@brushanson
Hi Bruce! The information you received from your doctor is spot-on. With any blood cancer or condition, the immune system can become compromised and unable to keep up the defenses against infections very well. That includes bacterial, viral and fungal infections. Gardening, raking, digging in the dirt, all have the ability to stir up spores than can be inhaled into the lungs, creating serious and sometime difficult to treat infections. While it’s really hard to give up gardening, it can pose a genuine risk to health. I know! I’ve had to give it up too! Though by wearing an N-95 mask, I am able to do a little deadheading of plants and occasionally plucking a weed or so. But for me, raking or digging in the soil is an absolute nope.

By the way, welcome to Connect! Looks like you’ve been a member since Mayo last year. I’m happy to see you joining in the conversation. How long have you had Multiple Myeloma?