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Multiple Myeloma

Multiple myeloma is an incurable blood cancer of the plasma cells. This disease can lead to bone problems including pain, fractures and spinal cord compression, when cancer cells wear away the bone.

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Praise the Lord Saints!

This Health Sermon

.pdf [106kb] is part of our commitment to providing sound health information to our members under the National Black Church Initiative (NBCI) Health Emergency Declaration.

Let the church say Amen!

Additional Resources Section

NBCI is pleased to provide a list of the key Cancer advocacy groups who have provided program information and can offer further assistance to people dealing with Multiple Myeloma.

Continue to the Additional Resources Section »

Click here to visit the "To Stay in the Game, Maintain Your Frame" page

The International Myeloma Foundation (IMF) sm-imfheader is conducting a study to determine the underlying reasons for the increased risk of myeloma in certain races and in family members.

This study will provide important information that will help all patients with myeloma.

The survey link is at http://survey.myeloma.org

NBCI is happy to work together with the IMF to help raise awareness about multiple myeloma among African Americans. If you have multiple myeloma or know someone affected by this disease, please ask them to complete this survey.
Health Emergency Declaration (HED)
Dear Colleagues,

We are excited to share these amazing findings with you, regarding an important pilot program. That was launched a year ago between The National Black Church Initiative and LLS.

The purpose of the Myeloma Link Pilot Program was to implement a church-based initiative in black communities, particularly low-income communities, in an effort to: 1) heighten awareness of myeloma; 2) increase knowledge about the disease and treatment; 3) provide information and resources that will empower patients to seek novel treatments and enroll in clinical trials in a timely manner, and 4) encourage patients and caregivers to use a new, sustainable support infrastructure. The National Black Church Initiative (NBCI) was a key partner in this pilot.

The National Black Church Initiative (NBCI) is a coalition of 34,000 African-American and Latino churches working to eradicate racial disparities in healthcare, technology, education, housing, and the environment. NBCI's mission is to provide critical wellness information to all of its members, congregants, churches and the public. The National Black Church Initiative's methodology is utilizing faith and sound health science.

The aim of the initiative is to offer our member congregants and the public helpful and healthy science-based tips on how to develop and maintain a healthy lifestyle. The website also offers the latest information on housing, education, technology, and environmental issues.

The National Black Church Initiative's purpose is to partner with major organizations and officials whose main mission is to reduce racial disparities in the variety of areas cited above. NBCI offers faith-based, out-of-the-box and cutting-edge solutions to stubborn economic and social issues. NBCI's programs are governed by credible statistical analysis, science-based strategies and techniques, and methods that work.

The Myeloma Link pilot activities were implemented in Atlanta, GA and Washington, D.C. between March, 2017 and May, 2018. They focused on the general population as well as members of key churches, interested community members, and myeloma patients and caregivers. These populations were reached with a variety of activities including: 1) Media activities and events, 2) Church-based awareness building events; 3) Education programs (general awareness, topic-specific, in-depth Myeloma 101); 4) Myeloma Ambassadors; 5) the creation of a Directory of Resources and Cancer Centers; and 6) a Support Group Needs Assessment.

We have attached the original grant application, the statistical impact. the executive summary, and the evaluation.

Myeloma Link

Connecting African American Communities to
Free Information, Expert Care, and Support

http://www.lls.org/myeloma-link

Enhancing Myeloma Knowledge and Access to Latest Treatments in African American Communities

As black Americans are at twice the risk for myeloma as whites, The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) has joined forces with the National Black Church Initiative (NBCI), a faith-based coalition of 34,000 churches comprised of 15.7 million African Americans, to increase access to education and treatment for myeloma in the African American communities with the Myeloma Link Program.

To heighten awareness and increase knowledge about multiple myeloma and available treatment

To empower patients to seek novel treatments and enroll in clinical trials

To encourage patients and caregivers to take advantage of the extentsive support provided by LLS



This new, collaborative effort began with a pilot program in Washington, D.C. and Atlanta, on March 19, 2017, with "Myeloma Sunday" at churches in both locations.

The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s (LLS) new initiative in collaboration with the National Black Church Initiative.
    The Myeloma Link program includes:
  • Myeloma Ambassadors (patients or caregivers) to provide support and information
  • Myeloma Sundays consisting of a "health sermon" by a respected healthcare provider during church services
  • Health Alert fact sheets placed into church bulletins
  • In-depth healthcare provider-led education programs that build on information provided in the Myeloma Sundays
  • Church-based support groups
  • Directory of national and local myeloma resources
  • Master's level oncology professionals at LLS available to answer disease and treatment questions and provide additional support

If you are interested in becoming involved in this pilot program, please contact: Abby Williams at LLS – 914-821-8815 or abby.williams@lls.org. To learn more about myeloma and early signs and symptoms,please visit www.llls.org or call 844-955-5465 to speak directly to one of our Information Specialists.