Collins joined a multiple myeloma research study and began chemotherapy treatments just days after her diagnosis, then underwent an autologous stem cell transplantation followed by maintenance therapy.
“Research offers hope for a cure, and in a small way I feel I am making a contribution to unlocking the doors to a cure,” she said, noting current research projects – such as the newly funded TFRI pan-Canadian project
Multiple Myeloma Molecular Monitoring (M4 study) – bring hope to those living with the disease.
Led by medical oncologist and professor at the University of New Brunswick Dr. Tony Reiman, the M4 team will work with more than 250 patients at multiple centres across Canada to advance the ability to characterize and monitor multiple myeloma in the blood and the bone marrow to better understand how current treatments work and develop new, more effective ones.
“I think the direction that the research is going is so positive because it’s targeted, and a more personalized approach to treating cancer,” said Collins. “Hope is what sustains all myeloma patients – for a better quality of life and survival until a time when doctors tell patients their myeloma is treatable and curable.”
Since completing her treatment, Collins has slowly gotten back to the activities she loves. She resumed curling in the winter, began a patient support group with Myeloma Canada (a partner with the M4 team), and this summer she hopes to play golf and spend as much time as possible at her “heavenly” cottage
“One of the hard parts of having this disease is that it’s restricted my ability to do as much as I’d like to do, but I’ve always felt that this is going to come out okay,” said Collins.
“It’s a struggle at times and I know the statistics, but I’m going to be on the other side of those stats – you have to live your life that way.”