Living With Multiple Myeloma

An avid bowler, Edith Ford, 72, of Warrensville Heights, was experiencing pain in her right arm — her bowling arm. She thought it was a pulled muscle or some other bowling injury, but the pain wouldn’t go away and was affecting her game. “It was so painful and kept hanging around,” says Edith. “I had to find out what was causing me so much grief.”

She knew it was time to seek medical care. Edith went to South Pointe Hospital’s Emergency Department, where a physician ordered an X-ray of her right arm. When Edith’s X-ray showed a mass, the doctor recommended she see Sam Abraksia, MD, oncologist and medical director of Cleveland Clinic’s Cancer Center at South Pointe Hospital.

“When Edith first came to see me in 2003, I told her we needed to do a blood test and biopsy the mass to confirm what I suspected,” recalls Dr. Abraksia. When the tests came back, they showed that Edith had multiple myeloma, commonly known as bone cancer.

In multiple myeloma, abnormal plasma cells (myeloma cells) build up in the bone marrow, forming tumors in many bones of the body. These tumors may prevent the bone marrow from making enough healthy blood cells. A tumor can damage the bone and cause hypercalcemia (too much calcium in the blood). This can affect the kidneys and cause serious health problems. Multiple myeloma, considered to be incurable yet treatable, is much more common among African-Americans.

“I had to find out what was causing me so much grief.”

Now that they knew what was causing Edith’s arm pain, “it was time to start therapy to rid her body of the bad cells in her bone marrow,” says Dr. Abraksia. Edith went through radiation for 10 days. Then she began chemotherapy, which spanned more than a year. Every six weeks, Edith took a series of chemotherapy drugs for four days.

After the therapy was complete, Edith went into remission until 2006. That’s when the cancer returned. Edith was treated with another round of radiation and chemotherapy.

In 2007, the cancer returned yet again. “I decided Edith should have a bone marrow transplant — where cells are collected from the bone and filtered. Then healthy cells are injected back into the body to go forth and multiply,” explains Dr. Abraksia.

Edith did well with the transplant, which was performed at Cleveland Clinic’s main campus, but the cancer returned in 2008 and intermittently through 2013.

“During my treatments, I continue to keep active. I go to the gym and walk on the treadmill, ride my stationary bike and go bowling. When the weather is nice, I absolutely love walking outside — the fresh air is amazing. My daughter and granddaughter live down the block, so I walk to their house and convince them to join me,” says Edith.

Staying active, despite being tired from her treatments, is an important part of the healing process for Edith. Another essential element is attending church regularly. Members of her congregation are encouraged to stand up and give a testimony and ask for prayer. Edith takes this opportunity to declare, “I have cancer, and I am a survivor.”

Always optimistic, she credits her resilience to her energetic lifestyle and positive attitude.

Because of the type of cancer that Edith is fighting, she continues to undergo chemotherapy treatments at South Pointe Hospital, twice a week, for an indefinite period of time. “I won’t let cancer get me down,” says Edith.

“Even though Edith has been through a lot, she doesn’t let cancer define her; it’s not who she is. She has a strong, positive attitude and a smile on her face. She’s an inspiration for other cancer patients,” says Dr. Abraksia.