The 2017 Myeloma Action Month campaign -- sponsored by the International Myeloma Foundation (IMF) -- began Wednesday to educate health care workers, legislators and patients on the disease.
Throughout March, IMF will host two all-day workshops on myeloma, a Q&A teleconference, and two patient and family seminars.
Myeloma is the second-most prevalent blood cancer that affects blood plasma cells in about 90,000 individuals in the U.S., and early diagnosis is key to treatment since the disease is not widely known about and can be missed during initial diagnosis, the IMF said in a press release.
"The IMF is proud to lead the charge to assist health care professionals, lawmakers, and patient advocates to take actions that will increase awareness about myeloma across the United States and in the world," Susie Novis Durie, IMF president and co-founder, said in the release.
IMF Chairman Dr. Brian Durie said that while 70 percent of myeloma patients have early indicators such as constant or recurring back or bone pain without explanation, fever, history of constant infections, fatigue without reason, shortness of breath, rare bleeding and rash, 30 percent of patients don’t experience any symptoms.
“Red flags in those patients who display no symptoms are increased total protein and/or an increase in levels of one of two immunoglobulin antibodies – IgG or IgA, abnormal protein in the urine, unexplained anemia, and unexplained increase in serum creatinine,” the IMF said.
