International Myeloma Foundation

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Nancy's involvement with #myeloma began after her husband was diagnosed in 1998. Today, she has over 30 MM support groups. Soon, she’ll embark on the IMF’s Iceland Cycling Expedition to fundraise for myeloma. Support her: https://mmsm.link/3UBbixa #MyelomaICE #mmsm

A letter from Malcolm: I was diagnosed with multiple myeloma in 2009. I had a tough first year with major back pain that was finally helped by the Revlimid and Dex treatment. In 2012, I went to the International Myeloma Foundation (IMF) office and asked about joining a support group for myself and my wife, Sally. I was told that there weren't any groups close to us in the San Fernando Valley. Someone said, "why don't you start one?" I had recently retired and was finally feeling better, so I did. The San Fernando Valley Multiple Myeloma Support Group started with a small group of patients and care partners in June 2012. Our first speaker was Kelly Cox from the IMF. Sally and I continue to facilitate the group, and it has expanded every year as oncology nurses and doctors and group members refer patients to us. During the pandemic, when we moved to Zoom, some meetings attracted 40 or more participants. Our mailing list is now over 300. We have periodic in-person meetings and an annual in-person holiday party. Our two-hour Zoom meetings have speakers followed by breakout sessions where members have a chance to talk and share in small groups. We started raising money for the IMF in 2014 by just asking our support group people to give or to ask people they know to give to the IMF. I take an active role in outreach for the fundraising, and so far, we have raised just under $200,000 and are about to start this year's campaign. Money raised by our group this year will go to the 25th-anniversary Support Group Leaders Summit fundraising campaign. We understand the importance and impact of the Support Group Leaders Summits and the IMF’s Patient and Family Seminars. We have attended several Support Group Leader Summits and presented at two of the past three. Running the support group all these years keeps us involved with the IMF, keeps us aware of what is happening with multiple myeloma, has allowed us to make some wonderful friends, and makes a difference to all the people who attend our meetings and receive our emails. The most important thing is that no one must feel alone; we are not there only as patients and caregivers but as a caring and supportive community. Donate to the IMF and help empower patients and care partners: https://mmsm.link/3KZCa4m #myeloma #mmsm

Myeloma is a cause near and dear to Nancy Bruno's heart—that's why she's joining the ICE expedition to raise funds for myeloma research. Consider giving to support her goal—your donation matters! https://mmsm.link/3UBbixa Sanofi is sponsoring #MyelomaICE

Dr. Saad Z. Usmani (Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center) first took interest in myeloma as a fellow in training in Connecticut when he realized how few treatment options there were for his patients with #myeloma. He joins us this fall for the IMF's Iceland Cycling Expedition after one of his myeloma patients a few years ago encouraged him to be part of endurance fundraisers to raise money for myeloma research. Support ICE: https://mmsm.link/3UBoPoD #MyelomaICE #mmsm

The #MyelomaMinute is out! Read and subscribe to your top source of myeloma news and info. This week we feature upcoming events, the Iceland Cycling Expedition, and IMF Chief Medical Officer Dr. Joseph Mikhael explains why clinical trials are crucial for advancing multiple myeloma treatments. https://lnkd.in/g-xNHC3p

A letter from Carri: When my loved one was first diagnosed, I felt angry because our relationship wasn't healthy at that time, and we were on the verge of going our separate ways. Once he was diagnosed, I felt compelled to stay to support him but was still angry that I was in the position of having to choose based on circumstances. When I first joined a support group, I felt like it was a waste of my time because I'm not a patient. What help did I need???? 🤦 I became a support group leader because my partner wanted to attend a support group for #myeloma but there were none in our area - so we started one. As a support group leader, I learned that there's no wrong way to support others - they simply want to be heard and understood. To me, being a support group leader means creating a space where our members can speak freely, and giving them the opportunity to release some emotions, share their updates (good or bad), and feel supported beyond just their care team. The International Myeloma Foundation’s Support Group Leaders Summit empowers me to connect with other support group leaders and get new ideas on how to grow our group and make the biggest impact on our members. Because of the International Myeloma Foundation, I feel SEEN because, as care partners, we often have to put our wants and needs aside for our loved ones. The IMF understands the ripple effect of myeloma and encourages support of the entire family dynamic, not just the patient. Raising money to support the International Myeloma Foundation is important to me because, without it, they couldn't offer such valuable resources to patients (and their families) around the world. Donate to the IMF and help empower patients and care partners: https://mmsm.link/3KZCa4m

When Nancy Bruno's husband was diagnosed with myeloma in 1998, doctors gave him 2 years to live—but after learning about the IMF and joining a support group, he lived for 12 years with the disease. This fall, she's setting out to cycle through Iceland with the IMF with a goal—cure multiple myeloma. #MyelomaICE #cancer #bloodcancer #cancerresearch #myelomaresearch #mmsm #oncology #hematology #myeloma #multiplemyeloma #InternationalMyelomaFoundation #hemeonc #cancersupport #nonprofit #cycling #Iceland #bloodcancerresearch #IMFBSRI #cycling

Join us for the Hole in One for Multiple Myeloma Golf Tournament on 8/12 in Jackson, NJ! Enjoy games, prizes, a buffet luncheon, & a reception, all to raise funds for myeloma research. Thanks to sponsors Hallen and StarLo. https://mmsm.link/3xNJAoh