My Sister's just been diagnosed with multiple myeloma. How can I best support her both, physically and emotionally?

My Sister was diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma 8 days ago, our family and close friends feel very concerned and worried for her. She is on lots of strong meds and starts chemotherapy on Tuesday. She's normally a very active 63 year old, however she's feeling very tired and frightened which is understandable. 

Please advise how we can give her the best emotional and physical support as possible?

Thank you so much because we love and care for her so much

  • A very warm welcome to the forum Z1000SX-Ian although I'm sorry to hear your sister has been diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma.

    Coping with a cancer diagnosis can be very tough so it's completely normal, and natural, for her to be feeling like this right now but I'm sure she really appreciates all the love and support she is already receiving from you, your family and her close friends.

    I hope this information we have on supporting someone with cancer will prove useful but if you'd like to have a quick chat with one of our cancer nurses about this they're available on 0808 800 4040, Monday - Friday between 9a.m - 5p.m. They're very insightful and will do all they can to address your questions and concerns.

    Our members know how difficult it is to see a loved one embark on a cancer journey, so you are not alone, and hopefully some of them will stop by soon to offer their support and advice.

    We're thinking of you Z1000Sx-Ian and wishing your sister all the best with her treatment.

    Kind regards,

    Steph, Cancer Chat Moderator

  • I have just been diagnosed with Myeloma and have started my 1st cycle of Chemo now. It is very scary in the beginning (the fear of the unknown !)  but there are a lot of really good fact books which will help your sister get some clarity and of course talking to the Macmillan Nurses about everything and anything they are all so lovely and more than happy to answer any questions she may have. My twin sister has been fantastic just taking over phone calls to anywhere to get any information she can and sorting out my dosset box as I have arthritis in my hands and can't push the pills out of the foil packs. She has been driving me to all my appointments & sitting with me during my Chemo session at Mac Unit. Normally I would have done all these things with my Hubby but he has Alzheimer's and Vascular Dementia so can't help me in any way what-so-ever now. I should add that my sister is retired so obviously has the time to help me. I have got really bad brain-fog my head feels like it is full of cotton wool and I feel deadly tired alot of the time I also have insomnia due to the drugs, so having my Sis to do the thinking & organising has been a real boon! She has done little picnics for Chemo day in Mac Unit and flasks of "drinkable coffee" which I hadn't even thought of. I can't & won't be able to drive for quite some time possibly nigh on a year as cancer is in Pelvic bone and too painful to drive I would not be capable of executing an Emergency Stop which is really frustrating already!! So my Sis is taking me to shops for incidental needs and the rest I do On-line now. Bless her she is running me around anywhere I need to go and hers is the shoulder I lean on and can talk to her about my worries - so there are some ideas for you to think about to help your Sister.  I do hope your Sis gets on well with her Chemo and I am sure that you will find yourself thinking of things to support her quite naturally as things move forward.  Wishing her well.

    Suzy-W