Hi Grah, 

A very warm welcome to Cancer Chat and thank you for coming here and sharing your story of living with myeloma. I hope that the chemotherapy treatment is going well and that you are not suffering from too many side effects. I am so sorry that you have been so isolated and that your children have not contacted you and your wife is not very well at the moment as well as your niece who has cancer too. I can imagine the loneliness must be hard to bear sometimes and that it can be difficult to remain positive at times.

This is a time when you might need support from loved ones and it can be a real challenge to face all this alone. I just wanted you to know that the forum is here for you anytime you need to reach out to someone who understands what you are going through and I hope that you will soon be hearing from others here who have also been diagnosed with myeloma. I thought I would mention for example this recent myeloma thread by juliemary50 which you are welcome to respond to if you wish to do so. 

We would love for you to feel less lonely through the power of this online forum and I hope that Cancer Chat will help you connect with others who have been affected by myeloma. 

Best wishes, 

Lucie, Cancer Chat Moderator

Hi Grah, 

Your POST 7 months ago really struck a cord in my heart. How are you 7 months on? I hope things have improved for you. I am brand new to Myeloma.

I would be really interested if you could share your experience of Stem Cell Transplant, I am on my first Chemo cycle but in 4 months time the plan is to have the Stem Cell Transplant done and I have no idea what to expect I would like to know the good and the bad so I have an all round idea. Obviously everyone is different and cope in different ways but it would be helpful to get an idea. I am so sorry that you are finding this a lonely experience without your family to rely on, I do absolutely understand some of that - my Hubby has Alzheimer's & Vascular dementia so the person who has always been my rock is disappearing before my very eyes and does not remember anything I tell him, so it is quite a silent household when only the two of us here, which is most of the time. I do however have my twin sister who has really stepped up for me and is 100% supportive, my kids are at work all day but my daughter rings every day for update and my son too. I really hope your Wife is able to improve health wise and be there for you soon, if not already, given you are 7 months on. My heart goes out to you. It is hardly a wonder that you get down in the dumps - who wouldn't - but hats off to you for trying your best to be positive - I am convinced that being positive is half the battle with this sort of thing - we mustn't let the *** get the better of us!!  If you ever fancy a rant or a chat I am more than happy to be the person to listen even though I am new at this myself. Perhaps the time for sharing your feelings has come and it is probably easier on here than face to face.  However, I hope it is your Wife you will be able to share your feelings with if she is feeling better herself that is.   Wishing you well.

Suzy-W