#kNOwMyeloma Reaches Nearly 20 MILLION People in 64 Countries!
The IMF’s 2023 Blood Cancer Awareness Month
By Peter Anton, IMF Vice President, Marketing
For the 2023 Blood Cancer Awareness Month (BCAM), the International Myeloma Foundation (IMF) renewed its highly successful #kNOwMyeloma campaign, which centers on the question: “Do You Know Myeloma?” Through this annual educational campaign, the IMF is able to broaden awareness of myeloma in the blood cancer community – among those with no knowledge of the disease as well as those who are living with myeloma. The IMF also inspired participants to continue advocating for those impacted by myeloma, the second-most common blood cancer in the world.
With this year’s BCAM campaign reaching almost 20 million people in 64 countries, the IMF attained its goal of fostering active and interactive participation from the myeloma community by educating individuals about the disease and encouraging them to share their learnings with their communities via social media. The IMF’s BCAM campaign fulfilled the objectives of its two-pronged approach:
KNOW Myeloma
During the 2023 BCAM educational campaign, the IMF reached both the general public as well as members of the myeloma community, and worked to help improve the understanding of this disease by the following actions:
- Informing them about symptoms, early diagnosis, tests and staging, and other important facts.
- Citing the IMF’s vast resources and publications and encouraging them to contact the IMF’s InfoLine team.
- Raising awareness about the higher incidence of myeloma among African Americans.
- Affirming the IMF Support Group team’s role in empowering patients and their care partners.
- Providing vital information on self-care for care partners, also known as “caregivers.”
NO Myeloma
The IMF aims to help eradicate myeloma by inspiring people to advocate for the IMF’s mission to improve the quality of life of myeloma patients while working toward prevention and a cure. During the 2023 BCAM educational campaign, this was advanced through the following actions:
- Disseminating information about the IMF’s research initiatives and major developments in myeloma research.
- Raising awareness of existing treatments, as well as new and breakthrough treatment options.
- Providing information about the International Myeloma Working Group (IMWG), which conducts collaborative research to improve outcomes for myeloma patients.
- Affirming the mission of the Global Myeloma Action Network (GMAN) and its goals in improving access to medicine and treatment, as well as building capacity for the global myeloma community.
- Advocating for early detection and diagnosis among African Americans, who are at a higher risk for myeloma.
- Spreading the word about the M-Power Project, which aims to improve the short-term and long-term outcomes of African American myeloma patients and break down barriers for the African American myeloma community.
- Increasing fundraising efforts for the IMF’s research initiatives.
KnowMyeloma.org provided downloadable infographics on myeloma facts, information about research breakthroughs in myeloma treatment, and inspirational stories from those living with the disease through the social media tool kit. These were then shared extensively through social media, using the hashtag #kNOwMyeloma, with the BCAM overview video reaching more than 10,000 viewers.
The IMF’s BCAM Facebook LIVE Series
Through the IMF’s BCAM Facebook LIVE Series, the IMF shared information based on its four founding principles – Research, Education, Support, and Advocacy – while highlighting the importance of fundraising in fulfilling the IMF’s mission: improving the quality of life of myeloma patients while working toward prevention and a cure.
- Myeloma Research
On September 1, Dr. Joseph Mikhael (IMF Chief Medical Officer) shared facts and stats about myeloma on “Ask Me Anything About Myeloma Research.”
- Myeloma Questions Answered
On September 12, Beth Faiman PhD, MSN, APN-BC, BMTCN®, AOCN®, FAAN, FAPO (member of the IMF Nurse Leadership Board) hosted a thorough discussion about dealing with diagnosis, the different types of myeloma, and more on “Ask Me Anything About Myeloma.”
- Advocating for Myeloma Patients
On September 26, Danielle Doheny (IMF Director of Public Policy & Advocacy) discussed pertinent issues that affect myeloma patients on “Ask Me Anything About Advocacy.“
- Fun with Fundraisers
On September 19, Ilana Kenville (IMF Director of Development, Peer-to-Peer Fundraising) discussed the fundraising process and provided tips on “How to Host a Fundraiser.”
The IMF’s BCAM Facebook LIVE Series reached more than 3,000 viewers.
2023 BCAM makes an impact
The IMF’s Blood Cancer Awareness Month initiatives led to the campaign’s powerful impact on those living with blood cancers, and to its momentum in raising funds toward prevention and a cure for myeloma. The IMF’s campaign reached almost 20 MILLION people across social media, with overall global engagement extending to 64 countries through #kNOwMyeloma, KnowMyeloma.org, and myeloma.org. The IMF is grateful to our sponsors for supporting the success of our initiatives for the 2023 Blood Cancer Awareness Month.
Platinum Sponsors: Bristol Myers Squibb, Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson, Karyopharm Therapeutics, Pfizer, and Sanofi. Gold Sponsors: GSK and Binding Site.
(This article was published in the 2023 Fall Edition of the IMF's quarterly publication, Myeloma Today. Read the full publication here.)