The myeloma “cure” trials CESAR and ASCENT, which are part of the IMF’s Black Swan Research Initiative® (BSRI) project, are active and ongoing, and I will be providing an update very soon. However, another aspect of the Black Swan project is to understand what causes myeloma and to develop prevention strategies. This is a key element of the iStopMM study, in which full details of patients’ medical history, exposures, and DNA sequence information can be reviewed and assessed. But what questions do we ask? And what clues do we have to guide the discovery process?
Each patient with multiple myeloma is different. Within a myeloma support group, one can learn a lot about testing and treatments, but outcomes for individual patients are often very different. These differences must be studied in rigorously designed clinical trials to double-check test results and treatment details. So, while it might be tempting to compare what happened with Joe or Mary to yourself, the best guidance for your individual treatment is based on the best myeloma research, clinical trials, consensus statements, and guidelines. 
I have written a lot about healthy food choices, so recent articles stressing the benefits of the Mediterranean-style diet caught my eye. Apparently, it is not easy for Americans to switch to this healthier approach, with its emphasis on fish and fresh fruits and vegetables, writes journalist and author 
This week, the myeloma community can celebrate with the International Myeloma Foundation as we appreciate the significance and the hopefulness of a very important wedding. This past weekend, Ally Tuohy, daughter of Robin and Michael Tuohy, was married to Jonathan Fitzpatrick. Robin is the IMF Senior Director of Support Groups, and Michael, her husband, is a myeloma patient who was diagnosed in September 2000.