This is Allison’s personal multiple myeloma story, and others may be different. Allison is a paid spokesperson for GSK.
When back pain, exhaustion and respiratory infections hit, Allison Freedman blamed her busy life. At 42, the active mom of twins had just completed an M.B.A program and started a new job, after moving to Boulder, Colorado.
As symptoms progressed, she knew something was wrong. A CT scan revealed multiple broken vertebrae and ribs, and then came the shocking news: You have cancer.
Tests confirmed it was multiple myeloma, a blood cancer that forms in the bone marrow, weakening the bones and immune system.[i]
Multiple myeloma is the second most common blood cancer in the US,[ii] and while anyone can be diagnosed, it’s most common in people 65+, slightly more common in men and twice as common among Black Americans versus white.[iii] Freedman didn’t fit the typical profile, which made her diagnosis even more surreal.
The battle begins
Freedman’s doctor explained that although there is no cure for multiple myeloma, treatments are available.[iv] She first underwent induction, or front-line therapy, before being deemed a candidate for an autologous stem cell transplant, involving high dose chemotherapy followed by rebuilding her immune system with her own cells.[v]
After the transplant, her cancer went into remission and she started maintenance therapy to help keep it from coming back. She continues regular care and monitoring by her oncology team. For anyone diagnosed with multiple myeloma, ongoing care and monitoring with your healthcare team is critical as most patients see the cancer return following initial treatment success (known as a recurrence or relapse) or fail to respond to treatment altogether (known as refractory).[vi]
Climbing back to life
Although Freedman’s cancer was at bay, she was still weak from the fractures. Nevertheless, she was determined to return to her active lifestyle.
Freedman heard about a group of multiple myeloma survivors and supporters climbing Mount Kilimanjaro — the tallest mountain in Africa — to raise awareness and money for the disease. The idea was daunting, but for Freedman, it wasn’t just about the physical challenge, but about reclaiming her life. After months of preparation, she found herself ready to begin her ascent.
The climb was brutal but healing.
“Getting to the top with this new community was one of the most powerful moments of my life,” Freedman said.
Moving forward
After that experience, Freedman started sharing her story with the world so that she might help others to find their inner fortitude and imagine a future full of possibilities.
Her twins, now high school seniors, have grown up witnessing their mother’s resilience.
“Their childhood has been shaped by having a mom with cancer,” Freedman said. “But I hope they’ve learned that even when life gets hard, you don’t give up. You put one foot in front of the other.”
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[i] Gertz MA. Multiple Myeloma. NORD (National Organization for Rare Disorders). https://rarediseases.org/rare-diseases/multiple-myeloma/. Published 2016. Accessed November 2024.
[ii] Kazandjian D. Multiple myeloma epidemiology and survival: A unique malignancy. Semin Oncol. 2016;43(6):676–681. doi:10.1053/j.seminoncol.2016.11.004.
[iii] American Cancer Society. Risk Factors for Multiple Myeloma. https://www.cancer.org/cancer/multiple-myeloma/causes-risks-prevention/risk-factors.html#references. Accessed November 2024.
[iv] Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation. Treatments for Multiple Myeloma. https://themmrf.org/diagnosis-and-treatment/treatment-options/ Accessed November 2024.
[v] Mayo Clinic. Bone marrow transplant. https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/autologous-stem-cell-transplant/pyc-20384859. Accessed November 2024.
[vi] Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. Refractory and Relapsed. https://www.lls.org/myeloma/treatment/refractory-and-relapsed. Accessed December 2024.
