International Blood Cancer Awareness Month
When Erma Roung’s husband Ken was diagnosed with multiple myeloma, an incurable form of cancer affecting the plasma cells in the bone marrow, in March 2010, it was after two years of pain and four months suffering from bone fractures. “It was a struggle to get it diagnosed,” Erma says. “Back then they didn’t seem to have doctors that knew what the signs were for myeloma.” Due to lack of awareness of myeloma Ken fell through the cracks, and lived only two months past his diagnosis.
Ken’s diagnosis prompted Erma to lead a Multiple Myeloma March in Windsor. The march aimed at raising awareness and funds for advances in research that could help other patients. This year will be her seventh time organizing the march she started.
“I want to get the word out about what myeloma is, so people are aware of it and know there is help out there,” she says. “There is more understanding now than when I started the march, but many people still don’t know what it is when they’re diagnosed.”
September is the International Blood Cancer Awareness Month. During this month, the Multiple Myeloma March, Myeloma Canada’s signature fundraiser, will be held in 16 communities across the country. Funds raised will benefit the Myeloma Canada Research Network (MCRN), the first and only Canadian platform to connect world-class myeloma researchers in 24 centres across nine provinces. MCRN researchers hold clinical trials that give myeloma patients access to new drugs and game-changing therapies that wouldn’t otherwise be available to them, and that lead to improved patient outcomes. This year’s national fundraising goal is set to $500,000.
“The MCRN, which was born out of a support group, has become indispensable to doing good quality research,” explains Dr. Sindu Kanjeekal, Multiple Myeloma Clinical and Research Lead, Windsor Regional Cancer Centre. “Patients living with myeloma often go through multiple standard therapies, which is why offering accelerated access to innovative; and, in some cases, breakthrough, treatment options not currently reimbursed by any public health plan in Canada is so crucial.”
“Every day, seven Canadians are diagnosed with multiple myeloma, which is why there is a greater need for early awareness programs to promote timely diagnosis,” adds Aldo Del Col, Co-Founder and Chairman, Myeloma Canada.
This year Erma will lead the 7th annual Windsor/Essex County Multiple Myeloma March on September 24, at the Vollmer Culture and Recreation Complex in Lasalle, at 9 a.m. Last year the march raised $36,500. This year, organizers have set the fundraising goal to $45,000.
For more information about Blood Cancer Awareness Month, multiple myeloma and the Multiple Myeloma March, visit myeloma.ca