Helping a Loved One Through a Cancer Journey
- Rap star MC Lyte, 55, is raising awareness about multiple myeloma—a blood cancer that disproportionately affects Black communities—after becoming her mom’s caregiver through a difficult cancer journey.
- Caregivers—whether spouses, parents, children, siblings, or close friends—take on many roles to support loved ones facing serious health challenges like cancer.
Their responsibilities often include attending medical appointments, asking questions, taking notes, providing transportation, and helping with daily tasks such as meal preparation. - Research published in Nature highlights that multiple myeloma disparities in African American communities show that Black patients are less likely to receive effective treatments—even when insurance status, comorbidities, and other factors are accounted for.
- “Multiple myeloma is a cancer where plasma cells grow out of proportion to the other cells. And because of that, they can cause different symptoms, such as bone pain, fatigue, and cognitive challenges, and that’s how we diagnose it,” explained Dr. Nina Shah, a hematologist at UCSF.
- Multiple myeloma treatment depends on your risk level. For high-risk patients, treatment often includes lenalidomide – a treatment helping legendary news anchor Tom Brokaw – combined with a proteasome inhibitor such as Velcade, according to Dr. Kenneth Anderson of the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.
Lana Moorer, best known by her stage name, MC Lyte, has a deeply personal advocacy—Lyte’s mother, Constance Moorer, battled cancer for years, an experience that transformed Lyte into both a caregiver and an outspoken champion for awareness.
Read More“Multiple myeloma is a cancer where plasma cells grow out of proportion to the other cells,” explains Dr. Nina Shah, a hematologist at UCSF.
“Because of that, they can cause different symptoms, and that’s how we diagnose it,” Dr. Shah adds.
Lyte’s mother was diagnosed in 2022 and endured surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation with determination. In a tribute shared after her passing in 2025, Lyte wrote that her mother fought “with the hopes of one day being cancer‑free.”
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Supporting her through that journey inspired Lyte to raise awareness about a disease that disproportionately affects Black Americans.
Research published in Nature highlights that multiple myeloma disparities in African American communities stem from both biological factors and social determinants of health.
Studies show Black patients are less likely to receive effective treatments—even when insurance status, comorbidities, and other factors are accounted for. Although Black Americans make up 13.6% of the U.S. population, they represent about 20% of new multiple myeloma cases and face roughly double the incidence rate compared to white Americans.
“Reports suggest that excess risk of multiple myeloma in African American patients is due to an increase in the risk of MGUS rather than an increase in the risk of progression from MGUS to multiple myeloma,” researchers say.
MGUS is a condition that occurs when you have too much monoclonal protein in your blood and bone marrow.
Lyte urges people to take symptoms seriously.
“Some symptoms include back pain—lower back pain that can feel unmanageable even if you’re working out,” she says. “It’s about being intentional about what’s going on with your body and not accepting it if it’s not getting better. That comes with getting a second and third opinion sometimes.”
To help others be proactive about their health, Lyte has joined awareness efforts like the That’s My Word campaign, where she shared her experience caring for her mother.
“It was my job to help her feel as confident and strong as possible while she goes through this,” she said.
Expert Resources for Multiple Myeloma Patients
- Adding Daratumumab to Front-line Therapy in Multiple Myeloma
- Adding Sarclisa to Treatment– A Promising New Option for Relapsed Multiple Myeloma
- Advocating for Yourself is the Most Important Thing: Multiple Myeloma Survivor Ann Bogle's Story
- Approach to Relapse in Multiple Myeloma
- An Exciting Development in Delivery of Daratumumab for Multiple Myeloma
- Antibody as Part of Initial Treatment For Multiple Myeloma?
Understanding Multiple Myeloma
Multiple myeloma is a rare and incurable type of blood cancer. When you have this cancer, white blood cells called plasma cells (the cells that make antibodies to fight infections) in your bone marrow grow out of proportion to healthy cells. Those abnormal cells leave less room for your body’s healthy blood cells to fight infections. They can also spread to other parts of your body and cause problems with organs like your kidneys.
“In general, having blood cancer means that your bone marrow is not functioning correctly,” Dr. Shah explained to SurvivorNet.
Known risk factors for multiple myeloma include your age, family history of cancer, and whether you have monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS).
Most people diagnosed are in their 60s. However, people younger than 60 can also get this type of cancer, and if you have a close relative with multiple myeloma, that can increase your risk.
WATCH: Recognizing multiple myeloma symptoms.
Multiple myeloma can cause symptoms such as weakness, dizziness, bone pain, and confusion, among other symptoms.
Doctors use blood and urine tests and imaging tests such as X-rays or MRIs to help diagnose multiple myeloma and to guide treatment options. Ultimately, a bone marrow biopsy will confirm the diagnosis.
For high-risk patients, treatment often includes lenalidomide combined with a proteasome inhibitor such as Velcade, according to Dr. Kenneth Anderson of the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. Corinne’s treatment plan included chemotherapy and two stem‑cell transplants.
WATCH: Standard Risk vs. High Risk Multiple Myeloma
Risk level in multiple myeloma is determined by specific genetic changes:
- Standard risk often involves extra copies of certain chromosomes.
- High risk is typically linked to the loss of part of chromosome 17.
These differences influence how aggressive the cancer is. While the induction and transplant phases of treatment are similar for all patients, the maintenance phase varies based on risk.
Treatment Options for Multiple Myeloma
Treatment for multiple myeloma depends on your risk level. Some patients are considered standard risk, while others are high-risk. Your risk depends on irregularities in the chromosomes of their cancer cells.
The standard treatment approach for multiple myeloma goes from the induction phase, the stem-cell transplant phase, and then the maintenance phase.
- Induction Phase: This phase is the same regardless of risk. It consists of triplet drug therapy, which includes an immunomodulatory drug (Revlimid or Pomalyst), a proteasome inhibitor (Kyprolis, Velcade, or Ninlaro), and a steroid (dexamethasone or prednisone).
- Stem-Cell Transplant Phase: This phase is the same regardless of risk. It consists of chemotherapy coupled with a stem-cell transplant.
- Maintenance Phase: This phase will differ based on the risk profile.
Maintenance treatment is essential because it keeps the cancer at bay. Since multiple myeloma patients face the risk of relapse even if the cancer is put into remission, maintenance treatment helps keep the cancer in remission for longer periods.
This drug activates immune cells that kill bacteria, viruses, and cancers. It also reduces vital blood flow to cancerous tumors, helping kill them. However, some patients don’t tolerate lenalidomide well because of some of its potential side effects, including nausea, vomiting, swelling of the limbs and skin, and liver problems.
When Multiple Myeloma Relapses, You Still Have Options
When your multiple myeloma comes back within about a year, your disease is generally classified as ‘high risk.’
When multiple myeloma returns after treatment, “It usually means that there were residual cells, even in very small numbers. They were either resistant to the treatment from the start, or they acquired resistance as the treatment was growing,” Dr. Anderson explains to SurvivorNet.
In other words, not every myeloma cell in your body is precisely the same. Some start with a set of mutations that can give them resistance to treatments and make them more likely to relapse, whereas others develop mutations as a result of treatment.
WATCH: What Is the Standard of Care for the First Relapse?
The Signs of a Multiple Myeloma Relapse
- Increased levels of monoclonal antibodies: myeloma cells are cancerous plasma cells in the bone marrow that overgrow and produce abnormal proteins. These abnormal proteins are released in the blood and can be detected by physicians. When the levels of these increase substantially, that can be a sign that multiple myeloma has relapsed.
- Increase in plasma cells in the bone marrow: Oncologists can use magnetic imaging, like MRI or PET scans, to see if there is a greater than normal level of plasma cells in the bone marrow, which is typical of overly dividing myeloma cells.
- Bone fractures and lesions: Myeloma cells activate the cells that break down bones and deactivate the cells that build up bones, which can result in fractures or small holes in bones. Oncologists can use X-rays or CT scans to detect bone damage indicative of relapse.
When or if multiple myeloma returns, remember that many treatment options exist. Oncologists may turn to therapies approved only for clinical trials, namely CAR T-cell therapy.
WATCH: A Step-By-Step Guide to Having CAR T-Cell Therapy
“We’re using the CAR T-cells now, literally in patients who have no other options,” explains Dr. Anderson. CAR T-cells are immune cells harvested from a patient’s body, genetically modified to target specific cells (like multiple myeloma), and then reinfused back into a patient.
Second-generation drugs, which are more recent adjustments and improvements to existing therapies, are an option to treat resistant forms of the disease.
For relapsed patients, the second-generation treatments include:
- Kyprolis (carfilzomib) – is a proteasome inhibitor.
- Pomalyst (pomalidomide) – 2nd generation immunomodulatory.
- Dexamethasone – a mainstay of myeloma treatment in both relapsed and initially diagnosed patients.
- Daratumumab, an immunotherapy, is also added to the mix. More specifically, Dara is a monoclonal antibody that ‘tags’ cancer cells for quick and efficient recognition by the immune system.
For more options following multiple myeloma relapses, clinical trials may offer a solution. SurvivorNet has extensive resources about how to access these options as well.
A U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) advisory panel recently expressed support for previously approved CAR T-cell therapies Carvykti and Abemca to treat adults diagnosed with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma sooner in their treatment journey. During clinical trials, the treatments saw a “59%” reduction in multiple myeloma disease progression in patients who received one prior line of treatment. During these same clinical trials, some patients experienced “early deaths”; however, experts reviewing the drugs felt the benefits outweighed the risks.
The FDA will further review Carvykti and Abecma’s supplemental Biologics License Applications (sBLA), which is a necessary step during the drug approval process. These treatments can be available to multiple myeloma patients earlier in their treatment journey if approved.
The Role of a Caregiver
Lyte acting as her mom’s caregiver is no small feat, as many people supporting a loved one diagnosed with cancer would quickly agree. SurvivorNet gathered expert insights from oncologists, social workers, and patient advocates to provide guidance on how caregivers can support their loved ones through treatment and beyond.
Attend Medical Visits
These visits can be overwhelming for patients. Your presence can help them absorb critical information, ask clarifying questions, and make informed decisions.
Connect with Navigators
Request to speak with a patient navigator or hospital social worker. These professionals can assist with everything from transportation and insurance paperwork to housing concerns and legal advice.
“We have a really wonderful program at [NYU] where we use lay navigators,” added Dr. Joseph, “meaning they’re not nurses, although you can use nurses or social workers—that pretty much helps newly diagnosed cancer patients through the continuum of care.”
WATCH: How Patient Navigators Can Help
Navigators may also:
- Join future appointments
- Evaluate next steps in care
- Assist with immigration and housing issues
- Navigate financial or legal concerns
- Track Symptoms and Emotions
You may notice changes before the patient does. Keep communication open and regularly check in on how they’re feeling, physically and emotionally.
Promote Patient Independence
While caregiving often means stepping in, remember the value of stepping back. Encourage your loved one to speak for themselves and make their own choices whenever possible.
“Some of the best examples that I have seen in caregivers,” said Dr. Jayanthi Lea, a gynecologic oncologist, “are those spouses or loved ones who really, almost sit back and they allow the patient, or they want the patient to express what the patient feels first, rather than barging in.”
“Step back a little bit and let the patient speak for themselves,” she continued. “Let them express what they are feeling. That is so important for the patient’s overall quality of life and well-being.”
Caring for the Caregiver
Supporting a loved one through cancer is demanding, and it’s easy to lose sight of your own well-being. But your strength is fueled by self-care.
“It is important to have some things that you can do that are kind of outside of the focus of caring for somebody that you love with cancer,” said Julie Bulger, manager of patient and family-centered care at Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center. She suggests relaxing activities like going for a walk or getting a massage.
Caregivers are also encouraged to seek mental health support and join caregiver support groups. These steps can reduce the risk of caregiver burnout—a condition marked by chronic fatigue, stress, and emotional strain caused by prioritizing someone else’s needs over your own.
Caregiving is one of the most compassionate roles a person can take on. It’s not always easy, but through small acts of care and moments of presence, caregivers bring hope, stability, and love during one of life’s most difficult journeys.
Allen’s nonprofit aims to support this critical role in the cancer care ecosystem with “Living Beyond Cancer.”
Questions for Your Doctor
If you are facing a multiple myeloma diagnosis, you may be interested in the treatment Tom Brokaw has had success with. Here are some questions to help you begin the conversation with your doctor:
- What stage is my multiple myeloma?
- What are my treatment options?
- Am I a good candidate for Revlimid?
- What are the possible side effects of your recommended treatment?
- Who will be part of my healthcare team, and what does each member do?
- Can you refer me to a social worker or psychologist who can help me cope with my diagnosis?
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