Multiple Myeloma- Dancing In the Rain with MyelomaTeacher

What does it mean to be a patient advocate? If you asked me that 6 years ago I would have no idea how to answer that question.   Six years ago I was newly diagnosed with myeloma and struggling to learn about this heterogenous disease and all the treatment options that would be available to me.   Six years ago I was quite a different person. Six years ago I didn't have discussions with my healthcare team or ask them questions when things didn't seem right. Six years ago I thought I would offend my doctor if I sought a second opinion. Six years ago I was an uneducated, uninvolved patient who blindly followed doctor's orders. BUT Six years ago I had the good fortune to attend my first IMF Patient and Family Seminar in Short Hills, NJ and things began to change. The IMF quickly taught me that "Knowledge is Power". Being a teacher I liked acquiring knowledge so I began educating myself about myeloma.   I attended IMF Patient and Family Seminars, listened to webc

One of my New Year's resolutions for the third year in the row is to blog.  I'm doig better this year it then in the past.  It's still January and I'm giving it a try. I guess I'm hesitant to blog for a few reasons. 1. I'm not much of a writer...math and science are my things.  I was plagued with the red pen death during my high school English classes.  Words like awkward and unclear were always on my returned essays. 2. I guess I really was unclear what a blog was suppose to convey.  Was it like a diary? Was it like a news report?  Was I suppose to write about my daily life or inner most feelings? 3. I never was one to share my feelings with others. I am pushing myself to begin to share some of my musings about the world. There I did it!  Blog post 1 for 2015!