Tullamore Hospital highlights Blood Cancer Awareness Month

September is Blood Cancer Awareness Month and the Midlands Regional Hospital Tullamore (MRHT) is taking the opportunity to raise awareness of blood cancers, the need for improved treatments, early diagnosis, and increased funding for research.

There are a number of cancers that affect the blood, including myeloma, leukaemia, lymphoma, and myelodysplastic syndromes.

The Tullamore hospital's ANP Haematology Nurse, Mary Kelly, said: "Unfortunately, despite the fact that people with the proper treatment can live very well with blood cancers including multiple myeloma (MM) and for a long period, there is still a huge fear factor around it, with people presuming the worst on diagnosis.

"Our data tells us that there are approximately 350 new cases of multiple myeloma diagnosed in Ireland every year. Thankfully with improved treatments, people can have a good quality of life and can live well with this disease. But a lot more needs to be done to raise awareness.”

Michael Byrne was diagnosed in 2021 with multiple myeloma at just 42 years of age. He and his spouse Ally have had to come to terms with this diagnosis and the impact that it has had and continues to have on their family, including their three children.

Michael, who is from Mullingar, was diagnosed in Tullamore Hospital following investigations into progressively worsening and persistent back pain, the most common early symptom for multiple myeloma. Other symptoms can include weight loss, fatigue, malaise and increased frequency of infections over several months.

Michael said, “Being diagnosed with multiple myeloma has had a massive impact on our family. It influences every decision in the house, from planning family life around treatments, the impact of medication on my energy levels.

“My spouse had to give up her job to care for me as I couldn’t drive to appointments, walk or shower as I was in a back brace for six months.

“It even has meant our children have had be to educated from very early on about passing any germs to Daddy and blowing me a goodnight kiss if they are feeling any way under the weather.”

He added, “It has been, and continues to be hard, I relapsed in December 2023, two years post stem cell transplant. Many people get longer remission from this procedure.

“I am currently on active treatment under the care of Tullamore Hospital and I am extremely grateful to be here. While it is still regarded as an incurable blood cancer, patients like me, are living longer and longer. I am very much a “glass-full’ person - the story could be very different.”

MRHT Consultant Haematologist Dr Kanthi Meegahage Perera said, “Multiple myeloma is mainly found in people in their mid-60s and is slightly more common in men. The disease is very rare in young people, with just 2% of cases arising in those under 40 years.

“A typical treatment regimen for those with multiple myeloma includes a stem cell transplant, ongoing chemotherapy, steroids, and antibody therapy.”

Ally Byrne, Michael's spouse and carer, said, “When Michael was diagnosed, I took a deep dive into finding supports and information for people in a similar situation to us, and found that we were thin on the ground.

“Back then, we found very few people in similar circumstances with diagnosis in their early 40s. We were already trying to get through life day-to-day with young children, trying to pay the mortgage. It’s very different to being diagnosed later in life maybe with less dependencies.

“I am now working to create awareness and support patients and families of those who have multiple myeloma and attend the Midlands Support Group for patients, hosted in Dochas on a monthly basis, and facilitated by Mary Kelly, ANP, MRHT and Chair of Multiple Myeloma.”

Colleagues in the Midlands Regional Hospital Tullamore have organised a series of awareness days throughout Blood Cancer Awareness Month to educate and inform the public.