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Jeff Williams with his wife, Leigh Ann Image by Jeff Williams

24-Year Myeloma Survivor Cites Positive Attitude as Key to Longevity

March 28, 2025 | Jeff Williams maintains a basic approach to living with multiple myeloma.

“Get as much exercise as possible,” he said. “I work about a mile from a YMCA. I stay in shape. It has to be a habit. If you go long enough, it will become a habit. Resistance training builds bone density.”

Williams, 66, is a native of Selma, Alabama, and currently lives in Hoover. He has worked in sales for Southland Pipe and Supply in Bessemer since 1998.

“I probably have about three or four years there before retirement,” he joked.

Williams credits his employer, family and friends with helping him through this process.

“Southland Pipe has been great, particularly in the early years of treatment. I would be out for transplants for three to four weeks each time in those days, and they’d tell me to come to work when I was feeling better,” he said.

“My family and friends did everything,” Williams continued. “Cooked meals, dispatched kids to practices. They were there with me during the tough times. After 24 years they still ask how I’m doing.”

Williams’ path to learning he had multiple myeloma is a familiar one — it began with an injury.

“I played church league softball and volleyball for years. My right rib cage was hurting for about a year.”

He received his diagnosis in March 2000.

“Hearing that I had multiple myeloma scared me to death. I had never heard of it before, but I learned quickly. I had a test that week, but my local internist didn’t tell me until Monday morning — he said he didn’t want to ruin my weekend. That day I had a biopsy on my rib and the results revealed plasmacytoma.”

Williams shared his initial feelings about being recommended to come to UAMS.

“A day later I met with my local oncologist and had my first bone marrow biopsy. He told me he was sending me to Little Rock for treatment. I looked at him like he was crazy. I asked, ‘Why Little Rock?’ He asked me how many I children I had, and I said three. He said, ‘You have no choice.’ I’ve been onboard ever since.”

“I had never been to Little Rock before. The Myeloma Center looks nothing like it did in April 2000. I had all the blood work, tests and scans done. I met Dr. Maurizio Zangari and signed on with the Total Therapy 2 study. I had a game plan. I kept everything positive and attacked it.”

Williams had his first stem cell transplant in July 2000, followed by another one that November.

“I was in remission during the induction phase before my first stem cell transplant. I was also allowed to do the transplant phase on an outpatient basis. The transplant phase is a lot to deal with. It’s hard not only on the patient but your caregiver as well.”

Despite his condition, Williams does not let it him hold him back.

“I live a very normal life,” he said. “In 2007 I asked my oncologist if I could train and run a half marathon. During training, I was able to raise a little more than $5,000 for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society through Team In Training. I ran the Country Music Half Marathon in Nashville — I didn’t win it, but I did finish. It was a great experience and I’m thankful to have had the opportunity to do it.”

Williams praised the treatment he’s received at UAMS.

“I love Dr. Zangari to death. He’s very thorough,” he said. “He’s very nice, comical in a lot of ways. We keep it light. When it comes to business, he tells it like it is.”

He added, “I’m the beneficiary of a lot of research and science over the last 24 years. When I started, a lot of the drugs in use now weren’t available. Now they have the treatment fine-tuned — it’s fascinating.”

His current protocol includes a Zometa infusion four times a year with a local oncologist, in addition to taking Ninlaro. He visits UAMS once a year to meet with Zangari.

“The people at UAMS are very efficient. Everyone there is a professional — I’ve had nothing but good experiences,” said Williams.

Williams offers these thoughts to others with the disease.

“Listen to your body. When my friends complain about pain and illness, I tell them to go to a doctor. In my case, I waited way too long to go. The main thing I stress is to not let yourself get down. Have the attitude that you’re going to whip this thing.”