Multiple myeloma patient Nora was stunned to receive a myeloma diagnosis after going in for knee pain. Watch as she shares her journey, her struggles with being heard as a BIPOC patient, and clinical trial support she received.
Nora was stunned to receive a multiple myeloma diagnosis after going in for knee pain. Watch as she shares her journey, her struggles with being heard as a BIPOC patient, and clinical trial support she received. In Nora’s words, “I was nervous about the trial because I had no knowledge of it. After starting the trial, I realized that my fear was not real. Goodness can come out of a clinical trial. ”And Nora is thankful for the clinical trial financial assistance from Lazarex Cancer Foundation, “Lazarex helped a lot, which was a big help. It gave me more strength to face the treatment and the emotional space to face the treatment without worrying about financial stress.”
Transcript:
I’ve always been an active person, but after knee pain became too much to manage, medical tests revealed I had multiple myeloma.
As a person of color, who often goes to appointments alone, I find it hard at times to articulate myself in a medical setting. In the past, I often felt dismissed and had to work extra hard to be heard. I wasn’t sure about what questions to ask about my myeloma, but I knew I had to find a specialist who could listen to my needs and limitations as we sought the best treatment options for me.
While still actively working, I decided to start treatment, all of which I did during my lunch breaks. No one knew I had cancer.
Many years later, numerous treatments started to have little impact, so I opted for a stem cell transplant, but then I relapsed. My options were becoming limited. My specialist then suggested a clinical trial. I was nervous about the trial simply because I had no knowledge of it.
I agreed and started a twice-weekly regimen requiring expensive travel arrangements. The costs to travel for treatments were a barrier.
My clinical trial coordinator introduced me to Lazarex Cancer Foundation which granted me funds for travel to get treatments. The grants helped me tremendously. Without financial stress to deal with, I had more strength and emotional space to face all my treatments, and to be more articulate.
I am so grateful for Lazarex supporting patients like me as we seek clinical treatments to extend our lives.
