Myeloma Link - DC Pilot Program

About Myeloma

Myeloma is a type of blood cancer that begins in the bone marrow. It forms in the body’s plasma cells, which are a type of white blood cell that normally help to fight infections. When myeloma cells multiply beyond control and overtake the normal plasma cells, they cause serious medical complications.

Myeloma is the second most frequently diagnosed blood cancer. Each year in the United States, there are more than 30,000 new cases and almost 13,000 people will die from myeloma. Today, more than 100,000 people are living with, or in remission from myeloma.

Many new therapies have been approved in the last few years and other possible treatments are being studied. Nevertheless, the disease remains incurable. Only 48.5 percent of patients diagnosed with myeloma will survive five years after diagnosis.

To address this urgent unmet medical need, LLS is taking a multi-pronged approach to improve outcomes for patients, by investing in scientific research as well as education and outreach efforts to improve patient access to the most promising, cutting-edge treatments. 

In conjunction with Multiple Myeloma Awareness month, LLS is launching a unique program with the National Black Church.

LLS was awarded a major grant from Celgene – we’re calling it Myeloma Link. The purpose is enhancing Myeloma knowledge and access to latest treatments in African Americans Communities to increase access to education and treatment for myeloma in the African Americans communities. Especially pertinent as African Americans are nearly twice as likely to develop myeloma as are Caucasians.

D.C. is the pilot city for that initiative – more information is here: http://www.lls.org/national-black-church-initiative

Learn more with video featuring Reverends Evans and Graves below.