Richard Marriott, 50, multiple myeloma, Wilton CT, with Susan (wife) and Paul Richardson, MD, Director of Clinical Research in the Jerome Lipper Multiple Myeloma Center, Dana-Farber

It was a routine life insurance exam that led to Richard Marriott’s cancer diagnosis. Tests found excess protein in his blood, and further testing revealed Mr. Marriott had IGG Kappa Myeloma. The cancer was caught very early, and he was asymptomatic. The standard of care for patients in his position at that time was watchful waiting, basically waiting to see if the cancer got worse. Fortunately, his hematologist-oncologist in Connecticut told him to ignore the standard of care and to go see Dr. Paul Richardson at Dana-Farber. Astrocytomas and gliomas are tumors that grow from brain cells called astrocytes. These tumors can often develop in the cerebellum, the cerebrum, the brainstem, the hypothalamus, or the visual pathway. These brain tumors are either classified as low-grade (grades I and II) or high-grade (grades III and IV) tumors. Children with low-grade tumors have a relatively favorable prognosis, especially when the tumors can be completely resected. Dr. Richardson is the clinical program leader and director of clinical research in theJerome Lipper Multiple Myeloma Center and LeBow Institute for Myeloma Therapeutics at DF/BWCC. One of the world’s foremost authorities on multiple myeloma, Richardson serves as principal investigator for numerous clinical trials underway to improve patient outcome and increase long-term survivorship.