The last Thursday in March, which also marks the awareness month for this disease, is observed as Multiple Myeloma Awareness Day. The goal of this observance is to raise awareness about this condition, emphasize the importance of early detection, and enable timely and quality treatment for all affected individuals. Dan multiplog mijeloma. Cilj obilježavanja je podizanje svjesnosti o ovoj bolesti i važnosti ranog otkrivanja te omogućavanje pravodobnog kvalitetnog liječenja svim oboljelima.

Multiple myeloma (MM) is a severe, incurable disease that affects around 200 people annually in Croatia, with approximately 1,000 individuals currently living with the condition. It falls under the category of rare diseases, and patients often face long delays before receiving an accurate diagnosis. This delay is mainly due to the disease manifesting with nonspecific symptoms that can resemble those of other illnesses. Moreover, it is rare, and many family medicine practitioners may never encounter it in their practice.

Multiple myeloma is a type of cancer that develops in a kind of white blood cell known as plasma cells. Healthy plasma cells help the body fight infections by producing antibodies that recognize and attack external pathogens. In multiple myeloma, abnormal plasma cells multiply uncontrollably in the bone marrow, crowding out healthy blood cells. Instead of producing functional antibodies, these cells generate defective proteins that can lead to further complications.

Abnormal plasma cells may form visible masses in the bone marrow or soft tissues; if there is only one such mass, it is called plasmacytoma, and when multiple masses are present, it is referred to as multiple myeloma. Initially, the disease may not exhibit symptoms, which is why it is often diagnosed at a later stage when the prognosis is poorer.

Some symptoms that may indicate multiple myeloma include:

  • Persistent back and bone pain (lasting more than 4-6 weeks)
  • General weakness and fatigue
  • Recurrent and prolonged infections (lungs, bladder, etc.)
  • Elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR)
  • Impaired kidney function
  • Nosebleeds and unexplained bruising

In Croatia, the MijelomCRO association has been active since 2011. MijelomCRO.

MijelomCRO is a non-profit organization that provides support to individuals with multiple myeloma (sometimes called plasmacytoma) and other rare blood cancers, as well as to their families and caregivers in Croatia and the region.

The association strives to improve the quality of life of patients through education and public awareness about multiple myeloma and other rare blood cancers, actively involving patients and their close ones in the treatment process, enhancing treatment itself, and fostering connections with doctors, healthcare institutions, and pharmaceutical companies.

Contacts:

Mijelom CRO

Zagreb, Ulica grada Vukovara 226 G

Web: https://mijelom.hr/

Mail: mijelom@mijelom.hr 

Mob: 097 677 8437

Izvor: https://www.hzjz.hr/priopcenja-mediji/medunarodni-dan-multiplog-mijeloma/ i https://mijelom.hr/

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This content was developed with the financial support of the Ministry of Health. The content of this document is the sole responsibility of the Croatian Alliance for Rare Diseases and can under no circumstances be regarded as reflecting the views of the Ministry of Health.