Kansas City, KS- Emily Schoeb, diagnosed with multiple myeloma at age 39, shared her journey from a painful back injury to a bone marrow transplant.
Her doctors, Dr. Al Ola Abdallah and Dr. Joseph McGuirk, highlighted the advancements in multiple myeloma treatment, including the success of CAR T-cell therapy.
Emily's positive attitude and participation in clinical trials are crucial for ongoing research. Despite hair loss and treatment challenges, Emily remains hopeful, advocating for early detection and clinical trials to achieve a cure.
Emily Schoeb, patient
Emily shares her emotional reaction to the diagnosis, feeling crushed and overwhelmed, especially as a single parent to her 10-year-old daughter, Amelia.
She underwent an auto transplant, using her own stem cells, which were cleaned and returned to her.
Emily discusses the importance of staying strong, listening to doctors, and being an advocate for research.
Dr. Al-Ola Abdallah, Hematologist Oncologist
Director, Plasma Cell Disorder Program, The University of Kansas Cancer Center
Dr. Abdallah emphasizes the importance of clinical trials in advancing treatment options and achieving cures for patients.
He explains that multiple myeloma is a blood cancer affecting plasma cells, which can cause organ damage and bone fractures.
Dr. Joseph McGuirk, Director of Hematologic Malignancies and Cellular Therapeutics, The University of Kansas Cancer Center
Dr. McGuirk shares that recent medical literature and advancements have shown that multiple myeloma is no longer considered incurable.
He discusses the advancements in CAR T-cell therapies and their effectiveness in treating multiple myeloma.
Dr. McGuirk highlights the need for better CAR T-cell therapies with less toxicity and higher efficacy.
