The Long Run: Navigating the Multiple Myeloma Marathon

For JP Kealy, the diagnosis didn’t come with a warning. In 2014, at age 48, he was lifting weights in his basement when a "tweak" in his back turned out to be three compressed vertebrae. The culprit was a plasmacytoma, a solitary plasma cell tumor the size of a golf ball, that had quietly eroded his bone density.

What began as a weightlifting injury evolved into a decade-plus-long journey with multiple myeloma. After initial radiation and a two-year "wait and watch" period, JP underwent a stem cell transplant in 2017. The disease returned less than a year later.

However, thanks to a rapidly evolving medical landscape, JP transitioned to an immunotherapy that wasn't even available when he was first diagnosed. Today, he is MRD (minimal residual disease) negative, off his medications and monitored by monthly labs.

Pacing the journey

With four teenagers at home, JP and his wife, Annamarie, had to learn how to manage a chronic cancer diagnosis without succumbing to burnout.

"Multiple myeloma is a marathon, not a sprint," Annamarie emphasized in an interview with CURE. To avoid the exhaustion that often accompanies long-term caregiving and patienthood, the Kealys adopted a "one day at a time" philosophy.

"We try not to look too far ahead into the future," Annamarie said. "I don’t worry about blood work a month ahead because the unknown only adds stress. We try to be very present and aware of what we’re dealing with at the moment."

By focusing on the "mile" they were currently running rather than the finish line, the Kealys turned a world-rocking diagnosis into a manageable reality. For those starting their own journey in 2026, JP’s current health stands as a testament to the power of modern medicine and a steadfast mindset.

"We just thought of it as one day at a time," Annamarie reflected. In the marathon of multiple myeloma, it’s not just about the pace, it’s about who is running beside you.

For more news on cancer updates, research and education, don’t forget to subscribe to CURE®’s newsletters here.