My mother passed away on April 19, 2005. She was diagnosed with MM almost one year previously to the date. She went through a stem cell transplant but she contracted a fungal infection in her lungs and that is what killed her. The doctors said it was an infection similar to pneumonia (I forgot the exact term) but this type of pneumonia is typical of aids patients and if left untreated it always results in death. However, it can be present for weeks in your body and go undetected. So by the time my mom received treatment it was essentially too late. Her immune system was so down from all of the chemo and blood transfusions that her weak body couldn't fight off the lung infection. That's one of the troubles with this disease is that becuz it effects your blood and bone marrow it can go any which way it pleases. I've heard of people who have lived for years with this disease and I have also heard of others who didn't even get a chance. Granted all cancers and cancer treatments effect your immune system, but it's up to you to take precautions and watch for warning signs. I really don't think there was much more that we could've done for my mom, we took care of her the best we knew how. I only hope that what I say to people here helps them.