"We did not know he was sick,” remembers Tricia, Guru’s older sister. “This was something he kept to himself for a long time. By the time we knew that he was suffering from multiple myeloma, he was in a coma, and I never had a chance to discuss that with him.”
Just a year before he passed away in 2010, Guru was diagnosed with multiple myeloma, a blood cancer that affects the plasma cells in the bone marrow. Multiple myeloma, while rare, affects tens of thousands of people every year and more than 20% of the approximately 35,000 new cases diagnosed annually occur in Black people.
For the last 50 years, hip hop has been an outlet to express insights about the experiences of Black people. One of the pioneers of the genre, Keith Elam – publicly known as Guru (Gifted Unlimited Rhymes Universal), the founding member of the iconic rap group Gang Starr – was best known for a lyrical skill that represented “real hip hop.” His words touched so many, that when he suddenly passed, the hip hop world was stunned. Equally stunned was his family, who was unaware Guru had been battling cancer.
While multiple myeloma typically doesn’t occur until later in life, Black people show signs of multiple myeloma earlier than other ethnicities by as much as ten years. Guru lost his battle with multiple myeloma at just 48 years old.
Hip hop lost a pioneer to a rare blood cancer.
Now his sister is raising awareness about the disproportionate impact in Black communities.
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Being able to help someone to be blessed the way that I was blessed – because Hub was here for 14 years when they said it would be only two – I think that's a worthy cause.
Tricia was extremely close with her brother growing up. They shared a passion for the written word and would send each other letters after Tricia left for college. They spoke openly about almost everything, which made the secrecy around Guru’s diagnosis all the more heartbreaking.
“One of the things that's very painful about his leaving us is that we didn't know he was ill,” Tricia says. “We didn't know it was something he should have gotten treatment for earlier until it was too late.”
Are you at risk for Multiple Myeloma?
MM impacts 35,000 people a year in the United States but it disproportionately impacts Black people more than any other racial and ethnic groups. Here's what you need to know.
Tricia started her mission at home. She shared her findings about multiple myeloma with her family and let her doctor know that the disease was present in her family. This empowered her to seek the right testing when her own routine checkup came back with a low white blood cell count. Further tests revealed she had monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance, or MGUS, a known precursor to multiple myeloma. While Tricia ultimately did not have multiple myeloma, she now knows she’ll need to monitor it closely throughout her life.
“Oftentimes people are hesitant to share that kind of information,” says Tricia of her recent health event, “but as soon as I had that experience with my doctor, I called my other brother and said, you know, you might want to get your blood checked in your routine physicals or exams, just to see what's going on.”
As a writer and a professor of creative writing at Howard University, Tricia also began speaking with her students about the importance of talking openly about health matters.
“Because I teach, and a lot of my students are aware that I'm Guru's sister, that's my claim to fame. They'll tell me how much his lyrics meant to them and so when I talk to them about him passing away, I always mention this was something treatable. Just to give them the idea that yes, you need to find out about whatever's going on with you and take care of it. Our lives matter.”
A commitment to keeping Guru’s story alive through a shared love of words
Tricia is now taking her mission to a larger stage by joining the That’s My Word campaign, which was created by Janssen Oncology, a leading cancer research and pharmaceutical company, to empower Black communities with the facts about multiple myeloma. With the help of storytellers like Tricia, That’s My Word aims to raise awareness of multiple myeloma by calling for those at risk of multiple myeloma and their friends and family to make the Multiple Myeloma Promise.
A Multiple Myeloma Promise can be anything that helps spread the word about the disease. If you’ve been diagnosed, it might mean advocating for yourself to ensure you’re getting the best care possible. Healthcare providers might commit to doing everything they can to be a catalyst for change in health care. Even a person with no known connection to multiple myeloma can promise to get the facts about this rare blood cancer and inquire within their families about their possible genetic connections to multiple myeloma. All of these efforts may help eradicate racial and social injustice as a public health threat.
“What I love about the That’s My Word campaign,” says Tricia, who’s been excited to share her story to help the campaign, “is that it’s getting this message out to people who might not ordinarily know about (multiple myeloma) or respond to it. It’s reaching folks who may be wary of going to the doctor, especially Black men. We’re telling them, it’s easy to find out! There are places to go, even if you don’t have insurance to find out. And the earlier you find out, (the earlier) you can do something about it.”
“That’s my word” is a reference to the classic hip hop phrase “word is bond.” It’s fitting that the phrase is now a call to action that extends Guru’s legacy as a storyteller through the words Tricia speaks every day. Because of the lessons she’s passed on about Guru’s experience, Tricia believes better outcomes are in our future. As conversations about Black health increase, the hope is that improved health outcomes can be achieved, not just surrounding multiple myeloma, but for all health issues disproportionately impacting Black communities.
What I love about the That’s My Word campaign is that it’s getting this message out to people who might not ordinarily know about multiple myeloma.
Join Tricia and be part of a movement that’s making a difference. Help end the silence around multiple myeloma.
Make the That’s My Word Multiple Myeloma Promise today at www.thatsmywordmm.com.
Make a promise today
Above photo: Top Row L - R:
Harry J. Elam Jr., Tricia Elam, Jocelyn Elam, Keith (Guru) Elam; Bottom Row L - R: Barbara Clark Elam, Justin Nicholas-Elam Ruff, Harry J. Elam
of all MM casesoccur in Black people and the number of cases is rising
20%
that Black people have better treatment results when given equal access to care
Studies show
The average time between MM diagnosis and treatment is
for Black people than it is for white people
2x longer
Black people are
more likely to be diagnosed with MM than other groups
2x
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This was something he kept to himself for a long time. By the time we knew that he had contracted that, he was in a coma, and I never had a chance to discuss that with him.
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Multiple Myeloma (MM) Symptoms and Signs to Know
Share what you know about multiple myeloma
Know the signs and symptoms to look out for
Have a voice and speak up about multiple myeloma with your doctor
Getting sick more often or not getting better as quickly as you normally would
In multiple myeloma, cancerous cells outpower healthy ones that help with fighting infections. As a result, your immunity is weakened.
Unusual bleeding
When you bleed for longer than usual, it may mean your blood platelet counts are low, which can be a symptom of MM.
Stomach and digestive system issues
MM can cause calcium from your bones to leak into your bloodstream, which might leave you feeling sick and thirsty. Vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, and loss of appetite are related symptoms. They can be signs of MM.
Purple bumps and rashes
As cancer cells build up underneath the skin, they can form large purple bumps on the skin. This only happens in the late stages of MM, so make sure you see a doctore right away if you experience these symptoms.
We didn't know it was something he should have gotten treatment for earlier until it was too late.
Make a Myeloma Promise today to commit to:
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Like many cancers, a later multiple myeloma diagnosis too often means an earlier death. Though incurable, when discovered early, multiple myeloma is manageable. While Black patients are less likely to have more aggressive disease compared to other multiple myeloma patient populations, they are twice as likely to die from multiple myeloma because it is often undetected until it has progressed to more advanced stages.
This dichotomy indicates that the poor outcomes associated with multiple myeloma can largely be attributed to a lack of awareness, lack of access to treatment, and a reticence to discuss health issues with families and friends. When Tricia learned these details about the disease following Guru’s death, it motivated her to begin speaking out.
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Bone pain
or pain in the hips, skull, or bones.
Because MM begins to grow in the bone, it can cause severe sudden back pain, ongoing backaches
Bones break more easily - especially if you are young
MM cells inside the bone marrow cause tiny breaks or holes in your bones.
Numbness, tingling, or weak muscles
Bones in your spine can break and put pressure on your nerves. Nerve
pressure weakens muscles, including those in your legs. You might also have numbness or tingling in your back.
Weakened bladder
As MM cells build up along the spine, they can cause more frequent urination.
Weakness and shortness of breath
These signs and symptoms could mean kidney problems. In some
people, kidney failure is the first sign that leads to a diagnosis of MM.
Feeling lightheaded, dizzy, or weak, and looking paler than usual
These symptoms could mean you have a low red
Unusual bleeding
When you bleed for longer than usual, it may mean your blood platelet counts are low, which can be a symptom of MM.
blood cell count, called anemia.
Stomach and digestive system issues
MM can cause calcium from your bones to leak into your bloodstream,
Purple bumps and rashes
As cancer cells build up underneath the skin, they can form large purple
bumps on the skin. This only happens in the late stages of MM, so make sure you see a doctore right away if you experience these symptoms.
which might leave you feeling sick and thirsty. Vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, and loss of appetite are related symptoms. They can be signs of MM.
1. What is Multiple Myeloma. International Myeloma Foundation 2022. Accessed March 30, 2023. https://www.myeloma.org/what-is-multiple-myeloma
2. Disparities in African Americans. International Myeloma Foundation 2022. Accessed March 30, 2023. https://www.myeloma.org/IMF-Diversity-Equity-Inclusion-Policy/disparities-african-americans
3. Multiple Myeloma in African Americans. The Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation. Published August 26, 2019. Accessed March 30, 2023. https://themmrf.org/2019/08/multiple-myeloma-in-african-americans/
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See your doctor more often to monitor your chance of multiple myeloma
Looking for Answers
Below photo: L - R: Keith (Guru) Elam, Tricia Elam, Justin Nicholas-Elam Ruff
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