Shoulder pain leads to Texas dad's cancer diagnosis: "I was like, 'Wait, what?'"
CBS News • • health
Key Points:
- Eric Dillon initially misattributed his shoulder pain to a rotator cuff injury, but after worsening pain and an MRI, he was diagnosed with multiple myeloma, a blood cancer affecting plasma cells and bones.
- Multiple myeloma symptoms, such as bone pain, are often mistaken for common musculoskeletal issues, leading to delayed diagnosis; Black Americans are disproportionately affected, representing 20% of cases despite being 4% of the U.S. population.
- Dillon began treatment at MD Anderson Cancer Center, participated in a clinical trial to improve treatment equity, and after radiation therapy, his cancer was eliminated and pain resolved.
- Now in remission, Dillon manages his condition with medication, avoids a stem cell transplant for now, and focuses on family while advocating for awareness and participation in clinical trials to improve multiple myeloma outcomes.
- He emphasizes that multiple myeloma is treatable and encourages patients to seek timely diagnosis and explore research opportunities, highlighting a hopeful outlook for those affected.
