Yelak Biru

𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗶𝘀 𝗺𝘆 𝟮𝟱𝘁𝗵 𝗖𝗵𝗿𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗺𝗮𝘀 𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗺𝘆 𝗰𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗿 𝗱𝗶𝗮𝗴𝗻𝗼𝘀𝗶𝘀.

25 years living with an incurable #cancer, #myeloma

25 years #CancerSurvivor

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We are getting used to monthly approval of "something" for #myeloma #mmsm. I welcome that!

Patient-centricity of the drug, the company, and, of course, efficacy, will be a differentiator as we have more of these drugs approved.

✨ I’m honored to share my story published by BlackDoctor.org: “How I Beat a Deadly Cancer Nobody Thought I Could Survive.”

At just 25, I received a multiple myeloma diagnosis and was given only a few years to live. But I refused to accept that prognosis. Over the past three decades, I’ve navigated decades of treatments, from high-dose chemo to targeted therapies and CAR‑T (Cilta‑cel), which ushered me into long‑term remission in late 2022.

✨ What made the difference?
☛ Owning my journey—building a multidisciplinary survival team.
☛ Lifelong learning about my disease and treatment options.
☛ Partnering with my medical team to “fight the right battles.”
☛ Leaning on patient communities for support and shared wisdom.

It’s a privilege to have led and contributed to initiatives aimed at increasing access to clinical trials and CAR‑T therapy. This effort spans building community, guiding policy, and pushing equity.

My message? 𝐖𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐞 𝐜𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐦𝐞, 𝐢𝐭 𝐝𝐢𝐝𝐧’𝐭 𝐝𝐞𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐦𝐞. If anything, the challenges revealed the power of determination, advocacy, and community.

I hope that sharing this journey encourages other patients, caregivers, and family members to 𝐭𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐨𝐰𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩, 𝐬𝐞𝐞𝐤 𝐬𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐧𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐞 𝐡𝐨𝐩𝐞.

🔗 Read the full story here: blackdoctor.org/how-i-beat-a-d…

Thank you to everyone who has been part of this journey—my medical team, mentors, friends, family, pharmaceutical companies, and the broader cancer community. Together, we’re not just surviving—𝐰𝐞’𝐫𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐝𝐞𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐢𝐭 𝐦𝐞𝐚𝐧𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐥𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐠𝐞.

#CAR-T #MMSM #ClinicalTrials #Carvykti #Approval #Access #Adoption

Only as @jmikhaelmd can: Nice, short and sweet, summary of clinical advances in myeloma from #asco2025 via @Medscape - #mmsm
medscape.com/viewarticle/as…

What an exciting month of science and innovation it has been! As we reflect on #EHA2025 and keep #ASCO2025 in mind, several key themes emerge clearly:

🚀 Breakneck Speed of Innovation:
Scientific advancements are rapidly accelerating, driven by technological innovations and sustained research efforts.

⚠️ The Disconnect in Care:
Despite advancements, gaps in care persist, leaving patients to navigate treatment options, drug approvals, and payment systems largely on their own.

⚖️ An Imbalance in Innovation:
Not all breakthroughs reach those who need them, highlighting disparities in research focus, access to the supply chain, and participation in clinical trials.

🧩 The Friction of Progress:
With increased options comes complexity in treatment sequencing, care coordination, and real-world data integration, necessitating a holistic view of the patient journey.

The way forward involves a dual strategy:

1️⃣ Meaningful Patient Engagement:
Empowering patients by actively involving them in decision-making processes and incorporating their perspectives at every stage.

2️⃣ Strategic Digital Health Deployment:
Utilizing technology for enhanced care navigation, referral management, remote monitoring, and personalized treatment recommendations.

Let's celebrate innovation. Let's also ensure it translates into tangible benefits for every patient.

#DigitalHealth #PatientEngagement #HealthEquity #Oncology #CareInnovation #HealthSystems #mmsm