For Release 8am EDT 28 November, 2006
CONTACTS:
International Myeloma Foundation
Media
Diane Moran
Stephen Gendel
800-452-2873
212-918-4650
THE INTERNATIONAL MYELOMA FOUNDATION ESTABLISHES FIRST-OF-A-KIND
PARTNERSHIP WITH NURSES TO ENHANCE PATIENT CARE
--NURSING LEADERSHIP BOARD Will Provide Education, Updates and Reviews of
Medical Protocols and Trends in Supportive Care--
North Hollywood, CA, November 28, 2006 -- The International Myeloma Foundation
(IMF) - conducting research and providing education, advocacy and support for
myeloma patients, families, researchers and physicians - today announced the formation
of the Nursing Leadership Board (NLB), a unique partnership developed by the IMF and
20 oncology nurses from the leading centers* treating myeloma in the United States
today. Myeloma, also called multiple myeloma, is a cancer of the bone marrow that
affects production of red cells, white cells and stem cells. The NLB will develop
consensus guidelines for the nursing management of patients with myeloma, and will
review and update these guidelines on an ongoing basis.
"By establishing this truly groundbreaking endeavor, the IMF recognized that nurses are
on the frontline in managing patient care," said Susie Novis, president and co-founder of
the International Myeloma Foundation. "This new group has the potential to change the
lives of myeloma patients, especially those experiencing difficulties from side effects
often associated with their treatments. Providing management guidelines to nurses who
care for myeloma patients will ensure that patients receive optimal treatment and
supportive care related to side effects."
The NLB will focus on a wide array of nursing services and concerns including patient
education, counseling and treatment management. Initially the group will develop and
disseminate guidelines for managing side effects from the "novel" myeloma treatments ­
regimens that have resulted in a major change in care to help extend the lives of
patients, but which may be accompanied by their own unique set of side effects.
Deborah Doss, R.N., multiple myeloma clinical research nurse at the Dana-Farber
Cancer Institute said, "The nursing initiative formulated by the IMF is a unique and
valuable resource for nurses across the country, providing nursing management
strategies for the side effects experienced by patients receiving novel therapies. It is the
nurse who manages and monitors the patient day-to-day, and the relationship a nurse
develops with a patient can provide individualized medical interventions, personal
support and encouragement to get patients through difficult points in their treatment."
Brian G. M. Durie, M.D., chairman of the International Myeloma Foundation, who helped
found the NLB added, "The NLB allows nurses to share their experience and expertise
across the entire range of medical facilities. Nurses in the major oncology centers see
myeloma patients regularly and our objective is to provide these nurses with
standardized protocols, while we also support the community nurse, who may see only
one or two myeloma patients a year."
The inaugural meeting of the NLB was held in Dallas, Texas. The group plans to expand
to include nurses internationally to help patients worldwide receive the best of care.
*Founding nurse members come from centers including: Cleveland Clinic,
Cancer Center of the Carolinas, Myeloma Institute/UAMS, St. Vincent's Comprehensive
Cancer Center, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center
& Research Institute, Meeker County Memorial Hospital, University of Pittsburgh, Fred
Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center,
Roswell Park Cancer Institute, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Hospital of the University
of Pennsylvania, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Mayo Clinic and Samuel Oschin
Comprehensive Cancer Institute.
ABOUT THE INTERNATIONAL MYELOMA FOUNDATION
The International Myeloma Foundation is the oldest and largest myeloma organization,
reaching more than 135,000 members in 113 countries worldwide. A 501 (c) 3 non-profit
organization dedicated to improving the quality of life of myeloma patients and their
families, the IMF focuses in four key areas: research, education, support and advocacy.
To date, the IMF has conducted more than 120 educational seminars worldwide,
maintains a world-renowned hotline, and operates Bank On A CureŽ, a unique gene
bank to advance myeloma research. The IMF can be reached at (800) 452-CURE or
www.myeloma.org, and in Spanish at www.myelomala.org.