Tullamore Hospital focus on Blood Cancer Awareness Month
September is Blood Cancer Awareness Month - a focused time for colleagues in the Midlands Regional Hospital Tullamore (MRHT) to raise awareness of blood cancers, the need for improved treatments, early diagnosis, and increased funding for research. There are a number of cancers that affect the blood including Myeloma, Leukaemia, Lymphoma, and Myelodysplastic syndromes.
Mary Kelly, ANP Haematology Nurse, MRHT said: “Unfortunately, despite the fact that people with the proper treatment can live very well with blood cancers including Multiple Myeloma (MM) and for a long period, there is still a huge fear factor around it, with people presuming the worst on diagnosis. Our data tells us that there are approximately 350 new cases of multiple myeloma diagnosed in Ireland every year. Thankfully with improved treatments people can have a good quality of life and can live well with this disease. But a lot more needs to be done to raise awareness.”
Patient of MRHT, Michael Byrne, was diagnosed in 2021 with Multiple Myeloma at just 42 years of age. Michael and his spouse Ally, have had to come to terms with this diagnosis and the impact that it has had and continues to have on their family, including their three children
Michael was diagnosed in Tullamore Hospital following investigations into progressively worsening and persistent back pain, the most common early symptom for MM. Other symptoms can include weight loss, fatigue, malaise and increased frequency of infections over several months.
Michael said, “Being diagnosed with MM has had a massive impact on our family. It influences every decision in the house, from planning family life around treatments, the impact of medication on my energy levels, my spouse had to give up her job to care for me as I couldn’t drive to appointments, walk or shower as I was in a back brace for 6months. It even has meant our children have had be to educated from very early on about passing any germs to Daddy and blowing me a goodnight kiss if they are feeling anyway under the weather.”
He continues, “While it has been, and continues to be hard, I relapsed in December 2023, 2 years post stem cell transplant, many people get longer remission from this procedure. I am currently on active treatment under the care of Tullamore Hospital and I am extremely grateful to be here. While it is still regarded as an incurable blood cancer, patients like me, are living longer and longer. I am very much a “glass-full’ person the story could be very different.”
Dr. Kanthi Meegahage Perera Consultant Haematologist, MRHT said, “Multiple Myeloma is mainly found in people in their mid-60s and is slightly more common in men. The disease is very rare in young people with just 2% of cases arising in those under 40 years. A typical treatment regimen for those with multiple myeloma includes a stem cell transplant, ongoing chemotherapy, steroids, and antibody therapy. Multiple Myeloma treatments can be delivered in a haematology day ward along with supportive treatments to prevent complications of the disease and improve patient’s quality of life.”
Ally Byrne, spouse and carer for Michael said, “When Michael was diagnosed, I took a deep dive into finding supports and information for people in a similar situation to us, and found that we were thin on the ground. Back then there were very few people that we found with in similar circumstances with diagnosis in their early 40’s. We were already trying to get through life day-to-day with young children, trying to pay the mortgage, it’s very different to being diagnosed later in life maybe with less dependencies. I am now working to create awareness and support patients and families of those with Multiple Myeloma and attend the Midlands Support Group for patients with MM hosted in Dochas on a monthly basis and facilitated by Mary Kelly, ANP, MRHT and Chair of Multiple Myeloma.”
Seamus Maguire (75) was diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma in 2019 following a routine blood test during treatment for type 2 diabetes. “I had no symptoms and felt normal, but when my blood results came back, I was informed there was an issue. Eventually, I was diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma, which was a huge shock to me and my family.”
Seamus underwent a stem cell transplant in December 2019. “Given my age, it was unusual to be offered a stem cell transplant – at the time, I was the oldest person in the country to undergo the procedure.
"I had the operation on December 27, 2019. I could have opted to wait until March 2020, but I’m thankful I chose December, even though it meant spending Christmas in the hospital. If I had waited, Covid might have prevented me from having the operation.
“I’ve been in remission since the transplant and am on maintenance treatment with monthly check-ups. I feel really well and live life to the fullest.”
“I’ve been in remission since the transplant and am on maintenance treatment with monthly check-ups. I feel really well and live life to the fullest.”
He said fear often accompanies the diagnosis, and many assume the worst. “Even though Multiple Myeloma is incurable, with proper treatment, people can live very well with the disease for many years,” he said.
Colleagues in the Midland Regional Hospital Tullamore have organised a series of awareness days throughout Blood Cancer Awareness Month to educate and inform the public.
Caption Image 1: MRHT Haematology Nursing Team
Caption Image 2: HSE Haematology nurse and chair of Multiple Myeloma Ireland, Mary Kelly, with Seamus and Ciara Maguire.
Caption Image 3: Aileen Flynn, CNS Haematology, MRHT, Michael Byrne, patient of MRHT, Dr. Kanthi Meegahage Perera Consultant Haematologist, MRHT, Mary Kelly, ANP Haematology Nurse, MRHT and MMI Board Chair, Ally Byrne, spouse and carer for Michael and MMI board member
