Dear community...
Martine Elias, Executive Director
"This past summer/fall you may recall that we partnered with Leger - Canada’s largest market research and analytics company - to create the Myeloma Canada Patient and Caregiver Survey. The goal of the survey was to better understand your needs, what you perceive as our strengths and weaknesses, and to evaluate if we’re going in the right direction in fulfilling our mission: To improve the lives of Canadians impacted by myeloma through awareness-building, educational efforts, advocacy, fostering an empowered myeloma community and support of clinical research so that a cure may be found .
 
We thought you’d like to know some of the key take-aways from the survey. "
Research & Access
Q-CROC* survey for our Quebec community

Attention all Quebecers Only! Please help the Quebec – Clinical Research Organization in Cancer ( Q-CROC) by taking a few minutes to complete their survey. The survey is for adult patients who have, or have had cancer, as well as for their families or informal caregivers.

Your responses are valuable and will help Q-CROC identify needs
in developing information materials for oncology clinical trials. This survey should only take 2-3 minutes.

Click here to access the survey.

*Q-CROC is an NPO whose mission is to improve patient recruitment and the quality of clinical research in oncology in Quebec.
What's new at Myeloma Canada
Register Now!
Join us at Myeloma Canada's 2020 National Conference
for Patients and Caregivers
April 25 & 26, 2020
When?
Sat, April 25 and Sun, April 26, 2020

Where?
Hôtel Omni Mont-Royal,
1050 Sherbrooke Ouest, Montréal,
Québec H3A 2R6

  • Early-bird rate: $50 (before April 6, 2020)
  • Regular rate: $75 (as of April 6, 2020)

Prices include breakfast, lunch and coffee breaks.
In honour of Myeloma Canada's 15 th Anniversary, this year's 2-day National Conference will be held in beautiful Montréal, Québec, Myeloma Canada's birthplace!

We invite all patients, caregivers and healthcare professionals to join us:

  • learn from leading myeloma experts about the treatment and management of myeloma, as well as the latest cutting-edge research;
  • participate in practical breakout sessions on nutrition, the importance of sexuality and intimacy, relaxation and stretching therapies, and more;
  • ask questions, meet and exchange with other patients, caregivers and healthcare professionals.

To view the agenda, click here .
New InfoVideo is now online!
Click on the thumbnail below to view this month’s InfoVideo.
InfoVideo Series #14
In a person with myeloma, are antiviral medications used to help prevent the development of shingles and if so, what is the recommended dose/frequency?

Find out the answer from Dr Christine Chen , Canadian hematologist at the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre in Toronto (ON).
Follow us on Facebook and Twitter to be amongst the first to see our videos!   
Do you know about our support group network?
Meet other patients, caregivers, and their families at a local myeloma support group near you. Support groups can help you cope with a myeloma diagnosis and provide important information about the disease and its treatment.

There are support groups in every province across Canada. Find out more, as well as how to locate a group in your area. Visit myeloma.ca , "Resources" and choose "Find a Support Group".
MYELOMA S*CKS giving campaign launched

By now we're sure you've seen the first two awareness messages in our MYELOMA S*CKS awareness and giving campaign. (These were highlighted in January's Myeloma Matters and ran on social media from January 18 th - February 12 th .)

On February 13 th (and running through to February 29 th ) , the first giving/donate message of the campaign was launched and promoted on Facebook, Twitter and Google, as well as on our website and across our media channels.
Please like, promote and share MYELOMA S*CKS on your web pages, blogs, Twitter feeds, Facebook accounts, etc. The more exposure, the better!

MYELOMA S*CKS. Together let's increase awareness for this disease, help improve the lives of those it impacts, and raise vital funds to help find a cure.

For campaign artwork, please contact Marcie Baron, Manager Communications and Marketing at  mbaron@myeloma.ca or call us toll-free at
1-888-798-5771. 
Welcoming Patricia Célestin to our team!
On February 4, 2020, Myeloma Canada welcomed Patricia Célestin to our team. Patricia joined Myeloma Canada as Development and Operations Support Coordinator. A highly-driven, part-time marketing student, Patricia will be responsible for supporting event development, communications and operations, and will work closely with all team members and support group leaders.

Patricia has solid analytical and organizational skills, a great ability to exceed objectives, and is known for her unwavering motivation! We're confident that she'll be a wonderful addition to the team and more than succeed in her new position!

Please join us in welcoming Patricia to Myeloma Canada!
Patricia can be reached at
Spotlight on Dr Kevin Song 
Hematologist, Myeloma Canada supporter, member of the
Myeloma Canada Scientific Roundtable
"I was attending the American Society of Hematology (ASH) meeting in 2005 and I was getting on a bus, a shuttle, that was taking me to my hotel. A man sat down beside me, looked at my name and subsequently introduced himself to me. That person was Aldo Del Col, one of the Co-founders of Myeloma Canada. Gradually over the next year or so, he started to invite me to Myeloma Canada events. With Aldo’s help, I became more and more involved, and was a part of the early organization of Myeloma Canada. It’s been amazing to see it gradually mature to what it is now. So that’s how it all happened…. with a fortuitous meeting with Aldo Del Col, on a seat on a shuttle! "
Upcoming events
for patients, caregivers, family members and healthcare professionals
Alberta
Red Deer - InfoSession
Thursday, February 27, 2020

Grande Prairie - Meet & Greet
Saturday, February 29, 2020
*** Check out this new support group's leader, Martin Reed, in the news here!

Atlantic
Moncton, NB - Meet & Greet
Saturday, March14, 2020

British Columbia
Vancouver Island Patient and Caregiver Conference in Kelowna
Saturday, May 2 and Sunday, May 3, 2020
For more info: r.tsurry@telus.net

Patient and Caregiver Conference in Nanaimo
Sunday, May 31, 2020
Manitoba
Brandon - InfoSession
Wednesday, April 15, 2020
Save the date!
Ontario
Newmarket - Meet & Greet
Saturday, March 21, 2020

Cornwall - InfoSession
Wednesday, April 22, 2020
Save the date!

Quebec
Trois-Rivières - InfoSession (in French)
Saturday, March 14, 2020

Abitibi-Témiscamingue - InfoSession
Thursday, March 26, 2020
Presented by Dr Sita Bhella
Tuesday, February 25, 2020
7:00 - 8:00pm ET
Latest Myeloma Research Updates from the ASH* 2019 Meeting
Join us online from the comfort of your own home! All you need is a computer, tablet or smart phone and an internet connection.

* American Society of Hematology  
In the community
Resources
Myeloma Canada is here to support you in your myeloma journey. Please consult our website at myeloma.ca for up-to-date news and information, as well as the following helpful links:  
Support Myeloma Canada’s mission in accelerating access to better care for
Canadians impacted by myeloma. Your support and generous donations help to further important medical research and advancements currently taking place in the myeloma field. Moreover, your contributions enable us to provide essential information, programs and services to our Canadian myeloma community.
 
Find out how you can help by clicking on the button below 
Follow us on social media for the most up-to-date information and resources:
If you would prefer to receive this newsletter in English, please let us know: contact@myeloma.ca .