In 2010, The U.S. House of representatives declared September to be a time in which to raise awareness and support activities that will help people living with all types of blood cancer. In September the MPN community will have a unique opportunity to draw attention to polycythemia vera, essential thrombocythemia and myelofibrosis by celebrating national Blood Cancer Awareness Month.
Below is a list of activities taking place during the month of September. We’ll also be highlighting some of the important work currently being conducted in research, advocacy and education. These activities have been spearheaded not just by MPN Research Foundation, but by a wider group of organizations working together to help patients. Click here to sign up for alerts so you don’t miss a thing, this September and beyond.
Activities
September 1 – Support MPN research by joining the MPN Research Foundation’s Vote for your Research Project Initiative.
September 1-30– Cancer Support Community-CSC local sites will be hosting 2015 awareness events: Shining the Light on MPN during the month of September.
September 8– LLS Blood Cancer Conference in Hershey, Pennsylvania
September 10- MPNRF-Raise MPN Awareness with One Picture #BCAM2015
September 11-12– Presents Women and MPN
September 12- Cancer Support Community Greater Philidelphia at our Philadelphia location (4100 Chamounix Drive, Philadelphia, PA 19131). Breakfast will be served at 9 a.m. with the lecture starting at 9:45 a.m. Our speaker is Dr. Gerald L. Messerschmidt, the director of clinical research at Lankenau Institute for Medical Research.
September 12- A Town Meeting for Patients, their families & care partners
September 26-The Canadian MPN Network- Patient advocacy Conference-Email canadianmpnnetwork@gmail.com
MPN Voice Patients’ Forum – Register Here*
*This event has passed.
September Support Group Meetings
Denver- Contact: Mabel at mabel.d.peters@kp.org or call @ 303-764-8523
September 10, 2015
Chicago- Contact: Ericka at ecannaday@mpnrf.org
September 10, 2015-Gilda’s Club Chicago.@6-8pm
Pittsburgh- Contact:Jeandiesch@consolidated.net
September 17th
Los Angeles- Contact: Ron Anderson at ron.anderson77@gmail.com
September 26th 11am to 3pm.
SF Bay Area- Contact: Susanklepper@hotmail.com
Event -October 3rd at 9:30am-4:30pm in San Francisco with Dr. Ayalew Tefferi from the Mayo Clinic, Dr. Ross Levine from Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center and Dr. Vincent Ho from Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. Registration required and space is limited.
For patient support group meetings beyond September click here
Additional Resources
Join the Peer-to-Peer cancer support group Imerman’s Angel’s. – Imerman Angels can put you in touch with someone just like you who’s already been through your cancer experience, helping create a supportive relationship.
The Raise Your Voice Toolkit has been developed by the MPN Coalition to help you take action to educate others about MPNs. Taking part in these activities will help to create supportive communities that unite organizations, health care providers, patients with MPNs, and caregivers.
Take a moment to acknowledge the MPN Heroes in your life. Nominations for the first national MPN Heroes Recognition program are now open. Nominate your hero today.
Leukemia & Lymphoma Society MPN Fact Sheets– Essential Thrombocythemia – Myelofibrosis –Polycythemia
Leukemia & Lymphoma Society presents-Advances in Blood Cancers: Update on Treatment for Myelofibrosis
Learn about progress in treatments for myelofibrosis patients from this insightful discussion with Ruben A. Mesa, MD, FACP, Professor of Medicine, Chair, Division of Hematology & Medical Oncology, Deputy Director, Mayo Clinic Cancer Center and Emily A. Knight, RN, OCN®, Coordinator, Hematology Outpatient Patient Care, Mayo Clinic Cancer Center in Scottsdale, AZ.
Community Cancer Support Helpline is available for anyone living with a MPN including family and friends. The Helpline is open from 9 to 8 pm ET M-F and is available in English and Spanish. The number to call is 888 793-9355.
The Aplastic Anemia & MDS International Foundation (AA&MDSIF) -Special issue of the MDS Connection, Dr. Ruben Mesa answers questions about MDS/MPN (myeloproliferative neoplasms) overlap syndrome. This rare condition combines symptoms of both of these diseases, complicating accurate diagnosis and posing challenges as to how best to treat patients.
MPN Forum – Special Fall Edition monthly newsletter.
MPN Education Foundation – Featuring an online support group.