Patients: Impact of multiple myeloma

Multiple myeloma is an incurable but treatable blood cancer that affects a type of white blood cell called plasma cells found in the bone marrow.

In 2020, more than 500 people were diagnosed with some type of blood cancer in Panama, making it the fifth leading cause of cancer in the country, according to The Americas Health Foundation.

According to Globocan, in Panama, approximately 2 out of every 100,000 residents were diagnosed multiple myeloma in 2020

Most patients are diagnosed in advanced stages disease due to the symptoms that occur in this phase pathology as fractures or bone paina small number red blood cellsfatigue, high calcium levels, kidney problems or infections.

We add the challenge of timely diagnosis difficulties such as the high burden of disease and barriers to access to effective medical carecreating limitations when it comes to providing adequate treatment.

“Multiple myeloma is a heterogeneous disease in which patients need treatment options treatment cope with this complex diagnosis,” explained Dr. Natalia Paola Schütz, hematologist and fellow at the Italian hospital.

He added: “For this reason, innovation and the creation of new options with complementary approaches treat this disease with therapies that stimulate the immune system individually in each case. However, in our region there is still a challenge in accessing innovation to benefit the greatest possible number of patients.”

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Added to the challenge of timely diagnosis are difficulties such as the high burden of disease and barriers to access to effective medical care, creating limitations when it comes to providing appropriate treatment.

An event

With the increasing number of cases of multiple myeloma and other types cancers from blood in the region, and recognizing the importance of creating a dialogue between experts in order to respond to the medical challenges it creates, the third edition of Hemmexus, the largest hematology congress in Central America and the Caribbean, was held in Panama, organized by Janssen.

“HEMMEXUS provides us with a meeting space where innovation is at the heart of the fight against blood cancer, allowing us to discuss value innovation and that it is available to all patients,” said Tiago Machado, medical director of hematology at Janssen VeneCenCa.