Myeloma Canada InfoGuides
Multiple Myeloma Patient Handbook
Designed to provide educational support to patients, caregivers, families, and friends, this handbook gives accurate, reliable, and clear information on myeloma. Topics cover its causes and effects, how it is diagnosed, and the treatment options available in Canada.
You may find the information overwhelming at first, but do not worry. The more times you refer to the material, the easier it will be to understand. Over time, you will have a better grasp of the disease and an understanding of what you can do to optimize your quality of life.
Multiple Myeloma Caregiver Handbook
Like most cancers, multiple myeloma impacts more than just the person living with the disease. Caregivers experience their own set of challenges and must manage their own stress levels and energy reserves, all while supporting their loved one when they are receiving treatment, managing day-to-day care and navigating the healthcare system. If you are supporting a loved one living with myeloma, you are a caregiver—and this Handbook is intended for you. It provides practical information about caring for your loved one and maintaining your own well-being.
NEW! Myeloma Immunotherapy
The goal of this InfoGuide is to help you better understand myeloma immunotherapy, how it compares to conventional myeloma therapies, and how immunotherapy uses your immune system to fight the disease. It also provides you with the names (non-exhaustive) of myeloma immunotherapy treatments in development so that you know what may be available to you for the treatment of your myeloma.
You may find it helpful to write down any questions that you have along the way and share these with your healthcare team regularly. They are the best people to help you understand what is happening and guide you to make informed decisions.
Mental Well-being and Relapse: A resource guide for people living with myeloma
Experiencing a relapse in your multiple myeloma can be very stressful, and while you may have lived with multiple myeloma for some time, relapse and disease progression can be a devastating emotional blow. You may experience feelings of distress or fear, mixed with hope, as you navigate this stage of the disease, while also exploring options for new treatments and planning for the future.
Myeloma Canada has created “Mental Well-being and Relapse: A resource guide for people living with myeloma” for you and your loved ones as a support to your mental health and to help you determine how wellness strategies fit into your overall cancer treatment plan.
Financial Implications of Living with Myeloma
If you or your loved one has been diagnosed with myeloma, you know how challenging it can be to find information that can help you manage your finances.Treatment can affect a person’s ability to work, remain independent, and be socially involved.
In response to the many financial-based questions and concerns we receive from our community members, Myeloma Canada has created a new web-based document called Financial Implications of Living with Myeloma. This guide was designed to provide you with reliable information you need to help you better understand the financial resources available to you on a federal, provincial and territorial level.
MGUS and Smouldering Multiple Myeloma
Myeloma Canada’s MGUS and Smouldering Multiple Myeloma InfoGuide has been created specifically for people diagnosed with monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS) or smouldering multiple myeloma (SMM) – also known as indolent or asymptomatic multiple myeloma (MM) – and their family and friends.
The InfoGuide is intended to help you understand what these two conditions are, how they are diagnosed and how they may be managed by your healthcare team. Not all people with MGUS or SMM experience the same symptoms or carry the same risks of developing another related condition. It’s important to understand your condition, the impact it can have on your day-to-day life and on your overall well-being.
Managing Pain & Fatigue
If you’ve been diagnosed with myeloma, you know how challenging it can be to cope with pain and fatigue caused by the disease itself, side effects related to treatment, as well as medical tests or procedures. Pain and fatigue make day-to-day life more difficult. Myeloma Canada’s newest InfoGuide is written expressly for people living with myeloma, their families and friends. It’s intended to help you understand, manage and cope with your pain and fatigue.
High-dose Therapy and Autologous Stem Cell Transplantation
This InfoGuide is intended for patients with myeloma, their families and friends. It provides information about high-dose therapy and autologous stem cell transplantation and aims to clarify and explain the process and what to expect.
Clinical Trials as a Treatment Option
This InfoGuide is written for patients with myeloma, their families and friends. It is intended to help clarify and explain the clinical trial process and answer frequently asked questions. The information provided can help with decision-making on whether a clinical trial is the right treatment option for each patient’s specific situation.
Myeloma Bone Disease
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Myeloma Bone Disease is the first in a series of InfoGuides published by Myeloma Canada. This InfoGuide is a valuable resource to help you better understand myeloma bone disease, and the options available for its management and treatment.
NEW! UPDATED! Understanding Your Blood and Blood Tests
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Understanding Your Blood and Blood Tests is the second publication in the Myeloma Canada InfoGuide Series. This InfoGuide will help you learn more about the different types of blood cells, the effects of myeloma and myeloma treatments on the blood, and the key blood tests involved in diagnosing and monitoring myeloma.
Myeloma and the Kidney
This InfoGuide is written for patients with myeloma, their families and friends. It explains the role of the kidneys, why and how myeloma may affect the kidneys, the symptoms of kidney disease and how it is diagnosed and managed.