For the seventh consecutive year, Linda Huguelet, co-leader of the Chattanooga Multiple Myeloma Networking Group, joined over 25,000 hematologists and healthcare professionals from around the world at the 61st American Society of Hematology Annual Meeting and Exposition in Orlando, Fl. on Dec. 6-9. Ms. Huguelet was selected by the International Myeloma Foundation from over 150 support group leaders in the United States. She was one of 12 support group leaders on the IMF’s team this year.
While at the conference, Ms. Huguelet was brought up-to-date on the latest research, therapies and tools available to myeloma patients. In turn, she reported the news to patients back home, using social media tools like blogs, Twitter and video. She will continue to provide updates on Twitter and you can follow her on Twitter at @LindaMYELOMA.
"The IMF is the oldest and largest organization dedicated to improving the life and care of myeloma patients around the world," officials said. "Myeloma, also called multiple myeloma, is a cancer of cells in the bone marrow that affects production of red cells, white cells and stem cells and can damage bone. It’s currently incurable and is being contracted by an increasing number of people and is particularly affecting younger people."
Ms. Huguelet, a Signal Mountain resident, has been dealing with myeloma for over nine years, and has taken numerous treatments since her diagnosis.
"Many myeloma patients, like Ms. Huguelet, are constantly on some type of therapy to keep the cancer under control," officials said. "She continues to be treated with a relatively new immunotherapy drug that was not even on the horizon in 2010 when she was diagnosed."
She says “I am so thankful for the continued successful research that is bringing additional treatment options to veteran patients like me. The updates on the new therapies showed great promise at this year’s conference.”
She will pass along the highlights of the encouraging research taking place when the Chattanooga Multiple Myeloma Networking Group meets after the first of the year. The Chattanooga Multiple Myeloma Networking Group meets the second Thursday of each month at 6 p.m. Meetings are moving to a new location in January and will be held in the private dining room of CHI Memorial Hospital.
Visit MyelomaChattanooga.org for more information on the group which provides information and support to patients and caregivers in the Chattanooga area.