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Shoulder Pain Was Cancer's Hidden Sign
5 Jul
Summary
- Shoulder pain went undiagnosed for years as a possible sign of cancer.
- A specific blood cancer, multiple myeloma, was diagnosed after a sudden pain.
- Treatment included a clinical trial, leading to remission and hope for others.
Eric Dillon, a father from Houston, experienced persistent shoulder pain for years, attributing it to a rotator cuff strain and undergoing physical therapy. The pain, however, was an early indicator of multiple myeloma, a blood cancer. It wasn't until May 2024, when he felt "tremendous pain" during yard work, that his condition was properly investigated.
Dillon was referred to an orthopedic oncologist who diagnosed him with multiple myeloma, a cancer affecting plasma cells that can cause bone pain. His cousin and a friend had also been diagnosed with the same cancer, making him somewhat familiar with it. He joined a clinical trial as part of his treatment plan.
His treatment spanned nearly a year, involving eight cycles of medication and the clinical trial, though he experienced side effects. Residual cancer in his shoulder bone necessitated radiation therapy. Following treatment, the shoulder pain subsided, and Dillon achieved remission. He now takes daily medication to prevent recurrence and is sharing his experience to raise awareness and highlight the hope offered by treatments and clinical trials.
