Evolving Treatment Goals in Relapsed/Refractory Multiple Myeloma

In this segment, Elizabeth Bohannon reflects on how her treatment goals and outlook evolved as she progressed through different stages of relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma. She describes entering treatment with hope, recognizing that advances in multiple myeloma care had changed the treatment landscape since her earlier experience as an oncology nurse. Elizabeth discusses early challenges with insurance coverage and treatment access, followed by an initial treatment approach that did not achieve the desired disease response. As subsequent treatment regimens were needed, she describes the emotional impact of receiving disappointing results and repeatedly adjusting to new treatment plans. Elizabeth explains that achieving sufficient disease control to proceed to autologous stem cell transplantation became an important goal, leading to additional therapy intended to reduce her disease burden. She reflects on the difficulty of maintaining optimism through treatment setbacks and how achieving a partial remission eventually allowed her to begin rebuilding aspects of her life.