In part 2, we get practical: planning treatment around family calendars and holidays, deciding between inpatient and outpatient treatment, arranging travel and temporary housing, syncing records between centers, getting financialassistance, and advocating for yourself. With insights from Dr. Joshua Dower (Stamford Health) and lived experiences from myeloma patients Kim and Annie, this episode is your playbook for navigating the details.

Topics of discussion:

(01:13) Navigating travel and scheduling for CAR T-cell therapy

(06:02) Navigating travel and scheduling for bispecific antibody therapy

(09:25) Support from the care team

(11:23) Advocating for the best possible care during transition of care

This episode is supported by Pfizer Inc.

To learn more about bispecific antibody and CAR T-cell therapy, download the Immunotherapy booklet here.

To learn more about multiple myeloma, visit themmrf.org.

To learn more about the MMRF’s FREE resources for patients and caregivers, visit the MMRF Education Hub.

If you have additional questions, call our MMRF Patient Navigation Center at 1-888-841- 6673.

Part 1 of this two-part Myeloma Matters episode focuses on introducing the concept of transition of care for myeloma patients: how treatment often begins at specialized centers and then shifts to local providers. Dr. Joshua Dower of Stamford Health explains why CAR T and bispecific therapies typically start at specialty centers, how care teams coordinate, and what early co-management betweenacademic and local doctors looks like. Myeloma patients Kim and Annie discuss their experiences with navigating this transition. This episode also touches on finding myeloma specialists, building trust with care teams, and the rolecaregivers fill in the early treatment phases.

Topics of discussion:

(01:51) Why treatment often starts at academic or specialized cancer centers

(03:40) Choosing bispecific antibody or CAR T-cell therapy

(05:54) Finding a myeloma specialist

(11:48) The path from specialized center to local care

(14:24) Caregiver roles

(18:04) Final thoughts

This episode is supported by Pfizer Inc.

To learn more about bispecific antibody and CAR T-cell therapy, download the Immunotherapy booklet here.

To learn more about multiple myeloma, visit themmrf.org.

To learn more about the MMRF’s FREE resources for patients and caregivers, visit the MMRF Education Hub.

If you have additional questions, call our MMRF Patient Navigation Center at 1-888-841- 6673.

In this episode, we explore an exciting and rapidly evolving area of myeloma treatment: immunotherapy, with a focus on two groundbreaking approaches, CAR T-cell therapy and bispecific antibody therapy. These therapies are changing myeloma care, offering new hope for patients whose treatment no longer works. You’ll hear about the decisions they faced when considering these treatments; the ways they prepared mentally, physically, and emotionally; and what their experience has been.

Topics of discussion:

(4:05) Decision-making process for CAR T-cell therapy

(8:15) Experience receiving CAR T-cell therapy

(12:35) Experience receiving bispecific antibody therapy

(14:58) Considerations for enrolling in a clinical trial

(20:15) Role of caregivers and patient advocates

(24:05 Managing side effects

(33:18) Impact of CAR T-cell and bispecific antibody therapy

This episode is supported by AbbVie, Amgen, CURE, Genentech, GSK, Johnson & Johnson, Karyopharm, Legend Biotech, Pfizer, Regeneron, and Sanofi.

To learn more about CAR T-cell therapy, download A Guide to CAR T-Cell Therapy in Myeloma here.

To learn more about bispecific antibody therapy, download Bispecific Antibodies for Multiple Myeloma: What you Need to Know here.

To learn more about multiple myeloma, visit www.themmrf.org.

If you want to learn more about the MMRF’s FREE resources for patients and caregivers, visit the MMRF Education Hub.

If you have additional questions, call our MMRF Patient Navigation Center at 1-888-841- 6673.