the bug" at home for a week we took her to the hospital to get to the bottom of her weakness. Several tests were done and the bone marrow results gave us the diagnosis along with a 24 hour urine collection.