Birmingham, AL (Press Release) - The University of Alabama at Birmingham Division of Hematology & Oncology and Bone Marrow Transplant Program have estab­lish­ed the only multidisciplinary myeloma clinic in Alabama.

Myeloma is a blood cancer that develops in the bone marrow, the soft, spongy center of most bones. Many blood cells are produced in the bone marrow, and myeloma affects plasma cells, a type of bone marrow cell that helps fight in­fec­tion. In multiple myeloma, normal plasma cells transform into malignant myeloma cells. The affected marrow space weakens, resulting in destruction of the bones of the spine, pelvis and ribs, as well as those of the shoulders and hips.

Treatment options in myeloma have sig­nif­i­cantly im­proved over the last five years with devel­op­ment of novel agents that target malignant myeloma cell growth. The Multiple Myeloma Clinic was developed by a group of UAB physicians who have a special interest in clin­i­cal trial devel­op­ment and the identi­fi­ca­tion of thera­peutic and preventive targets, as well as under­stand­ing the pathogenesis of the disease and en­viron­mental and genetic events that lead to malignant transformation of the plasma cell.

“Caring for the myeloma patient involves specialized man­agement of the multiple organ systems affected by the disease,” said Racquel Innis-Shelton, M.D., medical director of the UAB Multiple Myeloma Clinic and assistant professor in the UAB Division of Hematology and Oncology.

“At our clinic, all newly diag­nosed and estab­lish­ed patients will have access to a team of board-certified physicians with expertise in the fields of hematology/oncology, bone marrow trans­plan­ta­tion, nephrology, interventional radiology, radiation/oncology and orthopedics,” said Innis-Shelton. “Our consultations will in­clude a streamlined, com­pre­hen­sive assess­ment with thera­peutic recom­men­da­tions to myeloma patients from the time of initial diag­nosis throughout their treat­ment course. We’ll be able to identify patients with high-risk features early on and determine eligibility for clin­i­cal trials and disease-specific interventions.”

Supported by the resources within the UAB Comprehensive Cancer Center, UAB clinicians will col­lab­o­rate with local physicians, offering patients updated treat­ment recom­men­da­tions and access to cutting-edge research.

“It’s exciting that patients will now have access to this first-of-its-kind multidisciplinary facility in Alabama with a com­pre­hen­sive plan of care in­­clud­ing systemic ther­apy, pain control and sup­port­ive care measures for optimal man­agement of this disease.”

To make an appoint­ment, patients can request a referral from their doctor or call Myeloma Clinical Care Nurse Coordinator Edna Foshee through the UAB operator at 205-934-3411.

Source: The University of Alabama at Birmingham.