Multiple Myeloma is a rare and incurable form of cancer. Myeloma usually does not show any symptoms until it reaches a progressive stage. Canadian Cancer Society says 2,900 Canadians will be diagnosed and 1,450 Canadians will die from multiple myeloma.
Londoner, Carlee England, wants to raise awareness for myeloma as she feels like it’s a kind of cancer that needs to be heard.
“If it’s not a popular cancer, then it’s pushed off and a lot of people don’t know about it.”
England says even she did not know what multiple myeloma was until her aunt was diagnosed with the disease as well as her father-in-law. England wants people to know about myeloma and the diverse number of cancers before it impacts them.
“It didn’t exist to me, it wasn’t until it impacted my own life it became real when my aunt heather was diagnosed with cancer. I didn’t know what myeloma was, I still didn’t get it.”
England did not know what her aunt was suffering with until she met her wife whose father lost his battle to multiple myeloma. “I didn’t realize how serious it was. I was in tears, I was trying to find somebody to talk to and Ali was that person for me. My aunt and her dad had the same thing. It’s weird the timeline, what happened to him a year ago happens to her. It’s crazy.”
England was shocked to find someone in her life who suffered the same experience. Although multiple myeloma is a rare form of cancer, it does happen and people need to be aware of it, England says.
England’s father-in-law discovered his diagnosis after experiencing back pain for longer than normal. She says he thought his back pain was from golfing until the pain stayed for weeks. England met another gentleman at a myeloma info session who also caught his diagnosis through back pain. A symptom as simple as back pain resulted in a fatal disease. For this reason, England encourages people to educate themselves and learn more about the various kinds of cancer.
She contacted Myeloma Canada to hold a march in Kitchener this Sunday in support of her aunt and father-in-law. Myeloma Canada, a non-profit organization, designed by people with multiple myeloma.
The March for Myeloma will take place this Sunday at 9am in Kitchener-Waterloo at Victoria Park Pavilion.
For more information visit Carlee’s page for donations and awareness:
https://myelomacanada.akaraisin.com/Pledge/Participant/Home.aspx?seid=13739&mid=9&pid=1795666
