Renowned Actor and Artist Ice-T Works Alongside the International Myeloma Foundation to Raise Awareness of Multiple Myeloma in the African American Community During Black History Month

Kicking off Black History Month, American songwriter, actor, producer, and well-known artist Ice-T works alongside the IMF to raise awareness of multiple myeloma in the African American community. In a series of public service announcements (PSA) from the IMF, Ice-T sends out a very urgent and important message: “Multiple myeloma, it's the most common blood cancer in African Americans, and we can't ignore it.” Watch the full video with Ice-T here. Then read the press release to learn about this initiative and its appearance on the iconic NASDAQ Tower, in the heart of Times Square in New York City.

Register Now for the IMF Patient and Family Seminar 2024 in Boca Raton, FL

The International Myeloma Foundation (IMF) is excited to announce that the 2024 Boca Raton Patient and Family Seminar will take place on March 15-16, 2024, in Boca Raton, Florida. The seminar is FREE, but in-person seating is LIMITED.

Some of the presenters include IMF President and CEO Yelak Biru, Dr. Saad Usmani (Memorial Sloan Kettering — New York), Dr. Matthew Drake (Mayo Clinic — Rochester, MN), Dr. Gurbakhash Kaur (UT Southwestern Medical Center — Dallas), Dr. Peter Voorhees (Atrium Health, Levine Cancer Center — Charlotte, NC), and IMF Chief Medical Officer Dr. Joseph Mikhael (TGen, City of Hope Cancer Center – Scottsdale, AZ). Also presenting at the meeting will be IMF InfoLine Advisor Teresa Miceli, RN, BSN, OCN; IMF Vice President of Patient Support Robin Tuohy; Patient Advocate/Support Group Leader Michael Tuohy; Wendy Thomas, RN (University of Kansas Cancer Center — Kansas City, KS); and Amanda Goodstadt, Esq., Senior Staff Attorney at Triage Cancer.

Join or Donate to the Iceland Cycling Expedition and Help to Create a Myeloma-Free Future

The Iceland Cycling Expedition (ICE) is a fundraising bike tour taking place in beautiful Iceland. The team consists of twelve cyclists who will participate in the adventure to fundraise and support the Black Swan Research Initiative, including the iStopMM Research Project in Iceland.

The cyclists will embark on an unforgettable journey of purpose and adventure as they bike through the breathtaking landscapes of Iceland. This isn't just a cycling expedition; it's a chance to have a meaningful impact in the fight against multiple myeloma.

Learn how you can donate to support these cyclists in their brave adventures.

Register Now for the March for Myeloma 5K Run/Walk

This isn't just a run; it's a force for change. During March, we're creating a global wave of awareness for myeloma. This Myeloma ACTION Month, march alongside others in the myeloma community and help us make waves of awareness that touch every corner of the globe. Join us in-person in Boca Raton, FL, or race virtually from wherever you are on Friday, March 15, 2024, at 7:00 a.m EST as we make this journey a pivotal part of Myeloma Action Month 2024.

Co-pay Assistance Programs: Now Accepting Applications

The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society (LLS) has a program to secure funding for patient co-pay assistance here. Also, the HealthWell Foundation has opened a fund to help with Medicare co-pays/premiums. The maximum award level is $12,000, covering various treatments. Check eligibility and apply now.

Visit the IMF Financial Assistance page to view a list of links to resources that may help you find additional financial support.

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 video presented by Magdalen Medical Publishing, Sæmundur Rögnvaldsson, MD, PhD, (University of Iceland —Reykjavik, Iceland) discusses the findings of the IMF’s Black Swan Research Initiative-funded study, Iceland Screens, Treats, or Prevents Multiple Myeloma study (iStopMM; NCT03327597). It reports that “upon assessing the psychological effect of screening, individuals with MGUS were not found to have greater levels of anxiety, depression, or decreased life satisfaction following their diagnosis.” Also, the journal Leukemia reports on “Cellular dynamics following CAR T-cell therapy are associated with response and toxicity in relapsed/refractory myeloma,” and the journal Blood Advances discusses “Deciphering racial disparities in multiple myeloma outcomes.” As always, we invite you to visit the IMF Newsroom for the most recent myeloma news. Make sure to view this month’s myeloma news wrap-up at January 2024 – Myeloma News from the Journals.