Dear community...

Martine Elias, Executive Director

"February has been a very busy and exciting month for us. I’m thrilled to announce that our new myeloma awareness campaign for 2021, “YOU have the POWER” officially launched on February 15th.   We hope you’ve seen the campaign announcement. Coming out of a year where much was beyond our control, our theme for 2021 is centred on taking charge and using the power each of us has to make sure myeloma matters - where ever and how ever - we can." Read full article

Access & research

Latest news

Real‐world outcomes with bortezomib‐containing regimens and lenalidomide plus dexamethasone for the treatment of transplant‐ineligible multiple myeloma: a multi‐institutional report from the Canadian Myeloma Research Group database Lifetime Pesticide Use and Monoclonal Gammopathy of Undetermined Significance in a Prospective Cohort of Male Farmers Revlimid (lenalidomide) now listed in combination with bortezomib, and dexamethasone for previously untreated myeloma for patients not eligible for stem cell transplant in British Columbia New Canadian pharmaceutical company brings novel cancer therapies to market Cancer System Quality Index by Cancer Care Ontario Symptom burden in transplant ineligible patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma: a population-based cohort study

Awareness

YOU have the POWER has officially launched!  Just in time to brighten up the February blahs, announcing our 2021 campaign, “YOU have the POWER” designed to empower, engage, and excite you. The campaign will be promoted on Facebook, Twitter, Google, and on myeloma.ca.   We’ve seen tremendous research breakthroughs that are enabling people with myeloma to enjoy longer and better lives, and we’re heading closer to the day when a cure may be found. It’s time to use the power we each have to raise awareness and funds so the incredible advancements we’ve seen in myeloma drug therapies continue.

YOU have the POWER to GROW the CONVERSATION Feb 15th - Feb 26th

YOU have the POWER to SAVE LIVES. Starts Feb 27th on our digital and social media outlets and will be complemented by a direct mail piece for Myeloma Awareness Month in March.

YOU have the POWER to OUT MYELOMA Starts mid-March on our digital and social media outlets.

What do YOU have the POWER to do? Get the word out on your social media channels! Flex your muscles in other ways! Donate

Questions? Please contact Marcie Baron, Manager Communications and Marketing at mbaron@myeloma.ca or call us toll-free, 1-888-798-5771.

More details Canadian Oncology Community United for World Cancer Day On World Cancer Day, an alliance of more than 25 healthcare organizations from across Canada, with support from AstraZeneca, teamed up in support of New Normal Same Cancer, a public awareness campaign encouraging Canadians to get back to cancer care.

Myeloma Awareness Day Proclaimed in Winnipeg, Manitoba Thanks to the relentless work of Jackey LaBossiere, support group leader in Winnipeg, the Province of Manitoba has, once again, proclaimed March 1 as Multiple Myeloma Awareness Day! To honour the day, Jackey's request to light the Winnipeg sign for Multiple Myeloma Awareness Month 2021 was accepted. Thank you Jackey for your determination in making this happen. Congratulations! We hope you can take some pictures!

The Winnipeg sign lit up for Myeloma Awareness Month 2020

Check out the International Myeloma Foundation's (IMF) “31 Days of Resilience” campaign for what they're calling Myeloma Action Month.

What's new at Myeloma Canada

$8,470 raised to "BID away myeloma."!

Congratulations to all our community members who took part in our 1st-ever BID away myeloma. virtual auction in February...together you raised $8,740! Proceeds from BID away myeloma. go to help our mission of improving the lives of Canadians impacted by myeloma and help to move us closer to a cure.  Whether you decided to treat someone you love - or better yet, yourself - with something special for Valentine’s day, or just for the cause, we thank you for your amazing support!

New educational video is now online!

To view the video, simply click on the thumbnail. Understanding multiple myeloma relapse Presented by Canadian myeloma expert Dr Ciara Freeman, Assistant Professor, Department of Medical Oncology - BC Cancer, British Columbia. Subscribe to our YouTube channel for regular updates

Follow us on Facebook and Twitter to be amongst the first to see our videos!

Spotlight on Munira Premji: Choosing hope in my journey with cancer.

"I have learnt that time is fragile and that we all live on borrowed time. I have learnt about the value of living life one moment at a time rather than rushing through it. I have learnt that you do not do cancer alone - - that caregivers are the true heroes of a cancer patient’s journey. I am grateful to be living in Canada, with its publicly funded system. I have learnt that it is important to be an advocate and support cancer research as 1 out of nearly 2 Canadians will get cancer in their lifetime. I have also learned that cancer is a word and not a life sentence; that we are so much more than our cancer.  And I have learnt to hold on to hope when confronting cancer." Learn more about Munira here

Munira Premji

In the community

Northumberland County peeps…we need you!

Bonnie’s Valentine’s Day Basket fundraiser has heart!

Myeloma Canada supports the initiation of the provincial myeloma database in Newfoundland

Upcoming events

Webinars Join us online from the comfort of your own home! All you need is a computer, tablet or smart phone and an internet connection.

All webinars are taped and are available for viewing on our Myeloma Canada YouTube channel as well as on our website, myeloma.ca under the News & Events tab. Don't forget - full information on upcoming webinars is also available in our 'News & Events' section, or by clicking here.

Upcoming webinars: Tuesday March 9, 2021 4:00 pm EST Medical Cannabis in Clinical Oncology: Present & Future Register here Upcoming events: April 17-23, 2021 Organized by the Blood & Marrow Transplant Information Network (BMT InfoNet)  Celebrating a Second Chance at Life Symposium  Register here

Past webinars: Update on COVID-19 and Myeloma in Canada - View recording Drugs Commonly Used for Multiple Myeloma Patients and Side Effects - View recording Myeloma Monitor: Learn How to Organize, Track & Manage Your Myeloma - View recording Oncology Rehabilitation Program Kinatex Sports Physio - View recording Jim's Story of Self Advocacy, Living With Myeloma for 28 Years - View recording  Impact of Dietary, Metabolic, and Microbiome-Related Factors on Plasma Cell Disorders - View recording Light Chain (AL) Amyloidosis: Diagnosis and Treatment - View recording Drug Interactions in Myeloma and How to Avoid Them - View recording About Relapsed/Refractory Myeloma & What to Expect - View recording Living Well With Myeloma for 25 Years: The Benefits of Getting Involved - View recording Following & Understanding Your Serum-Free Light Chain Test Results - View recording Relaxation & Stretching Therapies - View recording Get to know your Myeloma Canada Patient Advisory Council (PAC) - View recording  About Newly Diagnosed Myeloma & What to Expect - View recording Healing@Home Empowerment Series - View series

COVID-19 related news

COVID-19 section on myeloma.ca

Our website includes a section dedicated to COVID-19 and its impact on our community. Please visit it often for regular updates and resources you can trust.

New CDC Research Confirms That Masks Really Do Work How the vaccines we have — and the ones coming next — stack up against COVID-19 variants Canadian researchers say Pfizer vaccine's second dose can be delayed as first is highly effective Moderna wants to pack 50% more Covid vaccine per vial Why are the variants more transmissible? Your COVID-19 questions answered New rules requiring a negative COVID-19 test at Canadian border now in effect

Access our COVID-19 section here

COVID-19 related webinars* *See the "Upcoming Events" section below for non-COVID-19 related webinars

All webinars are free, recorded and are available for viewing on our Myeloma Canada YouTube channel. For more information on all upcoming webinars, click here. Past webinars: Click on the title to view the recording: Update on COVID-19 and myeloma in Canada The role of a drug access navigator & access to medications during the COVID-19 pandemic Healing@Home Empowerment Series: 5 ways to lessen your anxiety Telemedicine: Practical tips on how to prepare for appointments The pandemic isn’t fake news: Fighting harmful narratives with credible sources Cancer and COVID-19: Living with added uncertainty and isolation

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:

Download our InfoGuides My Life. My Myeloma. Online Resource Centre Find a Support Group Peer Support Program  Find Clinical Trials Myeloma Monitor Myeloma Drug Access Navigator

We're here for you

In these difficult times, you, our community, remain our number one priority.  Now more than ever, we appreciate your support. Your donation enables us to continue  providing you with the best information, resources, programs and services - across as many technology platforms as possible - to stay empowered, informed and connected, while funding research to help find a cure for this disease. Thank you for your generosity and for helping us help you.

Donate here

Follow us on social media for the most up-to-date information and resources:

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Si vous préférez recevoir cette Infolettre en français, écrivez-nous à contact@myelome.ca.