The International Myeloma Foundation (IMF) is harnessing the power of myeloma patients, their families, and the myeloma community at large to raise awareness of the disease during Myeloma Action Month (MAM), starting March 1, 2018. This year’s campaign focuses on Myeloma Warriors – those individuals surviving with the disease, supporting loved ones, and helping to find the cure.
Myeloma, a cancer of the blood plasma cells, affects approximately 90,000 people in the U.S. and is the second most common blood cancer. As it is a relatively unknown cancer, myeloma can go undiagnosed until it begins to cause serious health issues. Today with more treatment options available, an early diagnosis is vital for achieving the best outcome for patients.
This year’s Myeloma Action Month campaign hashtag is #myelomawarrior. When using this hashtag to share stories on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest, these #myelomawarrior posts will stream to the IMF’s “Wall of Warriors” at the Myeloma Action Month website http://mam.myeloma.org. This website also houses shareable graphics that participants can post on their social media channels. These graphics are expressed through slogans such as “I am a #myelomawarrior survivor,” “I am a #myelomawarrior nurse,” “I am a #myelomawarrior caregiver” and more.
“By collecting patient and caregiver stories,” said Susie Durie, President, Founder, and CEO of the IMF, “we are creating a timeless and worldwide forum for myeloma awareness.”
Not only will the IMF increase myeloma awareness, it will also promote individuals to take action with impactful results. For example, U.S. primary care doctors may not be familiar with myeloma and are on the front lines of potentially seeing a patient with myeloma. Patients will receive a letter from IMF Chairman Dr. Brian Durie that spells out potential myeloma symptoms and red flags. The letter can be downloaded and personalized.
IMF’s Advocacy team once again is working to garner another Federal resolution recognizing March 2018 as “National Multiple Myeloma Awareness Month,” and the month will be filled with educational events such as:
- A daylong Regional Community Workshop to be held in Denver on March 10, and will feature interactive sessions with myeloma experts.
- An IMF Patient & Family Seminar in Boca Raton, FL, March 16–17 will cover such topics as best therapies for elderly patients, best therapies for patients opting for transplant, management of bone disease, new clinical trials, and more.
- Post-Myeloma Action Month, an IMF Regional Community Workshop will take place in Nashville on April 21.
To learn about more opportunities to take action, please visit the IMF’s Myeloma Action Month website.
