Hi, John-

I think considering yourself a survivor rather than a patient is important. A survivor approaches the disease actively, looking for the best treatment for himself and then sharing his story with others looking to be survivors.
My survival was due mostly to an SCT which cut back cancer growth for 8 years. Additional partial remissions have been shorter, and I may go for another SCT.
Thanks to Medicare and supplemental private insurance, payment for my treatment has not been a problem, though I have to go thruogh less expensive treatments first, which is reasonable.
There seems to be little data available on second SCT treatments ten years or so after the frirst.
Older patients do seem to get through an SCT reasonably well, however.
I'm grateful that all my treatments have been to some extent successful. My life is limited because of multiple myeloma, but I can live within the limitations. I'm 71, diagnosed 1n 2002.

Jim

Hello, all.

My name is John Snippe, living in St Catharines, Ontario, Canada... and I have Multiple Myeloma.

Hmmm... that sounds a bit like AA, doesn't it? KInda wish it was that easy, that I had that level of control, that it's all about my will-power. But of course, it really isn't.

Anyhow... diagnosed this past January, after a year of a sore back that finally got all the way down to a cracked vertebra, and then a few weeks later another. Turns out: two tumorous manifestations of Multiple Myeloma. Yay. Won't here re-iterate the whole long story, other than to say I am very grateful for the medical attention I have been getting, and for the remarkable resources available on-line... certainly including this website.

Looking forward to participating on these forum boards (hope I can do it via email...)