While multiple myeloma can present many challenges, keep in mind that you do not need to cope with this diagnosis on your own. Your friends and family are important sources of strength and support. There are also many local and national support services available to assist you.
Here are some of the different types of resources available to you:
Medical information Your oncologist, other doctors, and nurses are a great source of information about treatment options, pain and side effect management, and other medical concerns. There are also a great number of reputable organizations that provide trusted information on multiple myeloma and related issues (see sidebar). The libraries at cancer centers also stock up-to-date literature on these topics.
Emotional support A multiple myeloma diagnosis can be overwhelming, making you feel sad, scared, or anxious. Individual counseling, face-to-face and online support groups, and patient-to-patient networks are available to help you cope emotionally. Ask your health care team or one of the organizations listed in the sidebar for recommendations. CancerCare provides free counseling and support groups led by professional oncology social workers.
Financial assistance There are many organizations that provide help with medical billing, insurance coverage, and reimbursement issues. There is also financial assistance available to help people who cannot afford the cost of their medications. Good places to start your research are the websites of the Cancer Financial Assistance Coalition (www.cancerfac.org) and the Partnership for Prescription Assistance(www.pparx.org).
Benefits and entitlements Local and county government agencies can give you information on Social Security, state disability, Medicaid, income maintenance, the Low Income Heating Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), and food stamps. Check your local phone directory for listings.
Transportation help CancerCare's Door to Door program offers grants to help multiple myeloma patients with transportation costs such as gasoline, taxi service, and public transportation fare to and from medical appointments. The American Cancer Society's Road to Recovery Program provides transportation to and from cancer centers for patients and their families. Your local and county governments may also offer low-cost transportation for people who qualify. Churches, synagogues, YMCAs, YWCAs, or fraternal orders may also have volunteers who can provide transportation.
Housing/lodging The Hope Lodge of the American Cancer Society, the National Association of Hospital Hospitality Houses (www.nahhh.org), and other organizations provide temporary lodging for families of a patient who needs to travel far from their home for treatment. Joe's House is a nonprofit organization that offers an online database with lodging information near cancer treatment centers across the U.S. To learn more, visit www.joeshouse.org.
Other practical assistance People affected by multiple myeloma may feel overwhelmed by any number of other day-to-day concerns not covered in this fact sheet. Contact CancerCare or any of the other organizations listed in the sidebar to learn about additional recommended resources. To learn more about what is available in your community, you can also contact the National Association of Area Agencies on Aging (www.n4a.org) and United Way (www.unitedway.org).
http://www.cancertherapyadvisor.com/fact-sheets/multiple-myeloma-finding-resources-support-treatment/article/518237/
Thursday, August 25, 2016
Wednesday, August 24, 2016
Global Multiple Myeloma Industry : Insights, Development, Research and Forecast 2016-2020
ResearchMoz presents this most up-to-date research on Global Multiple Myeloma Market 2016-2030.
Multiple Myeloma is a form of blood cancer. Blood cancers, or hematologic cancers, affect the production and function of blood cells.
To Get Sample Copy of Report visit @ http://www.researchmoz.us/enquiry.php?type=S&repid=784697
Most of these cancers start in the bone marrow where blood is produced. In myeloma, unusually large numbers of abnormal plasma cells gather in bone marrow and stop it from producing an important part of your immune system. Multiple myeloma is a cancer formed by malignant plasma cells. Multiple myeloma is characterized with low blood counts, bone and calcium problems, infections, kidney problems and nervous system symptoms. Usually the age factor is considered as the most prominent factor in multiple myeloma cases.
Multiple myeloma was considered to be a non-treatable disease but hopes have arrived with the approval of Darzalex which was a much awaited product and has shown positive results in the trials. Many other products are in the pipeline and will arrive after some time. Darzalex is an antibody with immense potential and was the first monoclonal antibody approved by the FDA for the treatment of heavily pretreated retreated multiple myeloma. More experiments have started to check out Darzalex in combinations to find out its effectiveness in case of other problems too.
The key factors which are anticipated to drive multiple myeloma market include increased penetration of cancer drugs, increase in ageing population, rising obese population and increase in healthcare expenditure. Some of the significant developments of this industry include upcoming new innovative products in the market, trend of combination therapies, and chance of new players. However, the challenge to be faced ahead is high price and legal regulations.
Browse Detail Report With TOC @ http://www.researchmoz.us/global-multiple-myeloma-market-industry-analysis-outlook-20162030-report.html
Table of Content
1. Blood Cancer: An Introduction
1.1 Symptoms of Blood cancer
1.2 Treatment of Blood Cancer
1.3 Types of Blood Cancer
1.3.1 Leukaemia
1.3.2 Lymphoma
2. Multiple Myeloma
2.1 Characteristics of Multiple Myeloma
2.1.1 Low Blood Counts
2.1.2 Bone and Calcium Problems
2.1.3 Infections
2.1.4 Kidney Problems
2.1.5 Monoclonal Gammopathy
2.1.6 Nervous System Symptoms
2.2 Risk Factors for Multiple Myeloma
2.3 Tests to Find Multiple Myeloma
2.3.1 Laboratory Tests
2.3.2 Imaging Tests
2.4 Treatment of Multiple Myeloma
3. Multiple Myeloma Market Analysis
3.1 Global Blood Cancer Market by Value
3.2 Global Multiple Myeloma Market Forecast by Value
3.3 Global Forefront Treated Patients Forecast
3.4 Global Reverted Treated Patients Forecast
Jump For Links
Multiple Myeloma is a form of blood cancer. Blood cancers, or hematologic cancers, affect the production and function of blood cells.
To Get Sample Copy of Report visit @ http://www.researchmoz.us/enquiry.php?type=S&repid=784697
Most of these cancers start in the bone marrow where blood is produced. In myeloma, unusually large numbers of abnormal plasma cells gather in bone marrow and stop it from producing an important part of your immune system. Multiple myeloma is a cancer formed by malignant plasma cells. Multiple myeloma is characterized with low blood counts, bone and calcium problems, infections, kidney problems and nervous system symptoms. Usually the age factor is considered as the most prominent factor in multiple myeloma cases.
Multiple myeloma was considered to be a non-treatable disease but hopes have arrived with the approval of Darzalex which was a much awaited product and has shown positive results in the trials. Many other products are in the pipeline and will arrive after some time. Darzalex is an antibody with immense potential and was the first monoclonal antibody approved by the FDA for the treatment of heavily pretreated retreated multiple myeloma. More experiments have started to check out Darzalex in combinations to find out its effectiveness in case of other problems too.
The key factors which are anticipated to drive multiple myeloma market include increased penetration of cancer drugs, increase in ageing population, rising obese population and increase in healthcare expenditure. Some of the significant developments of this industry include upcoming new innovative products in the market, trend of combination therapies, and chance of new players. However, the challenge to be faced ahead is high price and legal regulations.
Browse Detail Report With TOC @ http://www.researchmoz.us/global-multiple-myeloma-market-industry-analysis-outlook-20162030-report.html
Table of Content
1. Blood Cancer: An Introduction
1.1 Symptoms of Blood cancer
1.2 Treatment of Blood Cancer
1.3 Types of Blood Cancer
1.3.1 Leukaemia
1.3.2 Lymphoma
2. Multiple Myeloma
2.1 Characteristics of Multiple Myeloma
2.1.1 Low Blood Counts
2.1.2 Bone and Calcium Problems
2.1.3 Infections
2.1.4 Kidney Problems
2.1.5 Monoclonal Gammopathy
2.1.6 Nervous System Symptoms
2.2 Risk Factors for Multiple Myeloma
2.3 Tests to Find Multiple Myeloma
2.3.1 Laboratory Tests
2.3.2 Imaging Tests
2.4 Treatment of Multiple Myeloma
3. Multiple Myeloma Market Analysis
3.1 Global Blood Cancer Market by Value
3.2 Global Multiple Myeloma Market Forecast by Value
3.3 Global Forefront Treated Patients Forecast
3.4 Global Reverted Treated Patients Forecast
Jump For Links
Thursday, August 18, 2016
Three Agent Orange diseases under review for presumptive status
The Veterans Affairs Department is weighing whether to add several diseases to the list of health conditions presumed in Vietnam veterans to be caused by exposure to Agent Orange.
A VA working group is studying a report issued in March by the Institute of Medicine to determine whether bladder cancer, hypothyroidism and Parkinson's-like symptoms illnesses the IOM said may be more strongly linked to exposure than previously thought should automatically make a Vietnam veteran eligible for VA disability benefits and health care.
According to Dr. Ralph Erickson, VA's chief consultant for post-deployment health services, the group will make recommendations to VA Secretary Robert McDonald on whether the diseases should be added to a list of 15 already in place.
"We are in the midst of a deliberative process, carefully looking at all the IOM committee put in the report and additional information that has come out since," Erickson said. "We will be putting tougher a VA response that will be brought before senior leaders and ultimately brought before the secretary." The process could take up to two years, a VA spokeswoman added.
Roughly one million Vietnam veterans are enrolled in the VA health system, according to the department. Based on a review of data for one year, 5,484 of these veterans have been diagnosed with bladder cancer, 15,983 suffer from hypothyroidism and an estimated 1,833 have Parkinson's-like symptoms. The working group also is looking into the role, if any, Agent Orange exposure has played in the development of hypertension in Vietnam veterans. According to VA, 307,324 Vietnam veterans in the Veterans Health Administration have high blood pressure. "Hypertension has been a question that has been asked," Erickson said. "The cohort of men and women who heroically served their country in uniform and went to Vietnam are in their 60s, 70s and 80s, and these individuals, merely because of their age, are starting to accrue chronic diseases that come with aging. It's a delicate matter to tease out whether someone has hypertension because of their age or whether it would be related to an exposure to Agent Orange."
VA began recognizing diseases associated with herbicide exposure in Vietnam beginning in 1991, naming 15 diseases as presumed to be related, including Hodgkin's disease, multiple myeloma, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, early-onset peripheral neuropathy, porphyria cutanea tarda, prostate cancer, respiratory cancers, soft-tissue sarcoma, chloracne, type-two diabetes mellitus, light chain amyloidosis, ischemic heart disease, chronic B-cell leukemias, Parkinson's disease and spina bifida in offspring of veterans. The most recent IOM report actually downgraded spina bifida in the children of Vietnam veterans, saying research does not support a previously held belief that the disease occurred in offspring of exposed veterans at higher rates. But the change of spina bifida from "limited or suggestive evidence" it is related to exposure to "inadequate or insufficient" evidence should not affect disability payments to the 1,153 descendants of Vietnam veterans who receive them, Veterans Benefits Administration senior adviser for compensation services Brad Flohr said.
VA recommends that veterans who have an illness they believe is related to Agent Orange exposure file a claim; they are considered on a case-by-case basis if the illness is not on the presumptive condition list. Should new diseases be added to the list, the regulation would go into effect 30 days after it is published in the Federal Register. If a veteran dies of a condition determined to be a presumptive condition after the veteran's death, VA will provide dependency and indemnity compensation benefits to eligible spouses, children and parents of that veteran. [Military Times, Patricia Kime — April 8, 2016]
LINK
A VA working group is studying a report issued in March by the Institute of Medicine to determine whether bladder cancer, hypothyroidism and Parkinson's-like symptoms illnesses the IOM said may be more strongly linked to exposure than previously thought should automatically make a Vietnam veteran eligible for VA disability benefits and health care.
According to Dr. Ralph Erickson, VA's chief consultant for post-deployment health services, the group will make recommendations to VA Secretary Robert McDonald on whether the diseases should be added to a list of 15 already in place.
"We are in the midst of a deliberative process, carefully looking at all the IOM committee put in the report and additional information that has come out since," Erickson said. "We will be putting tougher a VA response that will be brought before senior leaders and ultimately brought before the secretary." The process could take up to two years, a VA spokeswoman added.
Roughly one million Vietnam veterans are enrolled in the VA health system, according to the department. Based on a review of data for one year, 5,484 of these veterans have been diagnosed with bladder cancer, 15,983 suffer from hypothyroidism and an estimated 1,833 have Parkinson's-like symptoms. The working group also is looking into the role, if any, Agent Orange exposure has played in the development of hypertension in Vietnam veterans. According to VA, 307,324 Vietnam veterans in the Veterans Health Administration have high blood pressure. "Hypertension has been a question that has been asked," Erickson said. "The cohort of men and women who heroically served their country in uniform and went to Vietnam are in their 60s, 70s and 80s, and these individuals, merely because of their age, are starting to accrue chronic diseases that come with aging. It's a delicate matter to tease out whether someone has hypertension because of their age or whether it would be related to an exposure to Agent Orange."
VA began recognizing diseases associated with herbicide exposure in Vietnam beginning in 1991, naming 15 diseases as presumed to be related, including Hodgkin's disease, multiple myeloma, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, early-onset peripheral neuropathy, porphyria cutanea tarda, prostate cancer, respiratory cancers, soft-tissue sarcoma, chloracne, type-two diabetes mellitus, light chain amyloidosis, ischemic heart disease, chronic B-cell leukemias, Parkinson's disease and spina bifida in offspring of veterans. The most recent IOM report actually downgraded spina bifida in the children of Vietnam veterans, saying research does not support a previously held belief that the disease occurred in offspring of exposed veterans at higher rates. But the change of spina bifida from "limited or suggestive evidence" it is related to exposure to "inadequate or insufficient" evidence should not affect disability payments to the 1,153 descendants of Vietnam veterans who receive them, Veterans Benefits Administration senior adviser for compensation services Brad Flohr said.
VA recommends that veterans who have an illness they believe is related to Agent Orange exposure file a claim; they are considered on a case-by-case basis if the illness is not on the presumptive condition list. Should new diseases be added to the list, the regulation would go into effect 30 days after it is published in the Federal Register. If a veteran dies of a condition determined to be a presumptive condition after the veteran's death, VA will provide dependency and indemnity compensation benefits to eligible spouses, children and parents of that veteran. [Military Times, Patricia Kime — April 8, 2016]
LINK
What is multiple myeloma?
Multiple myeloma is the most common cancer of its kind and accounts for about 1.4% of all U.S. cancers. However, the rate of incidences have increased by around 1% every year 1975, so that number is bound to rise.
Myeloma first occurs in bone marrow, where many blood cells are produced, including red blood cells and plasma cells. Plasma cells are part of the immune system, which protects the body from infections and diseases, but if genes or the environment distort them, they switch purposes. Instead of protecting the body, they grow out of control into a cancerous tumor. Multiple myeloma is the name for when a person has multiple tumors of this kind; otherwise, it’s just called an isolated plasmacytoma.
Besides a normal biopsy—where some of the bone marrow tissue is removed to be checked for cancer—there are other indicators that one has developed multiple myeloma. For example, the cancer can keep other blood cells from being produced in the bone marrow, leading to anemia (lack of red blood cells), increased bleeding and bruising (low blood platelet levels), and increased infections (decreased white blood cells).
Causing other problems
Further, the cancer can cause bone problems, like fractures. Bones are constantly being built and broken down as the body needs, but in multiple myeloma, the breakdown of bone cells tends to increase. The balance of breakdown and buildup is now skewed to the breakdown side, meaning bones lose cells and become weaker.
Other problems include kidney damage and failure, monoclonal gammopathy (where abnormal proteins are found in the blood), breathing problems, hypercalcemia (a result of bone cells dissolving), and light chain amyloidosis (a buildup of protein deposits in various body tissues).
Depending on how the myeloma affects you, along with your age and other factors, treatment will vary. Treatment for this cancer is tricky, but can include chemotherapy, surgery, stem cell transplant, and drugs known as bisphosphonates. Five-year survival rates are around 47%, but like other cancers, earlier diagnoses greatly increase survival rates (in this case, to nearly 69%)—so if you are concerned, please talk to a doctor.
Many links HERE
Myeloma first occurs in bone marrow, where many blood cells are produced, including red blood cells and plasma cells. Plasma cells are part of the immune system, which protects the body from infections and diseases, but if genes or the environment distort them, they switch purposes. Instead of protecting the body, they grow out of control into a cancerous tumor. Multiple myeloma is the name for when a person has multiple tumors of this kind; otherwise, it’s just called an isolated plasmacytoma.
Besides a normal biopsy—where some of the bone marrow tissue is removed to be checked for cancer—there are other indicators that one has developed multiple myeloma. For example, the cancer can keep other blood cells from being produced in the bone marrow, leading to anemia (lack of red blood cells), increased bleeding and bruising (low blood platelet levels), and increased infections (decreased white blood cells).
Causing other problems
Further, the cancer can cause bone problems, like fractures. Bones are constantly being built and broken down as the body needs, but in multiple myeloma, the breakdown of bone cells tends to increase. The balance of breakdown and buildup is now skewed to the breakdown side, meaning bones lose cells and become weaker.
Other problems include kidney damage and failure, monoclonal gammopathy (where abnormal proteins are found in the blood), breathing problems, hypercalcemia (a result of bone cells dissolving), and light chain amyloidosis (a buildup of protein deposits in various body tissues).
Depending on how the myeloma affects you, along with your age and other factors, treatment will vary. Treatment for this cancer is tricky, but can include chemotherapy, surgery, stem cell transplant, and drugs known as bisphosphonates. Five-year survival rates are around 47%, but like other cancers, earlier diagnoses greatly increase survival rates (in this case, to nearly 69%)—so if you are concerned, please talk to a doctor.
Many links HERE
Tuesday, August 16, 2016
Multiple myeloma: Cancer in plasma cells
I urge all of you to have blood work done at least once per year. Our general practitioner insists on drawing blood yearly. He was the one that caught Dom's cancer!
Nan
No early symptoms
Multiple myeloma is a disorder of plasma cells in the bone marrow. Smouldering myeloma, which is the first stage of multiple myeloma, is usually asymptomatic. There are usually no signs and symptoms during this stage. People diagnosed with smouldering myeloma aren’t given any treatment. It is usually a wait-and-watch situation, as per the doctor.
Multiple myeloma is usually seen in elderly people, usually around the ages of 70/80 years. It can also occur in younger age groups such as 30-40 years. “There is no specific reason for the occurrence in young ages as such but the cases of multiple myeloma are also reported in young people,” adds Dr Jha.
In addition, the exact cause of multiple myeloma is not yet known.
Bleeding, low count of platelets, anaemia and infection such as pneumonia can be seen in the patients during the later stages. Many people have complaints of bone and back pain. “This is why many patients usually visit orthopaedics in the beginning,” reveals the doctor.
The pain in bones, back pain, fracture of spine and long bones are some of the other symptoms visible in patients. There could be a radiating pain in the patients. “The pain in the back usually spreads to the thigh and legs,” informs Dr Jha.
Along with the problems in bones, some of the patients also show symptoms such as tingling sensation and numbness. This is why before visiting a haematologist many patients go to neurologists in the beginning, as per the doctor.
Multiple myeloma can occur in patients with renal failure. Some other signs of the disease include bone tenderness, weakness, hypercalcemia — increased calcium level in blood. Some of the people even can have an obstruction in excretion and urination.
JUMP
Monday, August 15, 2016
A Wild Few Weeks
I headed solo to PCB a few weeks ago. Wanted to get home for Dom's 71st birthday last Thursday.
The weather became horrid. Serious rain all up and down the Florida/Alabama coast.
So, held off.... waiting for the weather to clear. Luckily, The LIQ is right across the street.
Meanwhile, the Double Red Flags were flying. "STAY OUT OF THE WATER-dangerous rip-tides".
They pulled about 8 people out of the water. I know of at least one individual who drowned.
On Thursday, a rescuer went out and saved someone. He went out a second time....and drowned.
Sad, sad, sad.
Anyway, the new plan was to return home on Friday. NOPE. The weather moved into our area in MS. and LA. Massive flooding, street closures, businesses closed.
I was stranded on the beach until Saturday morning.
A wonderful place opened next to the condo. The Emerald Cafe. They don't have a website or Facebook page yet, but they are GREAT.
I ended up having 2 Club sandwiches. On Friday, I had a Double Angus Cheeseburger....12 oz. OMG! It's my new favorite place.
Things are getting back to normal here. Still raining like hell, but we're high and dry.
Mama Raccoon continues to bring her 3 little ones every afternoon. Adorable!
Hope that all is well with you guys!
The weather became horrid. Serious rain all up and down the Florida/Alabama coast.
So, held off.... waiting for the weather to clear. Luckily, The LIQ is right across the street.
Meanwhile, the Double Red Flags were flying. "STAY OUT OF THE WATER-dangerous rip-tides".
They pulled about 8 people out of the water. I know of at least one individual who drowned.
On Thursday, a rescuer went out and saved someone. He went out a second time....and drowned.
Sad, sad, sad.
Anyway, the new plan was to return home on Friday. NOPE. The weather moved into our area in MS. and LA. Massive flooding, street closures, businesses closed.
I was stranded on the beach until Saturday morning.
A wonderful place opened next to the condo. The Emerald Cafe. They don't have a website or Facebook page yet, but they are GREAT.
I ended up having 2 Club sandwiches. On Friday, I had a Double Angus Cheeseburger....12 oz. OMG! It's my new favorite place.
Things are getting back to normal here. Still raining like hell, but we're high and dry.
Mama Raccoon continues to bring her 3 little ones every afternoon. Adorable!
Hope that all is well with you guys!
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