Myeloma symposium to be held at Uniontown Hospital
In 2006, about 16,570 people in the United States were diagnosed with myeloma, a cancer of the plasma cells. An estimated 58,336 people in the U.S. are currently living with the disease.
The cause of myeloma is unknown; however, the disease is not preventable or contagious.
The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society knows that a diagnosis of myeloma can have a profound impact on patients, their families, friends and caregivers.
To help people become more award of this difficult cancer, The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society will sponsor “Exploring Myeloma: An Overview for Patients and Caregivers,” a program for patients, family members caregivers and health professionals at 6 p.m. Wednesday, June 6, in the Uniontown Hospital’s Heritage Room.
Gauri Kiefer, M.D., and Sajid Peracha, M.D., medical oncologists/hematologists at the UPMC Cancer Center in Uniontown, will present a definition of myeloma, review of treatments, management of side effects, emotional aspects and support and also provide a question-and-answer session.
Between 1950 through 2001, myeloma incidence rates have risen 272.6 percent. This educational symposium will address the needs of patients and their families and help them understand the disease an how to treat it.
“As incidence rates for myeloma continue to rise, it is increasingly important to provide patients and their families with the most up-to-date information about the disease and the most effective treatments for it,” said George J. Omiros, executive director of the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, Western Pennsylvania/West Virginia chapter.
In the early stage of myeloma, there may be no symptoms. In managing myeloma, it is important for physicians to find out about any changes as soon as possible. Other symptoms often include pain from bone involvement or fractures, unexpected fractures and unexplained anemia. The risk of the disease increases with age and is more common in men than in women. Myeloma rarely occurs in people under the age of 50. Eighty percent of cases occur after the age of 60. Americans of African descent are twice as likely to develop myeloma as Caucasians.
The “Exploring Myeloma: An Overview for Patients and Caregivers” program is free, but advance registration is required. Continuing Education Unit (CEU) Accreditation will be offered to attending nurses.
Parking and refreshments will be provided. To register, call the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society at 800-726-2873 or 412-395-2873.
The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, based in White Plains, N.Y., is the world’s largest voluntary health organization dedicated to blood cancer research, education and patient services. The society’s mission is to cure leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma and to improve the quality of life of patients and their families.
Since its founding in 1949, the society has provided more than $483 million for research specifically targeting blood cancers.
For more information, call the society at 800-955-4572.