Kimberly Alexander, whose husband and former NFL player Elijah Alexander, died of multiple myeloma in 2010, sits down with longtime friend Jordan Woy to discuss his own 2023 diagnosis. Woy explains how he noticed abnormal results on routine blood work despite feeling healthy, and how a bone marrow biopsy and PET scan confirmed the disease along with a sobering prognosis. He recounts the physical and emotional toll of high-dose chemotherapy and his stem cell transplant, which led to an isolating hospital stay that left him 45 pounds lighter. Woy emphasizes the importance of self-advocacy and peer support for newly diagnosed patients, while sharing the diet and exercise changes he made alongside treatment.
Topics covered:
- Discovering multiple myeloma through routine blood work and choosing a care team
- Preparing for and recovering from chemotherapy and stem cell transplant
- Self-advocacy in the clinic and lifestyle changes during and after treatment