‍

Louisiana Cancer Research Center member institution Ochsner Health has partnered with the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation to offer an informative program about the blood cancer that disproportionately affects African Americans. In this video, Ochsner Hematologist Laura Finn, MD, explains Multiple Myeloma and provides details about an informative program on December 9 for patients, their families and caregivers.

‍

Friday, December 9, 2022; 11:00 am – 5:00 pm (CT)

Ochsner Health Center for Academic Excellence

1401-A Jefferson Highway, 1st Floor, New Orleans, LA

Learn more and register today at TheMMRF.org/PS-December9

Pre-registration for in-person attendance is required, as space is limited

Onsite lunch and parking will be provided for in-person registrants

Questions? Contact bohorquezv@themmrf.org

‍

Dr. Laura Finn: Multiple Myeloma is a type of blood cancer that affects part of the white blood cells, which are the cells that make up our immune system. It affects cells called plasma cells and those are the cells that make antibodies, for example, getting a vaccine to support our immune system and protect us, we would make antibodies against that infection.

Multiple Myeloma is development of antibodies that are not supportive of us and can actually be damaging our body in many ways, affecting our bone marrow, our kidneys, our bones, and can present with low blood counts, fatigue, renal failure, and bone fractures that occur spontaneously, sometimes without trauma.

In Louisiana, we see that the primary population that can be affected by Multiple Myeloma is the American population, and we see it occur in younger patients than nationwide.

The national incidence of  Multiple Myeloma is in adults age, 65 or older, whereas here in Louisiana, we see an average age of diagnosis, especially in our African American patients, about 45 or older.

We are having this event on December 9th, the day before the National Hematology Society meeting that's also here in New Orleans. We wanted to take advantage of worldwide hematologists being in the area and we are going to have several of those experts as speakers at this event. It is co-sponsored by Ochsner and the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation. It is intended to be patient-facing and patients are welcome to attend -  actually  anyone is, patients, caregivers, friends and families of anyone who may know someone affected by Multiple Myeloma. They will get a chance to hear the experts talk about where the therapy in Multiple Myeloma is right now, where the progress is being made in early detection, also where progress is being made to reach more diverse populations, in therapy and in research. We feel very fortunate to have this expertise here at Ochsner to present to patients who want to come in person. Attendance is also available remotely by Zoom. Please register here.

‍