The numbers are in and the results have been tabulated. The multiple myeloma support group members live 2.2 times longer than the average multiple myeloma patient. The National Cancer Institute, which published cancer survival statistics for many forms of cancer, publishes an average life expectancy of 4 years for multiple myeloma. From the support groups who provided data, I found the average life expectancy of 9.1 years. Even thou there are some limitations in the accuracy of the study data, I am of the firm belief that the thesis that active support group membership improves the survival rate is correct. And the word "active" is important, in that there can be little value to the individual if they are on the membership list and never go to the meetings or ever respond to emails. Therefore active members were considered those who attended half of the meetings of more.
So what is the chicken and the egg thing anyway? All of the groups in the study (8 in total) were at least at the average life expectancy, however some were much, much better than the average. I had also asked each support group leader if they were close to a multiple myeloma center of excellence. I wanted to know if treatment at a center of excellence might be a correlating factor as well. One in particular was easy to analyze in that almost all of the 100 members of the Northern New Jersey Support Group were treated at the John Theurer Cancer Center at the Hackensack University Medical Center, and they had the best survival rate by a huge margin. So was it the chicken or the egg or both? I have asked the division chiefs Dr. Siegel and Dr. Vesole of the myeloma program at Hackensack for their survival data, and hope to receive it in the future. However, I think it is almost moot, because their support group results shout out success, and again support my other thesis, that having a multiple myeloma specialist on your team is essential to your long term survival.
Good luck and may God Bless all who have to be on this journey/ Gary Petersen [email protected]
For more information on multiple myeloma go to the web site www.myelomasurvival.com or you can follow me on twitter at: https://twitter.com/grpetersen1
So what is the chicken and the egg thing anyway? All of the groups in the study (8 in total) were at least at the average life expectancy, however some were much, much better than the average. I had also asked each support group leader if they were close to a multiple myeloma center of excellence. I wanted to know if treatment at a center of excellence might be a correlating factor as well. One in particular was easy to analyze in that almost all of the 100 members of the Northern New Jersey Support Group were treated at the John Theurer Cancer Center at the Hackensack University Medical Center, and they had the best survival rate by a huge margin. So was it the chicken or the egg or both? I have asked the division chiefs Dr. Siegel and Dr. Vesole of the myeloma program at Hackensack for their survival data, and hope to receive it in the future. However, I think it is almost moot, because their support group results shout out success, and again support my other thesis, that having a multiple myeloma specialist on your team is essential to your long term survival.
Good luck and may God Bless all who have to be on this journey/ Gary Petersen [email protected]
For more information on multiple myeloma go to the web site www.myelomasurvival.com or you can follow me on twitter at: https://twitter.com/grpetersen1
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