Emphasizing education, advocacy and support, the IMF Patient & Family Seminars empower patients and provide invaluable information to the myeloma community.

The seminar is structured as a two-day format, beginning with a half-day meeting on Friday:

• The Friday program begins with an open Question & Answer session led by Dr. Brian Durie, along with another faculty member. The importance of clinical trials and new agents is included in these talks.

• Nurses conduct Quality of Life sessions with patients to discuss a variety of topics, managing side effects, adherence to therapy, and quality of life issues.

• Mike Katz leads a session that focuses on what patients need to know and do, to ensure that they are communicating with their doctor and taking good care of themselves as well.

• The fourth talk varies, leaving it open for a session on supportive care issues, such as nutrition and diet.

The full day "interactive" seminar on Saturday, with world-renowned myeloma experts covers a broad range of topics, including treatment advances, novel therapies, supportive care and clinical trials. The data gathered from the interactive session provides invaluable information on treatment trends, why patients choose one treatment over another, patients’ opinion on certain clinical trials, most common side effects, as well as other important data of interest to both physicians and industry. The afternoon is devoted to in-depth breakout sessions including sessions on targeted therapies with the esteemed faculty. The average attendance of the Patient & Family Seminar is 150-250 people.

One seminar each year is filmed and made available on the IMF website, so that people who are unable to attend can view the video and stay abreast of all the current advances in the treatment for myeloma.

"Terrific isn't quite strong enough a word to describe my experience at the seminar."
"Having so much one-on-one time with the experts was incredible."
"I went to the seminar feeling afraid and depressed....I left inspired and filled with hope."