DOING WHAT IT TAKES TO BECOME #MMAWARE IN MARCH
Bristol-Myers Squibb To start fighting multiple myeloma, know the facts: https://bit.ly/1STBrBB.
Our team at Bristol-Myers Squibb is encouraging the world to become #MMAware this month in honor of Multiple Myeloma Awareness Month and the patients, families and healthcare professionals we serve. Being #MMAware means educating yourself and others about the impact this serious disease can have on every aspect of a person’s life.
Multiple myeloma is a hematologic, or blood, cancer that develops in the bone marrow. It occurs when a plasma cell, a type of cell in the bone marrow, becomes cancerous and multiplies uncontrollably. It is estimated that each year there are more than 114,200 new cases of multiple myeloma and more than 80,000 deaths from the disease globally. More background about the disease is illustrated in this infographic.
Despite advances in multiple myeloma treatment over the last decade, less than half of patients survive for five or more years after diagnosis. Once patients first relapse, prognosis worsens with faster relapses through each line of therapy – and ultimately, it is these patients who are our inspiration as we work tirelessly to advance innovation for this disease.
In an effort to build upon the great work already underway by advocacy organizations across the globe, such as the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation, the International Myeloma Foundation and Myeloma Patients Europe, we have made it our mission to provide needed support to the multiple myeloma community and educate the public about this increasingly chronic and largely incurable cancer not only this month but also all year round. Please continue to follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn to become #MMAware throughout the month.