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I have already heard from several fellow myeloma patients that are willing to share their stories after reading Friday’s post:

WE WANT TO READ ABOUT YOU! 

In the meantime, I have a number of other interesting reader contributions that I would like to share with you.

The first is from a regular reader who recently underwent an allo (donor) stem cell transplant, our good friend, Mark:

Pat, As you know, Bone Marrow Donors are at THE top of my list of heroes in patients struggle against Blood Cancer.  What do you think of this article?  The concept of trying to financially compensate Bone Marrow Donors specifically.  I can understand the concept of not allowing healthy people to get paid for organ donations but Bone Marrow Donors are different in the sense that the donation causes them no long term harm.  What do you think?  Mark 
Compensating Bone Marrow Donors Will Save Lives

What do I think?  I think it’s a wonderful idea!  Even though many donors are no longer subjected to the surgical removal of bone marrow, they still loose time–and experience some discomfort–during stem cell collection.  Why not compensate them as a way to encourage more participation in the program?

Next, another regular reader, Holt, emailed me a short while back about the loss of a friend–and to share a great multiple myeloma awareness campaign idea:

Hello Pat,

A myeloma buddy of mine named Don died over the weekend.  He was the first myeloma patient I met after I was diagnosed, and he acted as a mentor and confidant to me.  He will be missed.

I hate this miserable disease!

How about this for an awareness campaign slogan:  “Multiple myeloma–the deadliest cancer you’ve never heard of.”

Thanks for all you do to support us.

You bet, Holt!  Sorry to hear about your good friend… Finally, a reader named Fred forwarded me this encouraging information:

The Phase I Multiple Myeloma trial using Reolysin (a viral therapy drug whis uses non-modified reovirus) has started recruitment:

Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital and Richard J. Solove Research Institute at Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center
Columbus, Ohio, United States, 43210-1240 Here is the link to the trial on clinicaltrials.gov database http://www.clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT01533194?term=reolysin&rank=11

Thanks, Fred!  I knew that Reolysin is being used against brain tumors.  Another example of “outside-the-box” thinking!  I will do some follow-up on this tomorrow–along with a medical update about my meeting with Dr. Alsina at Moffitt late last week. 

Feel good and keep smiling!  Pat