Top Takeaways from Facebook Live Q&A with IMF Nurse Leadership Board Members

In this week's blog, top takeaways from a Facebook Live Q&A with IMF Nurse Leadership Board (NLB) members for Blood Cancer Awareness Month are discussed in depth, with Beth Faiman PhD, RN, MSN, APRN-BC, AOCN® (Cleveland Clinic Taussig Cancer Institute—Cleveland, OH); Donna Catamero, ANP-BC, OCN, CCRC (Icahn School of Medicine, The Mount Sinai Health System—New York, NY); and Tiffany Richards PhD, ANP-BC, AOCNP® (MD Anderson Cancer Center, University of Texas—Houston, TX). The IMF editorial team has gathered the top 20 questions and answers from this informative and insightful Facebook LIVE session for the benefit of patients and their care partners.

Available to Download: Clinical Trial Fact Sheet on Etentamig (ABBV-383) in English or Spanish

A new clinical trial will compare outcomes in adult patients with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma (RRMM) who receive either monotherapy with the new drug Etentamig (ABBV-383) or standard available myeloma therapies. This phase III, multicenter, randomized, open label study will enroll approximately 380 patients with RRMM at sites around the world. Primary outcome measures are progression-free survival (PFS) and objective response rate (ORR). For enrollment locations or additional information, download the fact sheet (English version and Spanish version available).

Join the IMF Online Regional Community Workshop (RCW) with Experts from the Cleveland Area

The next IMF Online Regional Myeloma Community Workshop will take place on Tuesday, November 12, at 5:30 – 8:00 p.m. ET (2:30 – 5:00 p.m. PT | 3:30 – 6:00 p.m. MT | 4:30 – 7:00 p.m. CT). Speakers include IMF Chief Medical Officer Joseph Mikhael, MD, MEd, FRCPC, FACP (TGen at the City of Hope — Phoenix); Louis Williams, MD, MBA (Taussig Cancer Institute at the Cleveland Clinic — Cleveland); and IMF Nurse Leadership Board Member Beth Faiman, PhD, RN, MSN, APRN-BC, AOCN®, FAAN, FAPO (Taussig Cancer Institute at the Cleveland Clinic — Cleveland). Topics will include an introduction to myeloma, upfront treatments at diagnosis, maintenance therapy, relapse information, and an update on clinical trials. Beth Faiman will talk about managing side effects and symptoms of myeloma and its treatments. After each presentation with the experts, attendees will have ample time to ask questions.

Apply for the 2025 Iceland Cycling Expedition

The Iceland Cycling Expedition (ICE), taking place from August 27 to September 2, 2025, will offer a unique opportunity to join a determined team focused on finding a cure for myeloma amid breathtaking landscapes of the High Mountains in Iceland. This 6-day/7-night expedition through the beautiful but challenging terrain of Iceland serves as a metaphor for cancer: uncertainty, ups and downs, teamwork, optimism, and hope. If you are interested in participating in ICE 2025, please click the button below to submit your application.

Applications will be available through Thursday, November 14, 2024. Shortlisted participants will be invited for a zoom interview in early December with the event leads and IMF leadership to determine physical fitness and fundraising capability. Selected participants will be notified in December 2024, and the event launches in January with a meet-and-greet kick off zoom meeting. If you have any questions regarding the event or the application process, please reach out to Sylvia Dsouza via email at [email protected] or by phone at 310.947.4126

Save Your Seat for the IMF In-Person Regional Community Workshop in Phoenix

An in-person IMF Regional Community Workshop will take place on November 16, 2024, in Phoenix, Arizona, at the DoubleTree Resort by Hilton Paradise Valley (5401 N. Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale, AZ 85250) from 8:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. MT. Speakers include IMF Chief Medical Officer Joseph Mikhael, MD, MEd, FRCPC, FACP (TGen at the City of Hope — Phoenix); Saurabh Chhabra, MD, MS (Mayo Clinic — Phoenix); IMF Nurse Leadership Board Member Beth Finley-Oliver, MSN, ARNP, AGNP-BC (H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute — Tampa, FL); and Peter Mathern, MD (Cancer & Blood Specialists of Arizona — Casa Grande, AZ). There will also be patient and care partner panel with Gary and Judy Elliott. Topics will include Myeloma 101, frontline therapy, maintenance therapy, and the management of symptoms and side effects of myeloma and its treatments.

What is MGUS? Understanding Monoclonal Gammopathy of Undetermined Significance in Multiple Myeloma

In this video, IMF Chief Medical Officer Dr. Joseph Mikhael answers the internet’s most trending search questions about MGUS and multiple myeloma. Dr. Mikhael provides a detailed explanation of monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance, or MGUS for short, as well as its early signs, treatments, risks, and more.

Around the Web: Myeloma News

To keep you abreast of the most recent myeloma research findings, “The Myeloma Minute” features links to top myeloma content around the web. In this study published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, researchers evaluate peripheral residual disease during maintenance or observation in transplant-eligible myeloma patients. Also, visit the October 2024 edition of Myeloma News from the Journals for summaries of the most fascinating studies about multiple myeloma from medical journals. As always, we invite you to visit the IMF Newsroom for the latest myeloma news.