The State Government has stepped in to provide nation-leading support to patients with myeloma – an incurable blood cancer that develops from plasma cells in bone marrow.
Myeloma is often called multiple myeloma because most people (90%) have multiple bone lesions at the time it is diagnosed.
According to the South Australian Cancer Registry, a projected 197 South Australians were diagnosed with myeloma last year, while there were 95 myeloma deaths.
Myeloma is a complex disease, and diagnosis can take a long time.
There are currently no national screening programs or proven measures to prevent myeloma.
In an Australian first, the Malinauskas Labor Government will provide a grant of $75,000 to Myeloma Australia to enable the organisation to recruit two part-time nurses that are specially trained to care for myeloma patients, with a focus on providing support in regional and remote areas of the state.
In addition, the Government will provide ongoing funding for a permanent full-time myeloma nurse at the Central Adelaide Local Health Network, providing greater certainty for sufferers of the cancer.
The Premier Peter Malinauskas made the funding commitment while joining myeloma patients, family members and supporters on Myeloma Australia’s 2024 My Greatest Walk – which sees participants to commit to walking, running, skating or scootering around their communities in support of the 50 Australians diagnosed with myeloma every week.
Myeloma Australia is the only Australian myeloma specific not-for-profit organisation. It seeks to support, educate, inform, empower, and bring hope to people who are living with myeloma and their loved ones.
Myeloma Australia reports that approximately 22,000 people in Australia are living with myeloma at any one time and 2,500 new myeloma cases are diagnosed each year in Australia. Myeloma accounts for 15% of blood cancers and 1% of all cancers, with a median age of onset of 70 years.
Quotes
Attributable to Peter Malinauskas
Myeloma is an insidious disease and affects the lives of thousands of South Australians.
The complexity of the illness means specialist nursing care can be crucial for patients to help them navigate the system and minimise their exposure to high-risk settings.
I am proud to lead a government which recognises this need, and we’re very pleased to make this grant available – the first such Government support to Myeloma Australia in 26 years.
I commend the valuable support provided by Myeloma Australia to people who are living with myeloma and their loved ones, and the work undertaken to raise awareness, facilitate research and educate the public about myeloma.
Attributable to Chris Picton
A diagnosis of myeloma, an incurable blood cancer, can be devastating for patients and their families and they deserve as much support as possible.
Myeloma is the second most common blood cancer, affecting dozens of South Australians every year.
It can be overwhelming and difficult to decide on the type of treatment to have and how soon treatment should begin, so these extra nurse supports will be crucial in helping patients navigate a difficult journey.
I am immensely proud to be part of a government that is providing nation-leading support to patients with myeloma.
Attributable to Mark Henderson, Chief Executive Officer of Myeloma Australia
Myeloma Australia is a 26-year-old, self-funded charity, who, until today, hadn’t received any Government funding for the delivery of our services.
On behalf of the myeloma community in South Australia we thank the Premier and the SA Government for their support.
We have 18 specialist myeloma nurses around Australia providing in-community and telehealth support to myeloma patients. This extra funding will help us reach more parts of South Australia, particularly areas in regional and remote SA.
It's sobering to think that fifty people this week will be diagnosed with Myeloma and yet most of them, have never heard of it.
We thank the Premier and the SA Government for making the myeloma community a priority.
Our medical experts believe that myeloma could be cured within 10 years. This will take investment and commitment by Governments around Australia, just like the SA Government has done, to support this ambition.
27% of myeloma patients die within 18 months of their diagnosis. To compare, 92% of breast cancer patients will live at least five years.
We have to find new ways, new methods, new treatments, to help our myeloma community have improved quality of life outcomes.
