The M-POWER project is partnering with cities across the country to turn the core vision of the IMF Diversity Initiative into a reality: improving the short- and long-term outcomes of African-American patients with multiple myeloma.

Multiple myeloma is the most common blood cancer in African Americans, who have a greater-than-average risk of developing the disease. But when barriers to early diagnosis and treatment are removed, African-American myeloma patients do just as well, or even better than, white individuals.

M-POWER is empowering health-care professionals, community leaders, neighborhoods and families to break down those barriers by raising myeloma awareness.

of all cases of myeloma are in African Americans

more common in African Americans

of all newly diagnosed myeloma patients will be African American

Multiple Myeloma

Did you know that myeloma is the most common blood cancer in people of African descent? But doctors do not typically check people for myeloma during a regular visit because currently there are no national screening recommendations for myeloma.

That’s why it’s important to learn the early symptoms of myeloma and let your doctor know that you—or a friend or family member—are at added risk for the disease.

Because even though myeloma affects African Americans at greater rates, with early diagnosis and treatment, African Americans can have better overall survival in living with the disease.

Myeloma Tool Kit

Myeloma Made Simple

If you’re new to myeloma – or looking for a quick refresher course – IMF Chief Medical Officer Dr. Joseph Mikhael runs through what you need to know in this short video.

Understanding the Language of Myeloma

Myeloma is a complicated disease, but the language that describes it doesn’t have to be. Here is a list of words and phrases commonly used in discussions about myeloma.

Early Signs of Myeloma

This Tip Card covers early diagnosis and warning signs of multiple myeloma.

Have You Been Diagnosed with Myeloma?

Multiple myeloma is a highly treatable disease. Many patients live long and productive lives after diagnosis.

Myeloma Treatment Discussion Tool

This tool was developed in collaboration with myeloma patients and caregivers, leaders of myeloma support groups, and the IMF Nurse Leadership Board. Discuss this tool with your treatment team and healthcare providers.

M-Power Yourself

To make good decisions about your care with your health-care team, learn as much as you can about myeloma and its treatments.

Caregiver Resources

A comprehensive list of caregiver support and other helpful resources especially for families and caregivers.

Drug Reimbursement Information and Assistance

List of pharma, government and other resources regarding drug reimbursement information and assistance

Find a Support Group

Support groups bring together myeloma patients, caregivers, family members & friends. Patients involved in a support group experience more positive outcomes due to their understanding of treatment options and ability to have key conversations with their health-care team.

Abstracts on racial disparities in myeloma care

IMF Chief Medical Officer Dr. Joseph Mikhael (TGen, City of Hope — Phoenix) talks about abstracts on racial disparities in myeloma care as reported from this year’s American Society of Hematology (ASH) annual conference held in Atlanta, GA.

Baltimore Community Workshop

Learn about multiple myeloma, a disease more than twice as common in people of African descent as in whites. From “Myeloma for Patients Who Are Just Getting Started” to the latest in treatments and research, this comprehensive program also features a myeloma patient’s story and an opportunity for the audience to ask questions.

View the Slides

with support from:

2seventy bio, Amgen, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Genentech, Janssen, Karyopharm Therapeutics, Oncopeptides, Pfizer, Sanofi Genzyme, Takeda Oncology, The Binding Site

A Day in the Life

This “A Day in the Life” podcast provides messages of hope and resilience to those in the myeloma community and beyond. In this episode, we talk to Baltimore-area businesswoman Bonnie Downing. Bonnie shares how she originally faced a nine-month prognosis when she was diagnosed with multiple myeloma, and how she continues to thrive 20 years after that diagnosis.

International Myeloma Foundation · S2E5 - A Day in the Life - Bonnie Downing

Disparities in Treatment

My experiences over the years as a support group leader have been that most leaders are experiencing similar challenges, looking for ways to diversify group participation and ensure that we all live well with myeloma. Much like the health-care system, we have to better understand barriers to participation.

- Tiffany Williams

Diagnosed with myeloma in 2013, Tiffany is a co-facilitator of the Charleston, South Carolina Area Multiple Myeloma Networking Group

Patient advocate Yelak Biru shares his story

Diagnosed at the young age of 25 with stage III multiple myeloma, Yelak Biru is a patient turned myeloma research advocate. Working with a team of medical practitioners and educating himself through support group leadership, information resources, advocacy sites, social media, and the IMF, Yelak has successfully integrated myeloma to his life for over two decades.