(This documentary is educational programming produced with financial support from Karyopharm Therapeutics. The content of this program has been determined independently.)
When Chrissy DeGennaro, 50, was diagnosed with multiple-myeloma at 36, “nobody I knew had cancer.” After managing the disease over 14 years, she jokes, “it’s taken a village to get Chrissy through cancer.”
Cancer, says DeGennnaro, shows you who your real friends are: “A lot of times, people don’t know what to say when you have cancer.” And with multiple myeloma, that’s even more true: “It’s not like you just get sick and get treatment and you’re done in a year,” she says. “It’s incurable.”
“I’m grateful, but it’s hard. And to have the support that I’ve had has been amazing.”
RELATED VIDEO: I Never Said I’m Not Going To Survive This: Linda Levin’s Multiple Myeloma Story
With her “ride or die” friend Lisa, Chrissy says she can talk about anything. “We met in fourth grade over puffy stickers. She just gets me. We can talk about things matter-of-factly, We can laugh about things. I can cry. I can be upset. She’s always there.”
She’s now found a sisterhood of support in the cancer community, as well. “I only keep amazing people around me. I have amazing friends. And amazing support. We’ve all be touched by cancer.”
She credits Cindy, another friend — and fellow myeloma warrior — with saving her life. Last year, when DeGennaro’s multiple-myeloma relapsed, her doctor told her she’d finally run out of options.
RELATED: Multiple Myeloma Relapse — What are the Options?
A patient advocate, Cindy had created a video with a doctor describing a new drug for the disease. When she posted it online, DeGennaro saw it and thought, “wow, maybe I’ll look into it.”
She began taking [the drug] in September and, by Thanksgiving, she said,”all of my plasmacytomas — which are soft-tissue tumors — were gone.”
RELATED VIDEO: Myth Busting: Multiple Myeloma — Fractures, Cures, Transplants
Now, DeGennaro’s back in remission and taking life one week– or month — at a time. “But if it wasn’t for that video, I would never have given it a chance.” Cindy, she insists, saved her life.
She wants others who’ve been diagnosed with cancer to know the same power of friendship:
“There are “people out there that have been through this. And miracles, you know — hope. You’ve got to keep going and wait for the next thing.”
Learn more about SurvivorNet's rigorous medical review process.
Constance Costas is a writer for SurvivorNet.
Read More(This documentary is educational programming produced with financial support from Karyopharm Therapeutics. The content of this program has been determined independently.)
When Chrissy DeGennaro, 50, was diagnosed with multiple-myeloma at 36, “nobody I knew had cancer.” After managing the disease over 14 years, she jokes, “it’s taken a village to get Chrissy through cancer.”
Read More Cancer, says DeGennnaro, shows you who your real friends are: “A lot of times, people don’t know what to say when you have cancer.” And with multiple myeloma, that’s even more true: “It’s not like you just get sick and get treatment and you’re done in a year,” she says. “It’s incurable.”
“I’m grateful, but it’s hard. And to have the support that I’ve had has been amazing.”
RELATED VIDEO: I Never Said I’m Not Going To Survive This: Linda Levin’s Multiple Myeloma Story
With her “ride or die” friend Lisa, Chrissy says she can talk about anything. “We met in fourth grade over puffy stickers. She just gets me. We can talk about things matter-of-factly, We can laugh about things. I can cry. I can be upset. She’s always there.”
She’s now found a sisterhood of support in the cancer community, as well. “I only keep amazing people around me. I have amazing friends. And amazing support. We’ve all be touched by cancer.”
She credits Cindy, another friend — and fellow myeloma warrior — with saving her life. Last year, when DeGennaro’s multiple-myeloma relapsed, her doctor told her she’d finally run out of options.
RELATED: Multiple Myeloma Relapse — What are the Options?
A patient advocate, Cindy had created a video with a doctor describing a new drug for the disease. When she posted it online, DeGennaro saw it and thought, “wow, maybe I’ll look into it.”
She began taking [the drug] in September and, by Thanksgiving, she said,”all of my plasmacytomas — which are soft-tissue tumors — were gone.”
RELATED VIDEO: Myth Busting: Multiple Myeloma — Fractures, Cures, Transplants
Now, DeGennaro’s back in remission and taking life one week– or month — at a time. “But if it wasn’t for that video, I would never have given it a chance.” Cindy, she insists, saved her life.
She wants others who’ve been diagnosed with cancer to know the same power of friendship:
“There are “people out there that have been through this. And miracles, you know — hope. You’ve got to keep going and wait for the next thing.”
Learn more about SurvivorNet's rigorous medical review process.
Constance Costas is a writer for SurvivorNet.
Read More