All Things Amyloid
Hi everyone! My name is Mackenzie and I was diagnosed with AL amyloidosis at age 23. We don’t know the cause of this disease, but we do know that it can lead to serious and potentially life-threatening issues. This disease has changed me and my life in so many ways, and as a result, I founded Mackenzie’s Mission to join the fight against this disease.
Part of our effort is to raise awareness which, we believe, will accelerate diagnosis, enable earlier treatment, and improve patient lives. We do this in several ways, including our “All Things Amyloid” podcast. In our episodes, we will speak with patients and caregivers about their journey on a wide array of topics. We will also hear from amyloidosis experts about the medical side of this disease.
There is more hope for patients than ever before, and raising awareness around the globe is critical to improving patient lives. If you want to learn more about the work we’re doing at Mackenzie’s Mission, please visit mm713.org. Thanks for listening!
All Things Amyloid
What is the Relationship Between AL Amyloidosis and Multiple Myeloma?
In this episode of All Things Amyloid, we hear from Dr. Giada Bianchi, hematologist at the Amyloidosis Program at Brigham & Women’s Hospital and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. Adapted from her video, hear about the relationship between AL amyloidosis and multiple myeloma. While both AL amyloidosis and multiple myeloma are plasma cell disorders and share similar patient care treatments, they diverge in pathogenic mechanisms. It’s important to note that approximately 10-15% of multiple myeloma patients will experience overlapping AL Amyloidosis, elevating the importance of understanding the similarities and differences in diagnostic criteria and patient care. In this presentation, Dr. Bianchi outlines the distinguishing diagnostic criteria between the two, why only one is considered cancer. Her video can be found in the Education Hub on Mackenzie’s Mission website. For an overview of amyloidosis, please see episode 2 (for clinicians) or episode 3 (for patients).
