Three-day conference at Army Hospital to spread awareness on Myeloma concludes
New Delhi: The Indian Myeloma Congress, organised by the Indian Myeloma Academic Groupe (IMAGe) to help people suffering from Myeloma disease, came to a conclusion on Sunday.
The three-day conference had kicked off on Friday at the Manekshaw Auditorium of the Department of Hematology, Army Hospital, Research and Referral (ARHH), and was inaugurated by the Commandant of the Hospital Lt Gen Dr AK Das.
Dr Das appreciated the efforts of organising chairperson Brig S Das and organising secretary Lt Col Dr Uday, for bringing together more than 1000 participants.
Myeloma, also known as multiple myeloma, is a cancer arising from plasma cells, a type of white blood cell which is made in the bone marrow.
At the event, websites helping doctors with protocol-based documentation, digitisation of patient records, aiding in moving away from the paper records were launched.
An indigenously developed web-platform by Lt Col (Dr) Uday for digitisation of Multiple Myeloma data in the Indian setting, www.care4myeloma.in was launched.
Keeping in line with the 'Digital India' vision of the Indian government, IMAGe also approved creation of the National Myeloma Data Registry.
Moreover, a well-tested and validated website for solid malignancies "OncoCollect" was presented by Dr Ramesh, wherein similar facilities can be extended to Myeloma patients.
Patient education pamphlets were released, which addressed a number of issues related to diagnosis, prognosis, adverse effects secondary to the disease/ treatment, lifestyle and dietary changes specific for the myeloma patients.
The conference also witnessed a first-of-its-kind concurrent 'Meet your doctor' session, where patients discussed their problems, expectations with the august panel of myeloma experts.
A brainstorming session was conducted with the patients/caregivers to find solutions to their fears and queries.
In addition, major medical institutes of the country, such as AIIMS, New Delhi, PGIMER, Chandigarh and many other government and private institutes participated.
The conference was unique in holding a concurrent continuing nursing symposium, which was enthusiastically attended by 250 nursing colleagues from across the country.
Multiple spheres of nursing in myeloma care were discussed. This theme-based conference was enriched by myeloma experiences shared by the faculty of other specialties like neurology, nephrology, immunology, neurosurgery, orthopedics and endocrinology.