> At a Glance
> – A 34-year-old Florida teacher was told her pain, sweats and fatigue were just postpartum issues
> – A second opinion uncovered multiple myeloma, an incurable blood cancer
> – Five years later she still travels for aggressive treatment and urges others to self-advocate
> – Why it matters: Her story highlights how easily serious illness can hide behind common post-birth symptoms
When Corinne Torney left the hospital with her second daughter in 2020, she thought the hard part was behind her. Instead, a cascade of mysterious symptoms-and a delayed diagnosis-would force her to give up the classroom she loved and fight for her life.
Dismissed Symptoms
Back pain, night sweats and crushing fatigue set in soon after delivery.
Her doctor waved everything off as routine postpartum recovery. The pain kept worsening.
> “I just had a baby. She was 11 months old.”
She booked an appointment with a local nurse-practitioner for another look.
Diagnosis & High-Risk Treatment
That second visit upended everything.
The practitioner discovered multiple myeloma, a blood cancer that erodes bone marrow and immunity.
Because the disease was deemed aggressive and high-risk, Torney:
- Left her teaching job
- Relocated to Arkansas, home of one of the top U.S. myeloma centers
- Underwent chemotherapy and two stem-cell transplants while separated from her husband and young children
Initial outlook: roughly three years. She has now passed the five-year mark.
Living With the Unknown
Torney still receives maintenance therapy; the cancer remains incurable.
> “I have no control over it… if it comes back, it comes back and I’ll deal with it when it happens.”
She focuses on exercise, diet and family time instead of fear.
A Push to Pay Attention
Torney shares her experience to spotlight how easily myeloma hides.
She urges anyone unhappy with medical answers to:
- Seek second, third or fourth opinions
- Track persistent or worsening symptoms
- Support the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation-“our only hope for survival”
Key Takeaways
- Postpartum complaints can mask serious illness; persistence matters
- Second opinions can be life-saving
- Advances in research offer the main path forward for terminal patients
Five years on, Torney keeps teaching-this time urging others to trust their bodies and keep asking questions.
