A public information evening focused on myeloma (bone marrow cancer ) awareness will be held this Thursday June 25 in Tullamore.
The inaugural Irish Myeloma Awareness Week, which runs from 21-28 June, was launched this week by singer, songwriter and author Brian Kennedy.
Myeloma is a complex debilitating cancer of the blood with no known cause and, despite many advances in treatment, no cure. Approximately 200 new patients are diagnosed in Ireland every year. The aim of Myeloma Awareness Week is to create awareness about the disease and its treatment.
The week is being co-ordinated by Advanced Nurse Practitioner in Haematology Mary Kelly, who works in Tullamore Hospital, and her colleague Theresa Meehaghan. Public information events will take place across the country throughout the week and there will be information stands in hospitals at which leaflets about myeloma will be distributed.
To coincide with National Myeloma Awareness Week a new Irish website was launched at www.mymyeloma.ie The website is the brainchild of Brenda Drumm, who has been living with myeloma since 2007. It is the first dedicated myeloma website for Ireland and it aims to raise awareness about the disease and provide help and information to patients and their family members about myeloma care and treatment. The site will also be a source of information for people working with myeloma.
The public infomation evening takes place in the Tullamore Court Hotel this Thursday June 25 from 6.30 to 8.30pm. All are welcome.
On the agenda for the evening will be an overview of myeloma, details of progress in treatment and management and clinical trials in myeloma, patient experience of living with myeloma, information on support services, and a discussion forum.
There will also be an introduction to the new dedicated patient website www.mymyeloma.ie
For further details please contact Mary Kelly at (086 ) 7804007 or email [email protected].
A monthly support meeting also takes place at Dochas Cancer Centre, Tullamore. The next meeting takes place on Monday June 29 at 7.30pm, and will focus on dietary advice for myeloma patients.
To find out more about myeloma or to find a public information stand or meeting please visit www.mymyeloma.ie
