Mayo’s Myeloma And You: A Day For Patients And Caregivers

When Pat Killingsworth started Pat’s Myeloma Survival School he wanted to develop something which focused on the Patient and Caregiver.  He had attended many of the meetings like ASH and ASCO and found they were designed with a focus on the medical community, and lacked a patient focus.   At the time these sessions were held in the Jacksonville area so Mayo had a big part to play in them.  I got the same feeling at Mayo’s Myeloma And You Program as I had at Pat’s Survival School. This is why!  

-  The first 3 speakers were either patients of caregivers with lots of time for questions
-  Doctor Asher Canaan Khan and Dr. Sikander Ailwadhi have an uncanny way of providing a patient friendly presentation with humor
-   The second half of the program was all about supportive care
-  Dr. Mohamed Kharfan-Dabaja and Dr. Sikander Ailwadhi discussed the new CAR T program at Jacksonville, and the work they are doing with several malignancies including myeloma.
-  Dr. Ailwadhi discussed the many clinical trials which are currently available including AMG 701, BiTES, CAR T, ADC, Selinexor, and CLR 131.
-  Dr. Asher Chanan Khan discussed breakthroughs and Immunotherapy. He highlighted a new vaccine therapy which he feels just may be the BREAKTHROUGH for cure we have been hoping for.  Many vaccines have been tried and failed in the past but he feels he has finally found the key!  I hope he has, he is usually right!
​-  This Mayo Myeloma And You Program is just 2 years old and the growth has been exponential and the cost at $20 per person is a deal. Over 200 participants this year.  The drug companies like Takeda, Celgene, Sanofi, & Karyopharm helped to fund this program.  

Knowledge is power and for myeloma it is LIFE!  Thanks to all who helped to bring this patient and caregiver focused program to the myeloma patient population.  To me more should be presented using the Pat Killingsworth Survival School Template.

Good luck and may God Bless your families cancer journey. For more information on multiple myeloma CLICK HERE and you can follow me on twitter at: https://twitter.com/grpetersen1

A few pictures from the meeting.