For Clay Johnson, the first sign that something was wrong was pain.
It started with an unexplained shooting pain down his left arm and into his hand. What seemed like an unusual symptom eventually led doctors to discover something much more serious - a non-traumatic T1 fracture caused by a tumor related to high-risk multiple myeloma.
The cancer had weakened the bone so severely that the T1 vertebra in his spine has been severely damaged.
“It was not from any trauma,” Johnson’s wife, Dori, said. “The cancer, the tumor, crushed his T1.”
Multiple myeloma is a type of blood cancer that affects plasma cells in the bone marrow. Unlike cancers that can sometimes be detected through routine screenings, multiple myeloma may first appear through symptoms such as bone pain, fractures or other unexpected health changes.
After his diagnosis, Johnson began a long and challenging treatment journey. Following surgery and a six-week recovery period, he completed four rounds of a three-drug chemotherapy treatment used for multiple myeloma.
In February 2025, Johnson began the process for a stem cell transplant and underwent the transplant in March 2025.
Following the transplant, Johnson started a clinical trial treatment. The medication, Blenrep, caused significant visual side effects, including vision disturbances, which led to discussions about his continued participation in the trial.
Because Johnson was considered high-risk due to genetic markers associated with his multiple myeloma, his doctors continued closely monitoring his condition. After the transplant, testing showed small indicators of the disease remained for period of time before eventually no longer being detected.
Several months ago, Johnson received encouraging news that his myeloma markers were at zero.
“He has no myeloma right now,” his wife said.
Johnson’s treatment journey has required ongoing decisions, research and conversations with his healthcare team. His wife encourages others facing a similar diagnosis to take an active role in understanding their treatment options.
“Make sure you do in-depth research on the drugs you’re taking and the treatments they’re pushing,” she said.
She also encourages patients to ask questions, seek guidance from trusted healthcare providers and explore all available options when making decisions about their care.
For Johnson and his family, the past year has brought uncertainty, difficult treatments and major life changes. But his progress has also brought hope.
His story serves as a reminder that unexplained symptoms should not be ignored and that seeking answers can be the first step toward finding a path forward.
