John Leech MP welcomes Cancer Nursing Initiative

9.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Mon 3rd Jul 2006

Nurses at Christie Hospital are to be given access to an innovative self-learning programme to inform them about the treatment and management of myeloma, a debilitating blood cancer that affects up to 20,000 patients in the UK at any one time.

The Myeloma Nurses Learning Programme was launched this week by the International Myeloma Foundation (IMF) at a reception in the House of Commons. Manchester MP John Leech met with Myeloma Clinical Nurse Specialist Susan Blair from Christie Hospital at the event to learn more about the initiative.

"Myeloma is a highly debilitating cancer," said John Leech MP. "IMF (UK)'s initiative will enable nurses to provide the very best care and support for the myeloma patients in Manchester. This programme will help improve patients' quality of life and provide information and reassurance to their families."

The new programme forms part of the IMF MAGIC (Myeloma Advocacy, Guideline and Information Community) nursing initiative which was set up in 2002. The new flexible self-learning programme will help educate nurses on the treatment and management of myeloma, enabling them to act as a specialised resource, providing information and support to patients and their families.

Susan Blair, who spoke at the event said:

"IMF (UK)'s programme is a wonderful resource for our nurses and patients. It will ensure staff are equipped to support patients throughout their journey- explaining the finer detail of the condition, exploring treatment options and assisting with quality of life issues."

Attendees at the reception celebrated the achievements made in the field of health care provision for myeloma since 2002, looking at advances in treatments available to patients, including bortezomib (Velcade), which is used to treat those people who have relapsed after prior treatment.

Velcade has been seen to have a response in 59% of patients Final Phase II Data Presented from the VELCADE™ (bortezomib) for Injection Summit Trial in Patients with Advanced Stage Multiple Myeloma (2003) and can raise average life expectancy of myeloma patients by 18 - 24 months, however, access to the treatment is still patchy and subject to postcode prescribing.

Notes to editors:

The International Myeloma Foundation (UK) reception, held at the House of Commons on 28th June, was hosted by Newport East MP Jessica Morden.

Registered as a charity in 1997, IMF (UK) is the only organisation in the UK dealing specifically with myeloma and its related disorders. IMF (UK) works with patients and carers, to help them cope with everything a diagnosis of myeloma brings, with health care professionals, to find better ways of treating and caring for myeloma patients, and scientists, to improve treatments and develop potential preventative and curative strategies.

ENDS