James “Jim” Cichy, 61, multiple myeloma, Dennis with Paul Richardson, MD, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute

Jim had a rash and shortness of breath. A chest X-rays revealed cavities (fistulas) in his chest. Blood draws and a bone marrow biopsy confirmed a multiple myeloma diagnosis. Originally living in Georgia, Jim didn’t hesitate to come home to New England when it he needed cancer treatment — traveling back to Massachusetts to be seen at Dana-Farber. Jim began treatment with RVD and reached remission within six months. Jim is still in treatment today and receives reduced-dose therapy 21 days a month. Jim considers music part of his therapy. He plays in a band on Cape Cod, where he now lives with his wife, just a few doors down from his mom. A lifelong guitarist, he’s been with this band since 2020 and describes his passion as “making noise with great people.” After certification in Internal Medicine, Hematology and Medical Oncology, as well as working in Cancer Pharmacology and stem cell transplant from 1994 onwards at Dana-Farber. Dr. Richardson joined the Jerome Lipper Myeloma Center in 1999, was appointed Clinical Director in 2001, and led the study and development of several pivotal novel drugs including thalidomide, lenalidomide, bortezomib, pomalidomide, panobinostat, daratumumab, elotuzumab, and ixazomib. In this context, Dr. Richardson was appointed the inaugural RJ Corman Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School in 2012, and then became Clinical Program Leader and Director of Clinical Research in 2014.