Waldenstrom’s Weekly – March 8, 2024

The International Waldenstrom’s Macroglobulinemia Foundation (IWMF) is dedicated to supporting and educating everyone affected by WM while advancing the search for a cure. The IWMF provides access to The Waldenstrom’s Weekly as a free service to WM community members to share WM related news and events. For more information, please contact info@IWMF.com

March 8, 2024

Volume 4, Issue 10

The IWMF mission statement is to support and educate everyone affected by Waldenstrom’s macroglobulinemia (WM) to improve patient outcomes while advancing the search for a cure.

SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENTS

IWMF Board Meets to Discuss 2024 Priorities

On February 25th, members of the IWMF Board of Trustees and Home Office Staff met in person and over Zoom on behalf of the WM community. Throughout the day, the group shared plans for how best to further expand the mission of the IWMF in 2024. Stay tuned for many exciting things to come!

Thank you to our volunteer IWMF Board of Trustees. We are grateful for ALL you do to help the WM community worldwide!

IWMF board image

Expansion of IMBRUVICA® (ibrutinib) Label in the U.S. to Include Oral Suspension Formulation

On February 26th, Johnson & Johnson, in collaboration with its alliance partner, Pharmacyclics LLC, an AbbVie Company, announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved a label expansion for IMBRUVICA® (ibrutinib) with an oral suspension formulation for adult patients in the treatment of WM after failure of one or more lines of systemic therapy.

IMBRUVICA® is now the only Bruton’s tyrosine kinase inhibitor (BTKi) approved with an oral suspension formulation, providing additional flexibility for patients who may have difficulty swallowing tablets or capsules. Read the full article HERE.

A couple of notes about the new formulation:

  • Patients will receive the oral suspension the same way they would receive tablets. If they are covered/work through a specialty pharmacy, this would continue based on the type of insurance carried.

  • The oral suspension does not require special storage instruction, such as refrigeration; everything is room temperature and dosed per the physician’s instructions.

IWMF ED Forum
Lisa Wise is Saving You a Seat!

We want to remind you about the upcoming Ed Forum taking place this May 3-5 in Washington. We are thrilled to share that Lisa Wise, our esteemed board member, and dedicated support group leader, will be attending the event and is personally saving a seat for you! Hear it straight from Lisa herself!

What are you waiting for? Register today, book your flight, and secure your hotel room!! Learn more about the Ed Forum here

STORY OF HOPE

From CanadaPaul Kitchen: A Familial WM Story

“My story of hope began in the late 1970s when my mother, Mary Kitchen, was diagnosed with WM.”

 

Specialty group images

EDUCATION

Take Control of YOUR Bone Health

Thank you to all who joined us for February’s Educate and Empower Webinar! We had 135 registrations, and 45 live attendees. To recap, the only way you will get the benefit of stronger bones by doing yoga is through consistent practice. Check out our Stronger Bones Playlist on YouTube to view the webinar and to try videos you can do on your own — keep the bone-strengthening party going! 

T'ai Chi

Lymphoma Research Foundation Workshop

VIRTUAL – National Lymphoma Workshop: Understanding Lymphoma Basics and Current Treatment Options

DATE: Saturday, March 16, 2024
TIME: 9:30 AM ET – 1:30 PM ET

Reasons To Attend

  • Learn about your specific type of lymphoma, treatment options, clinical trials, and novel concepts during the comprehensive disease-specific breakout sessions.
  • Hear a variety of presentations and have your specific questions answered from our expert speaking faculty comprised of lymphoma specialists and patient support experts.
YOGA NIDRA
WM Breakout Session

Dr. Prashant Kapoor
Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN

SUPPORT

Lymphoma Research Foundation Workshop

Registration is open for this March webinar! This wellness webinar fuses writing, body awareness, and meditation to enhance a feeling of inner wellbeing during challenging times and is especially designed for those managing WM. Kimberley Snow, Ph.D., teacher, author, and workshop leader, taught writing at UCSB before she moved to study and work in a Tibetan retreat center in Northern California for six years. She has written five books, including Writing Yourself Awake: Meditation & CreativityKimberley was diagnosed with WM in 2012.

YOGA NIDRA

Caring For Pets While You Have Cancer:
what you need to know

 

From the American Institute for Cancer Research:

Cuddling pets can be therapeutic, and many people rely on furry friends as a welcome respite from the rigors of cancer treatment. While dogs and cats can play a role in cancer prevention and treatment, there are a few important facts you need to know so you can keep yourself—and your pets—safe.

YOGA NIDRA
Accelerate the Cure Image
March Wellness Calendar

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