HELP US FIND THE MISSING 851, URGES BLOOD CANCER CHARITY THIS MYELOMA AWARENESS WEEK

Around 851 people in the UK could be living with undiagnosed incurable blood cancer, charity Myeloma UK has warned. 

During the pandemic, myeloma saw a drop in diagnoses, with confirmed cases down by 851 compared to pre-COVID expectations. 

As Myeloma Awareness Week gets underway (June 19 to 25), Myeloma UK is urging the public to learn the tell-tale symptoms, spread the word about myeloma and rule themselves out. 

Myeloma UK Chief Executive Sophie Castell said: “We know that during the pandemic fewer people were diagnosed with myeloma than expected. This means that around 851 people could be unaware that they are living with blood cancer. The common symptoms are back pain, fatigue, recurring infections or easily broken bones.   

“The most important thing people can do is rule themselves out by checking their symptoms and, if anything isn’t right, go see their GP. It might take more than one appointment for your doctor to put the pieces of the puzzle together. So please keep pushing or ask for a second opinion. Together we’ll find the missing 851.” 

Myeloma is a rare incurable blood cancer which occurs in the bone marrow and currently affects more than 24,000 people in the UK.  

It claims the lives of 3,000 people in the UK each year. 

On average 5,900 people are diagnosed every year. 

Despite being the third most common type of blood cancer, myeloma is frequently missed, as its symptoms, including back pain, easily broken bones, fatigue and recurring infection, are vague and often linked to general ageing or minor conditions.  

34% of myeloma patients visit their GP at least three times before getting a diagnosis.  

And 1 in 4 people wait more than 10 months for a diagnosis. These are some of the longest delays out of any cancer in the UK.  

Yet, a simple blood test can, in most cases, pick up signs of myeloma.   

While it is incurable, myeloma is treatable in the majority of cases. Treatment is aimed at controlling the disease, relieving the complications and symptoms it causes, and extending and improving patients’ quality of life.  

However, delays in diagnosis have been shown to have a huge impact on quality of life. 

Patient Sarah O’Fee, from Weston-super-Mare, had four broken ribs by the time she was diagnosed with myeloma in 2010.

The 62-year-old is now urging the public to learn the tell-tale symptoms, rule themselves out and spread the word about myeloma.  

She said: “It’s really important to get diagnosed as early as possible – I didn’t know I had myeloma for a while because I thought I was coming down with very bad flu. I was aching very badly, not realising I had a couple of broken ribs. I just felt so awful.  

“You know your body. If something has not gone after a couple of weeks, really and truly you need to go see your GP. You don’t want to be there five months later thinking, it still hasn’t gone. If it’s not myeloma, brilliant. But you won’t know until you go.” 

Over the years, Sarah’s cancer has returned six times and she’s now exhausted all treatment avenues.  

The cancer, which can eat away at the bones, also caused two of her vertebrae to collapse.  

She’s lost an inch in height as a result. 

She added: “If I walk any distance, I need a walking stick. I can’t stand for very long, I have a hunch. I used to be 5ft 4in and I’m only 5ft 3in now. Getting out of my car can be difficult. But I’m alive.  

“When I was first diagnosed, I didn’t think I would reach my 60s – it never really crossed my mind. I thought, I will live each day as it comes and if I can keep going, I’ll keep going. Now I’m 62. I’m still here. I will keep fighting it to the last day.” 

Rule yourself out and Help Find the 851 by visiting https://www.myeloma.org.uk/Find-The-851

Myeloma UK runs an Infoline on 0800 980 3332.