Pictured from left to right are Linda Huguelet of Signal Mountain, myeloma patient, and Dr. Brian Durie, Chairman, International Myeloma Foundation
Joining the approximately 20,000 hematologists and healthcare professionals attending the 55th American Society of Hematology (ASH) Annual Meeting and Exposition in New Orleans, were a number of cancer patients and support group leaders. Linda Huguelet, co-leader of the Chattanooga Multiple Myeloma Networking Group, was one of them.
At the conference, Ms. Huguelet was brought up-to-date on the latest research, therapies, and tools available to myeloma patients. In turn, she reported the news to patients back home, using social media tools like blogs, Twitter, and video.
Ms. Huguelet’s participation at the conference was sponsored by the International Myeloma Foundation, the oldest and largest organization dedicated to improving the life and care of myeloma patients around the world. Myeloma, also called multiple myeloma, is a cancer of cells in the bone marrow that affects production of red cells, white cells and stem cells and can damage bone. It’s currently incurable and is being contracted by an increasing number of people and is particularly affecting younger people.
Ms. Huguelet, who was diagnosed with myeloma in 2010 and typically follows news from medical conferences online on the IMF website, said “Experiencing the presentations first-hand will allow me to share a more comprehensive overview with my group and let them know more about how the researchers collaborate.” She will pass along news about all the encouraging research taking place when the Chattanooga Multiple Myeloma Networking Group meets after the first of the year.
Ms. Huguelet was one of the many success stories present at ASH. Held December 7-10 at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center, the ASH annual meeting is the premier hematology conclave in the world. Some 300 pharmaceutical companies, medical suppliers, clinical diagnostic and research-based companies, publishers, and nonprofit organizations were on hand in the state-of-the-art exhibit hall, IMF among them.