Published Jan 28, 2021

Christian Singer Carman, 65, Asks for Prayers as He Battles Pneumonia, Along With the Multiple Myeloma He Was Diagnosed with in 2013

Carman was diagnosed with multiple myeloma in 2013, and now he is in the hospital battling pneumonia. He is reportedly in serious condition.

Anne McCarthy

Details

Carman's Battle

Singer Carman, 65, is in the hospital battling pneumonia following surgery; the singer was diagnosed with multiple myeloma in 2013.
Multiple myeloma is a cancer of the plasma cells; these cells are a kind of white blood cell found in the bone marrow.
This type of cancer has a higher incidence in Black people than in white people; experts tell SurvivorNet that “multiple myeloma is the one blood cancer that’s seen two times as high a rate in African-Americans compared to other ethnicities.”

Carman Licciardello is known to his fans simply as “Carman,” and the Christian singer is fighting for his life in the hospital right now. The singer got pneumonia after surgery last week, and is in the hospital facing a serious “crisis in the aftermath.” He was previously diagnosed with multiple myeloma in 2013.

On Carman’s Facebook page, an update was provided for his fans, saying: “UPDATE: We are waiting on test results but Carman is stable. He needs your prayers. We are praying for a quick recovery from the pneumonia. We appreciate your love and support.”

Carman also shared that his father and grandparents died at the same age he is now 65. “My father died at my age and my grandparents. So that’s been playing on my mind. But we’ve been here before and I need your help and prayers. I’m going to be here for a while so Please share this with your prayer warrior friends. Thank you once again for your faithfulness. I say it often from the stage, I don’t have fans I have intercessors and I have no doubt you keep me alive.”

Understanding Multiple Myeloma

Multiple myeloma is a cancer of the plasma cells; these cells are a kind of white blood cell found in the bone marrow. Myeloma can damage the immune system, bones, kidneys, and red blood cell count. This kind of cancer interferes with the bone’s natural ability to self-repair. About six in ten people with this disease get a broken bone because of it. Treatments for this type of cancer may include chemotherapy, corticosteroids, radiation, and stem-cell transplant.

News anchor and TV journalist, Tom Brokaw, 80, is a multiple myeloma survivor. Brokaw gives some straight-forward advice to those battling myeloma and other diseases; he encourages people to go with the best doctor. Brokaw said in an earlier interview with SurvivorNet, “I think that we have to change the mindset of a lot of patients and get tough, frankly, about changing that mindset. I know you love your doctor. I know you think he’s a great guy or she’s a great person. The fact is, unless they’ve got the skill set, they can be a bastard, but if they’re good at what they’re doing, go to them. That’s what you have to learn to do. You have to learn to go make a tough decision about something.”

Anchorman Tom Brokaw Advises Other Cancer Patients: You Don't Have to Like Your Doctor, Just Get To The Best One

Racial Disparities in Myeloma

While Carman is white, there are notable racial disparities when it comes to myeloma. In a previous interview with SurvivorNet Dr. Adrienne Phillips, a Medical Oncologist at Weill Cornell said, “There are a variety of different blood cancers. On the most basic level, it can be divided into leukemias and lymphomas. Also, multiple myeloma is a common blood cancer, and overall these blood cancers tend to be less common among African-American populations.”

However, multiple myeloma is different, she said. “But, distinctly, multiple myeloma is the one blood cancer that’s seen two times as high a rate in African-Americans compared to other ethnicities. And then certain types of non-Hodgkin’s lymphomas as well, including T-cell lymphomas, may be more common among African-American populations. We’re not exactly sure why these cancers may be more common among African-Americans. It’s probably multifactorial and a combination of genetic risks and environmental exposures.”

Racial Disparities in Mulitple Myeloma

Learn more about SurvivorNet's rigorous medical review process.

Patient Pathfinder

We’re here to help. Have you had any treatment for myeloma yet?

You might want to check out some top experts outlining the initial treatment for myeloma.

Here’s the link:

Multiple Myeloma Initial Treatment

Learn More

Got it. Are you looking for maintenance treatment?

You might want to check out some top experts outlining maintenance treatment for myeloma.

Here’s the link:

Multiple Myeloma Maintenance Treatment

Learn More

Ok. Has your Myeloma come back? Here are some useful resources:

Here’s the link:

Multiple Myeloma Reoccurrence Treatment

Learn More

If you’ve had at least four treatments that have not worked or stopped working you might be a candidate for a treatment called CAR T Therapy.

Here’s the link:

CAR-T Therapy for Multiple Myeloma

Learn More

Patient Pathfinder:

Clinical Trial Finder

Are you looking for other treatment options?
Right now there are ... multiple myeloma trials in the U.S. within 100 miles of

Enter your zip code and travel distance to explore trials in your area...