Myeloma Behind the Scenes…ASH

Tiffany Williams |

My pre-ASH19 blog was titled the Magic of ASH, comparing ASH to the magic of Disney. As I reflect on my ASH 2019 experience, I once again am reminded of a Disney comparison. Disney Behind the Scenes is a 7-hour tour that gives customers the experience of learning what it takes to bring the magic […]

Cindy Chmielewski on ASH background

Immunotherapy – Front and Center

Cynthia Chmielewski |

Immunotherapy was front and center at this year’s American Society of Hematology’s (ASH) meeting. There even was an Education Session presented by Drs. Shah, Cohen and Borello on this topic. When I first attended the ASH Annual Meeting in 2012, immunotherapy was still in its infancy. The treatments that were being examined in clinical trials back […]

ASH 2019: Summary, Thoughts, and Impressions

Jim Omel |

The entryway at #ASH19 Each ASH annual meeting has its own ‘flavor’ and emphasis regarding myeloma. I’ve been to several and remember the excitement of ASH2015 after our unprecedented elotuzumab, daratumumab, Ninlaro, “November to Remember.” Last year the emphasis was on early immunotherapy with BiTEs, CAR-T, and ADCs (antibody drug conjugates). This year ASH2019 was […]

How Things Have Changed

Linda Huguelet |

I was diagnosed in 2010, and this is my seventh year to attend the American Society of Hematology (ASH) conference. As we are winding up the a last day of the conference, I can’t believe how much progress has been made. I know it’s never fast enough from a patient’s perspective, but nonetheless, the progress […]

John Deflice, myeloma patient, with backdrop of ASH conference in Orlando 2019

“Baby, baby, baby what will it be?” —Prince

John DeFlice |

With so many great studies covered at ASH 2019, what will take home the honors for the best outstanding oral presentation? Will it be a Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR) or Bispecific T-cell Engager (BiTEs) trials, or will it be a new four-drug combination trial? How about one study that has a 100% response rate in myeloma […]

Day 3 – “Myeloma Monday” Saving the Best for Last

Jack Aiello |

Before providing details of our final full day at ASH (noting #abstract where applicable), let me review some activities from yesterday (Sunday 12/8/19). In the morning I attended a number of myeloma cancer care delivery abstracts (#383, #423, #424) where topics like diversity and racial/socioeconomic impact were discussed. Black/African-American patients are less likely to have […]

Immunotherapy at #ASH19

Jim Omel |

Immunotherapy has definitely been the center of myeloma attention at ASH. Sessions on Bi-specific T-cell Engagers and CAR-T were many and were well attended. Several Chinese oral abstract presentations Monday morning were inspiring and promising. Deepu Madduri, MD, showed a waterfall plot with 100% response rate in a phase I/phase II study of JNJ4528 BCMA-Targeted CAR-T cell […]

Teresa Miceli on American Society of Hematology background

You Can Leave Your Hat On

Teresa Miceli |

We are well into the flow of the annual ASH meeting. My attendance at ASH19 is as a support group leader (SGL) and as a nurse liaison as a member of the International Myeloma Foundation’s (IMF) Nurse Leadership Board (NLB). Of course, in my blood flows the interests and curiosity of an experienced hematology/BMT nurse. […]

Selinexor at ASH 2019

Jim Omel |

Relapsed/Refractory Multiple Myeloma (RRMM) patients often face difficult and diminishing treatment options. We have effective immunomodulatory drugs (IMiDs), proteasome inhibitors (PIs,) and monoclonal antibodies ( (MoAbs), but what do patients do when these drugs lose effect? New immunotherapies such as CAR-T and BiTEs help patients late in their disease if they meet inclusion criteria. Also, clinical trials […]

ASH Is the Most Important Conference for Myeloma Patients and Doctors

Jack Aiello |

There is no other single conference where so much information is presented about myeloma. Information about so many topics is provided:  how to treat MM patients in various stages; results of phase II & III trials which may indicate upcoming FDA approvals; pre-clinical research focusing on myeloma targets and cell understanding; and more. Soon I’ll be […]