Published: Sunday, November 9, 2014 at 9:42 p.m. Last Modified: Sunday, November 9, 2014 at 9:42 p.m.

The condition is cancer of the bone marrow. The average age of onset is early to mid-60s and it appears to occur more commonly in men and African-Americans. There are approximately 20,000 new cases of myeloma each year in the U.S. It is the same as plasma cell myeloma, where malignant cells accumulate within the bone marrow and can cause bones to break with no warning.

Brown, a native Ocalan, has the enthusiasm of a cheerleader over a new support group she has started, called Stomping out Myeloma.

She chose to have meetings at 11 a.m. the second Tuesday of each month as many multiple myeloma patients do not drive at night. The group meets at Howard Academy Safe Haven, 306 NW Seventh Ave., Ocala.

Brown and Linda McCray, also of Ocala, receive treatment for multiple myeloma at UF Health Shands in Gainesville. Melodie Jennings, of Ocala, gets care at the Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa.

Brown said a high percentage of local patients had no day-time support group.

You can tell people have been holding things in, she said after the groups initial meeting Oct. 14.

She said patients with any type of cancer are welcome, as well as family members and caregivers. The next meeting will take place Tuesday.

Brown, who will turn 50 this month, exhibits a vitality that can cause those who meet her to remark, You dont look like you have cancer.

With a bubbly laugh, she replies, Just what is cancer supposed to look like?

Read this article:
Local myeloma survivors band together for support

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