A dozen years later: Mother, grandmother longest attendee of multiple myeloma support group

She’s been through diagnosis, treatment, and remission and Lorra Seaney keeps going back to her cancer support group to listen and share with others.

By TJ Banes, IU Health Senior Journalist, tfender1@iuhealth.org

In the fall of 2011, Lorra Seaney was trimming the hedges around her Indianapolis home when she felt like she pulled a muscle. She didn’t know at first that she had cracked a rib due to bone lesions.

When she went to her annual checkup Seaney learned that the lesions were the result of blood cancer. She was diagnosed with multiple myeloma and became a patient of IU Health’s Dr. Attaya Suvannasankha, who specializes in hematology.

“I think the world of Dr. Suvannasanka. She’s a hugger and she takes her time with her patients. If we have to wait a little longer to get into our appointment, we don’t mind because we know she’s spending time with another patient,” said Seaney. She went through a clinical trial, a stem cell transplant, and maintenance medication before relapsing. She then began a new treatment and has been in remission since July.

Seaney was at IU Health Simon Cancer Center receiving an infusion when she heard about the First Monday Cancer Support Group. The group meets in the first floor of the Cancer Pavilion Atrium, beginning at 5:00 p.m. with a light dinner. Individual groups begin at 6:00 p.m. and include: Living with cancer (in-person and virtual meeting); Caregivers (in-person and virtual); Brain Tumors (virtual only); Blood Cancers (virtual only); Gynecologic Cancers (in-person and virtual); Lung Cancer (in-person and virtual); and Multiple Myeloma (in-person and virtual). The next Cancer Support Group will meet Dec. 2 and is a holiday-themed dinner. Dr. Nasser Hanna who specializes in thoracic oncology will be the guest speaker. For more information call: 317-944-0301.

A staff facilitator leads the groups and attendees share their experiences and also hear from IU Health clinicians and guest speakers. The Multiple Myeloma group is lead by oncology social worker, Sarah Hale. The group was recently recognized by the International Myeloma Foundation for its patient support.

Seaney has been attending the support group with her husband, David, since her diagnosis. The couple met shortly after Seaney graduated from Arsenal Technical High School. David was preparing for boot camp with the US Marine Corps and was working at Kay Jewelers stocking merchandise. Lorra was shopping at the store.

“Our eyes connected at the jewelry store, and that was it,” said Seaney. Her middle name is “Kay” and she likes to quote the store’s slogan: “Every kiss begins with KAY.” David asked her then and there if he could take her out that night. When she told him it was her bowling night, he showed up at the alleys. Before the night was over he asked her to marry him. He left shortly after for boot camp and the two kept in touch through long letters.

“He came back in October, we picked a wedding date, got married in June of 1968 and a month later I moved to South Carolina where he was stationed,” said Lorra. Her new husband spent 13 months in Vietnam and when he came back he was no longer on active duty. After 56 years of marriage, the couple has enjoyed trips around the state, taking part in a card club, and spending time with their adult sons and two grandchildren. Lorra went on to work at Kay Jewelers for several years before retiring as treasurer with Beech Grove Schools.

As she continues with her checkups every three months and her blood work every month, Lorra says she attends the support group to keep in touch with others who share a common diagnosis.

“Through the support group I’ve learned about so many aspects and experiences of multiple myeloma. We don’t always talk about cancer. We talk about our lives in general,” said Lorra. “My experiences aren’t the same as everyone else’s but I try to encourage others. I try to stay positive and I don’t let it control me and my life.”