Second "Educational Seminar for Multiple Myeloma Patients, their Relatives and Friends" took place on September 1st and 2nd in Poděbrady and was a great success. The event was organised by the foundation Czech Myeloma Group (CMG) in cooperation with The International Myloma Foundation and with the endowment financial support of Janssen-Cilag and Novartis.
The participants consisted of 64 patients and 58 of their relatives and friends. The part of participants, accounting for 79%, who lodged in the place of the seminar (hotel Bellevue,
The medical part of the seminar was inaugurated on Saturday at 8:30am with the introduction of realization team and with the presentation of Czech Myeloma Group foundation. The speech was given by the president of the board of directors Prof. Roman Hájek, M.D., Ph.D. Lectures given by the leading specialists in the field of the treatment of multiple myeloma in Czech and Slovak republic ensued.
Presentations in Czech / Slovak / German / English language:
This year, we were honoured to welcome international guests: the president of IMF Susie Novis and the founder of a very effective system of research fellowship for multiple myeloma Brian Durie, M.D. from
In the afternoon part, the participants divided into three groups according to their interests in discussed themes. One of the most interesting topics related about the family care. Two clinical psychologists took part in this discussion and all its participants found the atmosphere toned with full-hearted emotions.
The afternoon discussions became very opened and unforced and the time was the only limitation for a great deal of interesting questions.
The seminar ended at 16:30pm. At this moment, most of participants set out on a long journey to their home.
We can conclude that the Multiple Myeloma patients, their relatives and friends evinced a great interest for the event. The limited capacity of the lecture hall and the hotel didn?t allow us to meet all the interested persons.
According to the evaluative questionnaire, 100% of the participants would appreciate to attend next seminar and would like to stay longer. It constitutes a challenge for the organisers and the third year of the Seminar will be organised with the reference to this fact. As well the observations and comments that the participants had the occasion to express will be a precious source of inspiration while the organisation of the next Seminar.
Czech Myeloma Group foundation gives thanks to all the patients and their accompaniments, as well as to all the participants of the discussions in the afternoon part and last but not least to the helpful personnel of the hotel Bellevue in Poděbrady.
The third year of the Seminar is planned for September 2007 and is supposed to take place in Lednice.
We are looking forward to the next meeting.
