COURTESY MARVA ADAMS

Marva Adams of Charlotte was diagnosed with multiple myeloma at age 34. The blood cancer causes plasma cells to grow rapidly and spread throughout bones, leaving no room for health cells to grow while causing abnormal antibodies to form.

Marva Adams was 34 years old when she was diagnosed with multiple myeloma.

In 1999, she had gone to the doctor after experiencing stabbing back pain.

“Before I was diagnosed, I had just terrible back pain,” Adams said. “It was just unbearable, and I didn't know what it was. It was upper back pain. It was just a stabbing pain under my shoulder blade, and it just started to take my breath away.”

When doctors saw Adams’ protein levels were high on a blood test, they immediately rushed her to chemotherapy.

More attention has been focused on multiple myeloma after former U.S. secretary of state Colin Powell died from COVID complications and was being treated for the chronic disease. Multiple myeloma is a blood disorder that affects white blood cells known as plasma cells. When a person has myeloma, plasma cells begin to grow rapidly and spread throughout bones, leaving no room for healthy blood cells to grow and causes abnormal antibodies to form.

“It affects one's blood cells and affects white blood cells that affects both the T-cells and the B-cells, which are responsible for the immunity we get from vaccines as well as natural immunity,” said Dr. Charles Bregier, medical director at Novant Health Employee Occupational Health and Corporate Health. “So multiple myeloma is one of the many cancers that put people at high risk for bad outcomes should they contract COVID, whether they’re vaccinated or not.”

Multiple myeloma is the most common blood cancer in Black people but is still rare, according to the Standing in the Gaap website.

Adams, 57, was completely healthy prior to her diagnosis and had no trace of the cancer in her family. While she was still working full time at the N.C. Department of Revenue, Adams underwent chemotherapy. A couple of months later, she had a stem cell transplant in which the bad cells were killed off and new cells implanted to produce healthier cells.

“I did a chemotherapy that was 24 hours a day, five days a week and it was brutal,” she recalled. “I did one round in the hospital and the rest at home.”

Adams, a Charlotte native, is an ambassador for Bristol Myers Squibb's Standing in the Gaap program to encourage and share her story with other African Americans living with multiple myeloma. The initiative was created to bridge the gap of African Americans living with myeloma through support groups and educational events for patients and healthcare providers.

“I serve as an ambassador to get the word out to the community regarding myeloma, speaking out to African Americans,” Adams said. “I'm a support group leader and have been for several years. We educate our support group members. We’ve had events out in the community, for people to be more up to try to get the word out about this disease because it’s such a common blood cancer in our community, but most people haven’t heard of it.”

In the 1990s, there was little to no attention on the blood disorder, especially in Black people. Back then, there weren’t as many therapies, treatments, and medications available compared to now.

“I did have a lot of back pain and I ended up going to a number of different doctors before I was actually properly diagnosed with the myeloma,” Adams said. “I don't think doctors knew much about it back then. It was quite a journey trying to get the right diagnosis. I’ve had a few issues.”

Throughout her life, Adams had occasional back and hip pain and underwent various treatments such as taking chemo pills, steroids, and immunotherapy. Her cancer was detected early compared to most individuals who are diagnosed at a later age.

Some African Americans who are diagnosed are less likely to receive care compared to whites, according to the Standing in the Gaap website. However, studies suggest that Black people tend to have less aggressive forms of the disease compared to whites and may be able to live longer than their white counterparts.

Between 2010-16, the five-year survival rate for multiple myeloma was 53% according to the American Cancer Society.

Local support groups host seminars to educate doctors on myeloma in African Americans and ensuring Black people diagnosed receive access to care. They have collaborated with organizations and health providers, such as Atrium Health to educate more people.

“My doctor actually refers patients to our support group, and we’ve gone to different seminars to make sure we're getting more educated when we were doing in-person seminars.”

With Powell’s death and revelation about his diagnosis, it has heightened Adams’ awareness about the disease.

“It makes me more concerned about COVID and having myeloma,” she said. “You are more likely to have a compromised immune system so you may be more susceptible than others even with the vaccine.  I am very concerned about COVID. I’m always extra careful wearing my mask and good washing my hands and do all the things they recommend us to do.”

Prior to COVID, Adams enjoyed going to movies and attending concerts. As a survivor, she is still able to live a regular life despite receiving treatments and taking medication to reduce her protein levels.

“My days are pretty normal,” Adams said. “I don’t wake up in pain. Even if I have treatment, I’m still able to continue my day as I normally would, which I’m very thankful for. So, I’m able to do anything I was able to do, if I didn’t have the myeloma.”

Adams now works part-time at the Department of Revenue after retiring last year from the department. She does a few holistic approaches to boost her immune system, such as drinking noni juice or mixing the powder and barley grass, in a drink.

“If you’re having pain, you may not know what’s going on with you and you may want to even ask your doctors to test you for myeloma,” Adams explained. “But just getting the information out to people that there is such a disease called multiple myeloma so African Americans can get better, a quicker diagnosis and better treatment.”

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