"Hi everyone, 

With the month of March peering around the corner, the focus of this month's editorial will be on the imperative of how we, with your help, aim to go further than ever in our reach to create awareness for myeloma. [...] Last year's digital campaign,

“I found out when… / What the 😖 is myeloma?” combined with “Did you know…” myeloma facts was our most successful Myeloma Awareness Month campaign to date. As such, the decision was made to continue – and expand – the theme this year, promoting awareness of the many diverse signs and/or symptoms of myeloma..."  

I - New MRD testing guidelines now available!

Measuring minimal residual disease (MRD) helps identify deeper treatment responses and detect myeloma relapse earlier than standard tests—potentially improving outcomes for thousands of Canadians living with the disease.  

Myeloma Canada, in partnership with leading Canadian myeloma specialists, formed an MRD Working Group to develop practical, evidence-based guidelines that aim to make MRD testing a standard of care for all myeloma patients and a routine part of academic clinical trials. 

These guidelines are now published and available online.

Learn more.

II - Newly published myeloma research

Daratumumab plus bortezomib, lenalidomide and dexamethasone for transplant-ineligible or transplant-deferred newly diagnosed multiple myeloma: the randomized phase 3 CEPHEUS trial

Isatuximab, Carfilzomib, Lenalidomide, and Dexamethasone Induction in Newly Diagnosed Myeloma: Analysis of the MIDAS Trial

Real-World Safety and Tolerability of Rapid, 30-minutes, Intravenous Isatuximab in Patients with Multiple Myeloma

International myeloma working group immunotherapy committee recommendation on sequencing immunotherapy for treatment of multiple myeloma 

III - REPORT: Collaborative solutions to timely patient access to cancer treatments in Ontario 

A virtual multi-stakeholder meeting was held October 3, 2024 (supported by Life Sciences Ontario [LSO] and J.L. Glennie Consulting Inc.) to discuss issues and solutions around ensuring timely access to cancer treatments for patients in Ontario.

Read more.

I - Myeloma Canada at FISQ 2024 to discuss the modernization of evaluation processes

On December 4 and 5, 2024, Jessy Ranger, Myeloma Canada’s Director of Patient Programs, Health Policy & Advocacy, attended the Forum de l'industrie de la santé de Québec (FISQ) as a participant and panelist. Learn more.

II - Glenn Hussey speaks up about access to treatments in Canada

Glenn Hussey, Chair of Myeloma Canada’s Patient Advisory Council (PAC), has been using his voice to raise awareness about the lack of access to innovative treatments for folks living with cancer in Canada. 

“Once you start looking at potential treatments and you see some things that are available in one country that are working well and you wonder ‘Why can’t we have those?’” Glenn was quoted in the National Post in January.

Complementing Glenn’s work to raise awareness, Dr Sandeep Sehdev, an oncologist at the Ottawa Hospital Cancer Centre, has been speaking to the media about how Canada’s drug review processes compare to those in other countries. 

In Canada, the approval of new drugs for reimbursement is a slow process that can have severe implications on the way myeloma is treated. Standing up and telling your story is an important way to advocate for equitable access to life-saving treatments. Glenn and Dr Sehdev’s recent media appearances will help increase awareness of drug access challenges in Canadian myeloma care.  

See some of the media coverage below.

"Barriers to cancer treatment in Canada are leaving patients and doctors struggling for solutions", National Post

"World cancer day: The state of cancer in Canada", CTV News

"Long wait for cancer drug approvals causing great anguish patients doctors", CBC News

I - Announcing Multiple Myeloma Awareness Month 2025!

March 1st marks the official start of Multiple Myeloma Awareness Month, a month where we do all we can to create as much awareness for myeloma as possible, near and far.  

Given the huge success of our 2024 campaign, we’re thrilled to announce that this year we’ll be continuing with the themes of: 

• “I found out when…” coupled with the cheeky, “What the 😖 is myeloma?” (mirroring how many of you shared feeling when you received your diagnosis), and
• "Did you know…" 

As you may have read in Martine's editorial this month, to honour Myeloma Canada’s 20th anniversary, we’ll be profiling 20 people from within our community and their ‘I found out when…’ moments. In addition, we’ll be providing 20 ‘Did you know’ basic facts on myeloma for you to share on your social media, digital platforms, with friends, family, colleagues, and anyone who will listen! 

Together, we’ll blast the digital world with messaging on myeloma and living with this disease. Every day, 11 Canadians receive a myeloma diagnosis and for the majority, it's the first time they've ever heard the word myeloma. This must change.  

Together, let's make some noise and create awareness for this complicated disease so that when someone receives their diagnosis, at least it won't be the first time they're hearing the words “multiple myeloma”.  

As always, our campaign will run on all of our digital platforms – Facebook, X (Twitter), Bluesky, Instagram and LinkedIn – as well as our website and our Myeloma Matters e-newsletter. If you don’t follow us on social media, now’s the time! Please like, share, repost our posts every day so we can spread the word! 

A tremendous thank you to Ellis Basevitz, Jean Guy Belzile, Betty Boudreau, Jean-François Couture, Francis DelSol, Paule Désir, Alyssa Dickey, Ron Drennan, Dwight Gardiner, Kevin Jacobs, Pierre Laforest, Cyndi Logan, Bob McCaw, Ev McDowell, Anthony Mohamed, Bayo Oladele, Yolande Paine, Jules Royer, Kundan Uppal-Dubinsky and Tanya Zigomanis for lending their faces, voices, and experiences to this year’s campaign.  

Stay tuned for more!

I - The Myeloma Canada Ride is back for its 4th year!

Dreaming of spring and cycling through stunning Canadian landscapes? 

Whether you're an experienced cyclist or just starting out, the 4th annual Myeloma Canada Ride offers both a scenic 20-40 km route and a more challenging 40-80 km route. There's even an option to participate virtually! 

Registration for the 2025 Myeloma Canada Ride is now open to individuals aged 18 years and older, with a registration fee of $50 per person.  

Learn more.

Find the Myeloma Canada Ride near you to register: 

• Calgary, AB - May 10 
• Ottawa Region, ON - May 10 
• Niagara, ON - May 24 
• Vancouver Island, BC - May 24 - NEW! 
• Saint-Ignace-de-Stanbridge, QC - May 24 (Défi Cyclo-myélome) - NEW! 
• Okanagan, BC - May 31 - NEW! 
• Richmond, BC - June 1 
• Sudbury, ON - June 7 
• Île Perrot, QC - June 14 - NEW! 

Come on, Canada! Join today for a fun and energizing day

raising funds and awareness for Canadians affected by myeloma. 



Don’t miss the ride of your life!

I - The MC Assistance information line is off to a great start!

This past January, Myeloma Canada was thrilled to launch MC Assistance for Canadians impacted by myeloma. 

Reach out to our myeloma information specialists who manage the line. They're there to help you find answers to your myeloma-related questions or simply to listen when you need to speak with someone who understands the challenges myeloma presents. 

To better respond to your needs, we’ve added a comment box to the request form. Now it’s even easier to provide more detail about your inquiry as well as your availability. Please remember to indicate the best time for us to call you back! There is also an option for email exchanges so choose whichever works best for you.  

If you haven’t already checked out MC Assistance, please do so today!

Whether you or someone you love is living with myeloma, we hope that MC Assistance will help you feel supported throughout your experience with the disease.

Important:

• Our myeloma information specialists do not provide medical advice.
• Please be sure that your mobile device does not block calls from community organizations, and check your junk email inbox, depending on the communication method you’ve selected.
• For confidentiality reasons, our myeloma information specialists do not leave messages on shared or unidentified voicemail boxes. They will attempt to contact you three times.  

II - MC Lounge is now an app

MC Lounge is a secure, private digital space for all Canadians living or taking care of someone with myeloma. Not yet an MC Lounge member? Request access today! 

Why download the app?



• Stay connected and engage instantly with community updates and discussions. 
• Get push notifications so you never miss important conversations, events or support moments.
• Access helpful resources at your fingertips, anytime, anywhere.

Download the free MC Lounge app today!

Users must accept the mobile push notifications to receive instant notifications.  

System requirements:

• iOS - current minimum version: iOS 13 
• Android - current minimum version: API 21 (5.0/Lollipop)  
• The mobile app is not supported on tablet devices 



Please note: The French version of the app is available, however some areas are still being translated. We’re working closely with the developers to complete this as quickly as possible. We appreciate and thank you for your patience! 

"My name is Francine Ducas, an active woman with a passion for life. I had a job I loved and activities that brought me joy, when I started to feel very tired and experienced pain that I thought was muscular. ...It was on February 14, 2007, Valentine's Day 18 years ago, that I received the gift of my cancer diagnosis...multiple myeloma."

"My name is Maryse Bouchard, and I just turned 67 years old. I met the intruder who turned my life upside down in 2008, just before my 50th birthday. Its name was myeloma, and it was discovered during a routine blood test, thanks to the vigilance of my family doctor. My doctor suggested I see a hematologist because there were some anomalies in my blood results, like a monoclonal gammopathy."

I - InfoSessions

Postponed InfoSessions

Due to extreme weather conditions in Ontario and Quebec, the InfoSessions in Belleville and Montreal - West Island were postponed. See the new information below:

II - InfoWebinar

Multiple Myeloma and Laboratory Medicine:

A Look Inside the “Black Box”

March 5, 2025 

12:00 pm – 1:00 pm (EDT)    

This webinar will take you inside the “black box” of laboratory medicine to understand how vitally important it is to patient care. We will focus specifically on multiple myeloma related testing. Greater than 70% of all medical decisions are based on laboratory medicine test results and this is no different with multiple myeloma.



For more information, click here.

Speaker: Dr Ronald A. Booth, BSc, MSc, PhD, DCC, FCACB, FADLM  

Clinical Biochemist, The Ottawa Hospital, ON 

Visit our YouTube channel to view our InfoWebinars, presentations, and videos.

Among past webinars to watch: 

• The role of oncology social workers
• Developing Less Invasive Detection Methods Using Blood-Based Cell-Free DNA Tests 
• Top myeloma research presented at ASCO & EHA 2024
• Understanding your labs 
• The role of exercise for those living with & beyond cancer 
• Living solo with myeloma  

III - IMF Virtual Myeloma Community Workshop (MCW)

The International Myeloma Foundation (IMF) is hosting a free virtual workshop featuring presentations on an introduction to myeloma, upfront treatments at diagnosis, maintenance therapy, relapse, and an update on clinical trials. A member of the IMF Nurse Leadership Board will talk about managing side effects and symptoms of myeloma and its treatments.  

Tuesday, March 4, 2025

6:00 pm ET

Learn more



Please note that since this is an American workshop, some of the information may not pertain to the Canadian system. 

Myeloma Canada charitable number: 862533296RR0001