Myeloma New Zealand

25/09/2025

This Blood Cancer Awareness Month we're sharing information about myeloma to help you .

Living with myeloma can be a balance between treatment, avoiding infections and living life well.

Stuart was diagnosed in July 2023. He had stubborn numbers during induction but is currently MRD negative.

Now he is very focused on eating well and exercising regularly. While myeloma can create uncertainty and the odd hospital stay, Stuart is also starting a new business and out exercising.

He says "I avoid big crowds, but love getting outdoors. Today I walked 12km in the mountains!".

23/09/2025

is the perfect time to fundraise for Myeloma New Zealand! Help bring awareness to myeloma and help us support others by fundraising on Givealittle. Head to our page https://givealittle.co.nz/org/myelomanz and click "Help Fundraise"

21/09/2025

This we're sharing about myeloma to help people learn about myeloma.

Myeloma is a blood cancer, it's not melanoma which is a skin cancer.

Myeloma is an incurable blood cancer of the plasma cells which are usually found in the bone marrow. Plasma cells are white blood cells which produce antibodies and are part of your immune system.

There are approximately 3000 New Zealanders currently living with myeloma. Almost 500 new cases are reported each year, and just over 200 deaths. It is our second most common blood cancer. While myeloma is an incurable cancer, patients can live with myeloma for many years.

What else do you think people should know about myeloma, or what would you like to know?

21/09/2025

On Thursday, RNZ 's Checkpoint programme interviewed myeloma patient Stu who has recently returned from China for CAR T-cell therapy. You can read and listen here

A former top cop says he travelled to China for cutting-edge therapy after his cancer returned earlier this year.

19/09/2025

Myeloma patient Robert and Malaghan Institute of Medical Research 's Dr Robert Weinkove talk to RNZ about paying privately for treatment and NZ CAR T-cell therapy trials.

https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/573588/kiwisaver-becoming-less-of-a-retirement-fund-and-more-of-a-life-saver-for-cancer-patients?fbclid=Iwb21leAM54ZRleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHmLJgdF13Kk92ogZ8JHPenEHynJivGhV__qhtvP61f2KUnjvLCGIWOWzK3gS_aem_35TzqHAAt33s362wTpV6mw

Robert Moffitt was forced to cash up his KiwiSaver to fund $220,000 treatment for his blood cancer.

18/09/2025

Blood Cancer Patients Urge Government to Honour Drug Funding Promise

In this RNZ Checkpoint segment, blood cancer patients, clinicians, and advocates speak out about the urgent need for the New Zealand Government to fund critical medications for blood cancers, many of which remain unfunded despite pre-election commitments.

Unfulfilled Commitment: The National Party pledged to fund cancer treatments for both solid tumours and blood cancers. While solid tumour drugs received funding after public pressure, blood cancer medications were excluded from Budget 2025.
Listen to the segment here: https://clladvocates.nz/?p=22686

18/09/2025

This month is Blood Cancer Awareness Month, so we're sharing about myeloma so more people .

Myeloma is a life changing diagnosis, often in ways people don't expect.

Patient Jo says, "A diagnosis of myeloma means having to adjust expectations of the future and learning to live more in the moment. Which for me, was difficult to navigate."

How has myeloma changed things for you?

17/09/2025

Do you know the symptoms of myeloma?

This Blood Cancer Awareness Month we're sharing information about myeloma to help raise awareness.

Head to www.knowmyeloma.org to learn more about myeloma.

16/09/2025

16/09/2025

Did you catch the RNZ interviews with myeloma patient Jo and haematologist Dr Rodger Tiedemann this evening? If you missed it, you can read and listen here.

Please keep sharing our posts to help others

You can also head to RNZ's page and comment on their post on the article.

https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/573236/medical-migrant-seeks-life-in-australia?fbclid=Iwb21leAM17-RjbGNrAzXv4mV4dG4DYWVtAjExAAEejdjLmRI5QwbL4w4U-UL-tr2QjNYenw2EcHMt5RMwAOK1cnH1PGssU5O0yZ4_aem__I8LX5Wb3yPXMg9f9DzeVA

"I moved because I wanted life," says a myeloma cancer patient who moved to Australia to access life prolonging drugs that are not funded in NZ.

15/09/2025

Did you catch myeloma patients Tawhai and Geoff, and Tawhai's wife Lani on Checkpoint earlier tonight? If you didn't, you can listen to both interviews in this article.

Myeloma patients continue to be forgotten despite promises they wouldn't be. It isn't right that cancer patients who should be out enjoying life, need to be advocating for medicines like daratumumab that are standard of care in other countries.

The lack of medicines for myeloma patients in New Zealand isn't limited to daratumumab - Pharmac have applications in for two other myeloma treatments, and more are needed.

The lack of treatments isn't limited to just those who need public treatment either - publicly treated myeloma patients in Australia have access to more treatments than those who are treated privately in New Zealand, so the lack of investment in myeloma treatments has flow on effects even to those who think they may not be impacted by it.

Families accuse National of failing to deliver promised life-saving medicines, forcing some to fundraise or move abroad.

15/09/2025

Diagnosed in 2020, Jacq was initially in a wheelchair because she was unable to walk because of a fracture from her myeloma. Now days though, she's out and about in her community, in her garden and doing yoga and weights.
This month Jacq is already 20km towards her goal of walking 40km! Amazing!
What do you do to keep your fitness up, or what tips do you have for other myeloma patients?
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