29 October 2008

Minister launches Myeloma Awareness Week - Shining a light on a forgotten cancer

Minister Assisting the Minister for Health (Cancer), Tony Stewart, today launched the inaugural Myeloma Awareness Week to help raise community understanding of this uncommon cancer.

"It's a great privilege to launch this awareness week to help shine a light on a 'forgotten cancer' - myeloma," Mr Stewart said.

"And may it be the first of many successful weeks to come.

"The Rees Labor Government is committed to the fight against cancer, providing world-class health care to the people of NSW and supporting carers.

"The NSW Government's support for this inaugural Myeloma Awareness Week is another example of that commitment," Mr Stewart said.

"As the Minister responsible for cancer in the Rees Labor Government, I congratulate the Myeloma Foundation of Australia for creating this week to increase awareness of myeloma in the community.

"There are 252 reasons for creating Myeloma Awareness Week - there were 252 cancer deaths caused by multiple myeloma in NSW in 2005, plus 448 new patients diagnosed in the same period."

Mr Stewart said there were many unique features of myeloma - a blood cancer - that patients faced including:

• a general lack of understanding about the condition
• the fact patients may outwardly look healthy when, in fact, they have a very serious illness
• there is no known cause, only general risk factors such as age and personal history, and
• no definitive cure and difficult treatment - mainly chemotherapy.

"Myeloma makes up 1 per cent of all cancers and 15 per cent of blood cancers," Mr Stewart said.

"It is a malignant disease of plasma cells found in the bone marrow, and is
slightly more common in men than in women, with about 1200 Australians nationally diagnosed with myeloma each year.

"Sadly, the five-year survival rate of multiple myeloma is 38 per cent," Mr Stewart said.

"When the blood marrow cells become cancerous, they divide uncontrollably and affect multiple places in the body - hence the term 'multiple myeloma'," Mr Stewart said.

"The disease impacts where bone marrow is normally active in an adult, that is, within the bones of the spine, skull, pelvis, rib cage, and shoulder and hip areas.

"Myeloma can also cause a build-up of abnormal antibodies in the blood and urine causing anaemia, kidney damage and weakening the immune system," Mr Stewart said.

"This new awareness week is important as it highlights the needs of myeloma patients to a community which would otherwise be unaware of this disease, its devastating impact and recent advances.

"I salute the Myeloma Foundation Australia for its determination to ensure every patient, carer and relative affected by myeloma understands the condition, and is able to access information, treatment options and support," Mr Stewart said.

For a range of health information, go online to www.health.nsw.gov.au