NEW:
See also news about congresses on the page "News"
Sixth International Workshop on WM will be held October 6-10, 2010, at the Hilton Molino Stucky in Venice Italy,
www.wmworkshop.org
The 2nd International IWMF Patient Forum on Waldenstrom's Macroglobulinemia will be held on Sunday, 10 October 2010 in Venice, Italy
www.iwmf.com
Information ( program, presentations,abstracts, DVD´s etc ) of the Third International Patient and Physician Summit, held on May 1-3 2009, at Harvard Club in Boston MA, you can find at www.wmsummit.org
Information of the IWMF Forum on WM , held on October 19 2008, at Stockholm, is still available,
www.iwmf.com
Waldenström's Macroglobulinemia (WM)
Waldenström's Macroglobulinemia is a rare form of blood cancer. It affects plasma cells in the lymph nodes and the bone marrow. In WM abnormal plasma cells multply out of control and produce excessive amounts of antibodies called macroglobulins or IgM. Excess IgM in the blood causes hyperviscosity (thickening) of the blood. This can be the cause of various symptoms. Some patients however do not experience symptoms.
WM is a serious disease, but slow moving. Most treatments are directed at symptoms. Waldenström's Macroglobulinemia is classified as an "orphan" disease. Orphan diseases are so rare that few, if any funds are available for research. Current treatment options for WM are based on research into similar disorders, such as chronic lymphocytic leukemia and multiple myeloma.
More information about treatment of WM you can find via “Treatment of Waldenström Macroglobulinemia” in this website.
More detailed information about WM and WM patient support organisations you can find via "Useful addresses" in this website.
EWMnetwork
Waldenström´s Macroglobulinemia (WM) is a very rare disease, so co-operation between the WM patient support organisations in different European countries is very important to make the voice of WM patients heard in European politics and health institutions/ organisations.
EWMnetwork is an umbrella organisation for European WM patient support groups or patient support organisations.
EWMnetwork was initiated in 2008 by the Dutch MM&WM Patient Association (CMWP), The Netherlands and is registered as a not-for-profit organisation under Dutch Law.
EWMnetwork aims to represent the interests of WM patients on a European level. It is an organisation run by patients and their relatives for patients (“Patients for Patients”).
EWMnetwork emphasizes on
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accessibility to treatment and medication,
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accessibility to information on new and current trials,
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stimulating research into new methods of treatment and medication.
Contacts and exchange of information between WM patient support organisations within and outside Europe are very important for realizing the objects.
EWMnetwork is still a young organisation. Started in 2008, there are contacts now in 11 countries: Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Norway, The Netherlands, UK and Switzerland.
All WM patient support organisations in Europe ( or groups or individuals if there is not yet a patient support organisation in their country) are invited to become an affiliate of EWMnetwork. There are no costs to it.