Mike Burns

Mike Burns was diagnosed with MGUS in 2009 because of a finding on a routine blood test from his allergist (who ironically was diagnosed with multiple myeloma in 2015). He then progressed to smolding myeloma in 2010 and active multiple myeloma in January 2013. He decided to start treatment through a clinical trial at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. As part of the trial he received lenalidomide (Revlimid), bortezomib (Velcade) and dexamethasone (Decadron), as well as an autologous stem cell transplant, followed by lenalidomide maintenance. He achieved stringent complete response and MRD-negative status through the trial and maintenance, but relapsed in the summer of 2018. Now, he is on Elotuzumab, Revlimid and Dex, which most likely put him in a stringent complete response, but he didn’t receive a bone marrow biopsy to confirm that. Recent immunofixation test results suggest, though, that he might be in the early stages of another relapse. In his free time, he enjoys running, camping, hiking, playing with his dog, volunteering, playing the trombone and life in general.