Yelak Biru: While Cancer Tested Me, It didn’t Define Me
Yelak Biru, President and Chief Executive Officer at International Myeloma Foundation, posted on X:
“I’m honored to share my story published by “How I Beat a Deadly Cancer Nobody Thought I Could Survive.”
At just 25, I received a multiple myeloma diagnosis and was given only a few years to live. But I refused to accept that prognosis. Over the past three decades, I’ve navigated decades of treatments, from high-dose chemo to targeted therapies and CAR‑T (Cilta‑cel), which ushered me into long‑term remission in late 2022.
What made the difference?
- Owning my journey—building a multidisciplinary survival team.
- Lifelong learning about my disease and treatment options.
- Partnering with my medical team to “fight the right battles.”
- Leaning on patient communities for support and shared wisdom.
It’s a privilege to have led and contributed to initiatives aimed at increasing access to clinical trials and CAR‑T therapy. This effort spans building community, guiding policy, and pushing equity.
My message? While cancer tested me, it didn’t define me. If anything, the challenges revealed the power of determination, advocacy, and community.
I hope that sharing this journey encourages other patients, caregivers, and family members to take ownership, seek support, and never lose hope.
Read the full story here.
Thank you to everyone who has been part of this journey—my medical team, mentors, friends, family, pharmaceutical companies, and the broader cancer community. Together, we’re not just surviving—we’re redefining what it means to live with courage.”
More posts featuring Yelak Biru.
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Challenging the Status Quo in Colorectal Cancer 2024
December 6-8, 2024
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ESMO 2024 Congress
September 13-17, 2024
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ASCO Annual Meeting
May 30 - June 4, 2024
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Yvonne Award 2024
May 31, 2024
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OncoThon 2024, Online
Feb. 15, 2024
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Global Summit on War & Cancer 2023, Online
Dec. 14-16, 2023