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Make a donation, let me know what day and month you think Myels was born and the closest 'guesser' gets to give Myels a cuddle! (Suitable for cuddles from birth from humans and dogs!).

MYELS IS A MYELOMA STAR!

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Myeloma UK:

• Fund a world-leading genetic research programme to discover and develop new “tailored” treatments
• Fund a groundbreaking Clinical Trial Network that gives patients access to new life-extending drugs
• Provide resources for healthcare professionals so that diagnosis is improved, best practice is shared and patients receive the best possible treatment and care
• Work in partnership with decision-makers to ensure the speedy approval of new drugs, and that the NHS provides the services patients and their families need
• Support patients and their families through a comprehensive range of services including our Myeloma Infoline and Patient and Family Infodays

They receive no government funding and rely on voluntary donations and fundraising activities; their administration and running costs are kept to an absolute minimum.

My lovely, brave and always uncomplaining husband, Graham, was diagnosed with Myeloma in February 2010, after several fractures in his spine and 4 months of what seemed like hundreds of tests. Since then he has received various treatments, including two stem cell transplants, carried out by the wonderful team at Nottingham City Hospital. He is currently on further treatment as, unfortunately, myeloma never goes away.

The work that Myeloma UK does, with no government funding, is truly amazing and I hope that everyone reading this will be generous enough to spare as much as they can to help them with this. Every small amount helps and I thank you in anticipation of helping this wonderful charity.

What is myeloma?

Myeloma, also known as multiple myeloma, is a cancer arising from plasma cells, a type of white blood cell which is made in the bone marrow.  Bone marrow is the ‘spongy’ material found in the centre of the larger bones in the body. The bone marrow is where all blood cells are made.

Plasma cells form part of your immune system. Normal plasma cells produce antibodies, also called immunoglobulins, to help fight infection.

In myeloma, these plasma cells become abnormal, multiply uncontrollably and release only one type of antibody – known as paraprotein – which has no useful function. It is often through the measurement of this paraprotein that myeloma is diagnosed and monitored.

Unlike many cancers, myeloma does not exist as a lump or tumour. Most of the medical problems related to myeloma are caused by the build-up of the abnormal plasma cells in the bone marrow and the presence of the paraprotein in the blood or in the urine.

Myeloma affects multiple places in the body (hence ‘multiple’ myeloma) where bone marrow is normally active in an adult i.e. within the bones of the spine, skull, pelvis, the rib cage, long bones of the arms and legs and the areas around the shoulders and hips.

Myeloma is a relapsing-remitting cancer. This means there are periods when the myeloma is causing symptoms and/or complications and needs to be treated, followed by periods of remission or plateau where the myeloma does not cause symptoms and does not require treatment.

Facts and figures:

1. Myeloma, also known as multiple myeloma, is a cancer arising from plasma cells, a type of cell made in the bone marrow that forms part of your immune system
2. Unlike many other cancers, myeloma does not exist as a lump or tumour
3. The most common symptoms of myeloma include bone pain, recurring infection, kidney damage and fatigue. Not everyone will experience all or any of these
4. There are approximately 4,800 people diagnosed with myeloma every year in the UK. It is the second most common form of bone marrow cancer, but only represents 1% of all cancers
5. The causes of myeloma are not fully understood but it is thought to be caused by an interaction of both genetic and environmental factors
6. Myeloma is a very individual cancer, both in terms of what symptoms and complications patients can have and in the way they respond to treatment
7. Myeloma is a relapsing-remitting cancer. This means there are periods when the myeloma is causing symptoms and needs to be treated, followed by periods of stable disease where the myeloma does not cause symptoms and does not require treatment
8. Treatment for myeloma is most effective when two or more drugs with different but complementary mechanisms of action are given in combination
9. Other treatment will also be prescribed to help prevent or manage potential side-effects of treatment combinations and treat the symptoms and complications of myeloma
10. Improvements made to treatment over the last decade has meant that survival rates in myeloma are increasing at the fastest rate among all cancer types in the UK

Thank you for reading this far. :) xxx 

You are a Myeloma Star!

(Just like Myels!)