Dawn Johnson, a San Antonio resident with a 20-year career in finance and insurance, is a committed philanthropist for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, which focuses on curing blood cancers like myeloma. Myeloma occurs when plasma cells, a type of white blood cell, multiply uncontrollably in the bone marrow, leading to health complications such as kidney issues and a weakened immune response. The cancer is diagnosed through high levels of paraproteins and affected plasma cells in the blood, and it can affect various body areas while exhibiting a relapsing-remitting course.

1. Dawn Johnson, San Antonio

2.  During her 20-year career in finance and insurance, Dawn
Johnson of San Antonio, Texas, supported a variety of
community programs. Following her career at USAA, Dawn
Johnson continues to be an avid philanthropist supporting the
Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.
The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society works to help find a
cure for blood cancers including myeloma.
Myeloma is a form of cancer that affects plasma cells. The
plasma cell is a form of white blood cell that produces
antibodies called immunoglobins to fight infection.
Myeloma affects plasma cells, making them multiply
uncontrollably within the bone marrow, to the extent that they
crowd out healthy cells.

3.  The cancer also severely restricts the plasma cells to
producing one antibody called paraprotein, which doesn’t fight
infections and can cause kidney problems.
Myeloma doesn’t appear as a tumor or lump. In fact, it is the
high number of paraproteins in the blood together with the
presence of affected plasma cells that helps doctors diagnose
it.
Myeloma can affect multiple areas of the body such as the
spine, pelvis, rib cage, skull, arm, and leg. It is a relapsing-
remitting cancer meaning patients often suffer periods of
increased symptoms/complications and then a plateau phase
without noticeable symptoms.