Myeloma Australia expands information and support sessions to Great Southern with inaugural Albany event

People diagnosed with a rare blood cancer in the Great Southern will soon have access to community support and education through an event coming to Albany for the first time. Myeloma Australia is expanding its information sessions into the regions for the first time through its Myeloma Real Equity project with its August 5 event marking what organisers hope will be the first of many. Project lead and myeloma nurse Narelle Smith said as well as connecting fellow myeloma-diagnosed people, the event will focus on how to live well with the disease. “50 people are diagnosed with myeloma in Australia each week and only 55 per cent of those are expected to live within five years,” she said. “There is no known cure and it’s one that always going to come back, even after remission. “It’s like living on the rollercoaster ride of being diagnosed, in treatment, or being in remission and waiting for relapse. “It’s something quite difficult so providing a space for education on things like treatments and nutrition, being active, managing symptoms, surrounding yourself with good support systems is really important.” Ms Smith said events like this will hopefully happen two to three times a year with informal coffee and social catch-ups interspersed between. The free event, which will be held in the Albany Public Library, will host talks from myeloma consultant haematologist Dr Hasib Sidiqi and Ms Smith herself. Albany woman Trish Travers was diagnosed with multiple myeloma in 2018 and said she has had to video-call or drive up to a Busselton myeloma support group to meet people who are going through a similar journey. “I know there is a fair few people with myeloma in the Great Southern area but we’re not all you know, necessarily connected, because of doctor-patient confidentiality and that kind of thing,” she said. “(Through the Busselton group) I found making these connections is so valuable, having that emotional connection by sharing experiences and then the practical connection. “Nurses and the doctors are going to give you pamphlets with lots of information in and all the medical stuff but maybe I want to go travelling and need information on the best travel insurance to get, because when you’ve got something like a cancer, a lot of people may not want to insure you or maybe I want a remedial massage which I can get for free at the wellness centre at Cancer Council. “Meeting these people who are on the same journey as you and knowing about things available to us is so important.” People diagnosed with myeloma, as well as their families, friends, and support networks, are invited to register their interest through Humantix — Albany and Great Southern Information Afternoon Tea.