Living Their Best Lives: Grateful City Of Hope Orange County Patients Find The Positives In Their Journeys With Multiple Myeloma

Multiple myeloma is an uncommon form of blood cancer that affects about 1 in 132 people in the U.S.  In honor of Multiple Myeloma Awareness Month, we recently spoke to four grateful patients at City of Hope Newport Beach Fashion Island, each of whom is receiving care from Amrita Krishnan, M.D., a world-renowned expert in multiple myeloma and the director of City of Hope’s Judy and Bernard Briskin Center for Multiple Myeloma Research.

 

Each offered valuable insights about addressing the challenges of living with the disease – and explained the blessings that have come out of their journey with cancer, including deep friendship with one another and the formation of their “Multiple Myeloma (MM) Squad,” a group of fellow patients that have forged special bonds of mutual support.

 

 

Todd Kennedy:
I plan to live fully with cancer and die from something else, decades from now; therefore, it is essential to have a comprehensive and coordinated care team. My City of Hope expert is the quarterback for my leading- edge cancer treatment, but I also maintain my overall health with regular coordinated, care from my internist, dermatologist, neurologist, and other sub-specialists as needed. In addition, I turn to my wife and cancer support group to stay mentally strong, inspired, educated, and engaged.

Donna McNutt:

Support is so different for each of us. Mine started out with my family. Along the way, I wanted to return to being a wife, mom, sister, daughter, and friend, so I invested in the MM relationships I’ve gathered and made them my support system. This way, I’m not always discussing my cancer needs with those I love.

 

My first thought immediately goes to my wonderful family, we are Nolans, and we fight! My husband, Ed is the stronghold as a husband, father, and caretaker; Ed loves on me and never pities me. My fellow survivors in the Squad are HUGE for me! This Squad is a team of warriors. They are my “go to” when challenges arise. We have formed a bond that is shared by no one who does not know the myeloma world. It’s a disease that has no cure but is managed very well by our extraordinary physician, Dr. Krishnan.
 

Without question, my wife has been an incredible support for me. She has been with me every step of the way. I’m not sure how I could have navigated thru this journey without her. And both of my kids, Jack and Emma, have helped a great deal; especially after my transplant, which was during the height of COVID-19. And I can’t forget to mention my multiple myeloma squad, who have become more than friends to me. They’ve become family.

 

 

Todd Kennedy:

My go to self-care activity is daily hikes with my wife in the beautiful Orange County foothills. These hikes are therapy for the mind and body!

 

For me, it’s getting dressed. Now, there have been many times this means nice pjs and slippers. Self-care is making myself not give up on my appearance. I just won’t let cancer take that from me.

 

I live my life to the fullest. I travel, play tennis, play a lot of cards with my kids, go boating on the water, and I truly enjoy cooking. But what I love most is the comfort of my husband’s arms, feeling true love even after 30 years. That’s my favorite way to relax after a hard day.

 

I work out daily by lifting weights, riding a high-tech stationary bike, and swimming.  I’m also very conscious of what I eat.  I stay away from processed foods and eat as many fruits and vegetables as possible.

 

 

I am reassured by evidence. The median survival rate for multiple myeloma is twice as long at City of Hope versus the national average. The science is advancing so rapidly. Whether you are seeking care from an academic center or a second opinion to support ongoing care with a community oncologist, it is important to incorporate expert, leading-edge insights into your personalized treatment plan.

 

“I can maybe buy you five years.” This was my original doctor’s opinion. That was simply not good enough. We made our way to City of Hope, an organization specializing in my cancer. Dr. Krishnan mapped out our plan of attack and gave me the hope I yearned for. Look at me, seven years later and still kicking in cute shoes!

 

Bonnie Nolan:

I was told I would have six to 12 months to live.  The shock value is exactly what you can imagine, and then some. Having such a unique cancer, it was simply lifesaving to have Dr. Krishnan, a recognized leader in multiple myeloma, right here in my back yard and to have City of Hope Newport Beach Fashion Island clinic open just days before I was diagnosed in January 2020. My total commute is eight minutes, and that’s when I hit all the red lights. City of Hope being here in Orange County is a sea change for the better for our community.

 

Simply put, Dr. Krishnan has changed my life. City of Hope’s sole focus is fighting cancer, and I am so thankful that I made the decision to seek an additional opinion there. Several friends of mine who are physicians also strongly suggested that I get treated at City of Hope and see Dr. Krishnan. It is one of the best decisions I have made in my entire life — no kidding.

 

 

Due to recent scientific breakthroughs, there are many reasons for myeloma patients to be very hopeful. To quickly benefit from the latest innovations, however, patients need to take action. The most important step is to get a doctor on your team who has deep expertise in your specific cancer. They will help you accurately confirm your specific diagnosis and determine the best, personalized treatment plan that will allow you to live a long and wonderful life.

 

You are in good hands at City of Hope. I’ve met so many myeloma patients given treatment plans designed just for them that have been successful in prolonging their lives until there’s a cure. Introduce yourself to other patients, be it in the waiting room or having treatment. The friendships with other multiple myeloma warriors have been invaluable to my journey. If I could eradicate cancer and keep each one of them, my world would be perfect.

 

Multiple myeloma is cancer, and no one ever wants to hear that they have it. However, it is a manageable disease, and the breakthroughs have continued to advance. City of Hope and Dr. Krishnan are so dialed in that side effects are minimal, and we all live our best lives. If you stay on the path of positive perseverance, you will become a warrior. There are speed bumps, and luckily, we can all hurdle a few of them. We are not letting multiple myeloma rule our lives, we are living our best lives with multiple myeloma.

 

If you are newly diagnosed, the first three weeks are without question the toughest, with all of the testing and the uncertainty of what’s going on in your body. Once you get past the first three weeks, things start to stabilize when you start treatment. For me and all of my other MM friends, life gets back to normal. Getting treatment just becomes part of your life. I go to work every day and enjoy my life — and so will you.  Cancer does not define who I am, and it will not define you either.