About Us

Waldenström’s Macroglobulinemia Australian Community Support Group

HELP US GET BETTER TREATMENTS!

Join our growing CART-Wheel WhiMSICAL de-identified database and give vital support to ground-breaking research and government funding applications

CLICK to Join WhiMSICAL database
https://apps.biogrid.org.au/cart-wheel/gui/Patient/Register.aspx

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3 June close-off in the WhiMSICAL presentation at the European Hematology Association conference on June 13-16 in Amsterdam

Welcome to WMozzies, an Australian non profit organisation dedicated to providing information and support to the Waldenstrom’s Macroglobulinemia (WM) community.

WMozzies continue to liaise closely with both research organisations and government to actively promote the discovery and availability of exciting new WM treatments.

Please surf our website to discover the progress we have already made, what is planned, and the many services we offer members.

To find or get support, have a look at the following link. http://www.wmozzies.com.au/index.php/get-support/

To find out more on wmozzies and WM, have a read of the following link. http://www.wmozzies.com.au/index.php/about-wm/

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Whimsical Newsletter #3

November 20, 2018November 20, 2018

WhiMSICAL Newsletter #3

World first WM PRO Quality of Life questionnaire added to WhiMSICAL

October 27, 2018October 27, 2018

World first WM PRO Quality of Life questionnaire added to WhiMSICAL

The WhiMSICAL Study Question 20 now includes a globally validated Quality of Life questionnaire (EORTC QLQ-C30). This world first will allow researchers to map quality of life data to treatments, assisting applications to funding bodies for approval of new treatments for WM. This Patient Reported Outcome (PRO) addition to WhiMSICAL was launched at the WM International Patient-Physician Summit IWWM-10 in New York on 11 October 2018. The Questionnaire is used to assess the quality of life of cancer patients in more than 5,000 studies annually in over 100 countries. The Quality of Life questionnaire of 30 items covers aspects of the cancer patients’ symptoms and side effects of treatment. It includes:

Five functional scales (physical, role, cognitive, emotional and social)
Three symptom scales (fatigue, pain and nausea),
A general health status
Items assessing additional symptoms commonly reported by cancer patients.

Existing WhiMSICAL members are requested to enter their Quality of Life information in WhiMSICAL Question 20 now and every three months. All WM patients are invited to join WhiMSICAL database at http://www.cart-wheel.org/ . Further details about WhiMSICAL database are at

For questions and support about WhiMSICAL send email to whimsical@iwmf.com

WhiMSICAL database presentation at IWWM-10

October 27, 2018

WhiMSICAL database presentation at IWWM-10

The WhiMSICAL database was presented in New York in October at the WM International Patient-Physician Summit (IWWM-10) attended by 200 WM investigators. The findings highlights in the IWWM-10 poster cover:

Treatment access by country of residence
Stress symptom level
Sunburst chart displaying therapeutic regimens

WhiMSICAL IWWM-10 poster

Promising results for Zanubrutinib (BGB-3111) from early trials were reported by Assoc Prof Con Tam at IWWM-10.

October 27, 2018

Promising results for Zanubrutinib (BGB-3111) from early trials were reported by Assoc Prof Con Tam at IWWM-10. Zanubrutinib is seen to Halt Tumor Progression in 89% of Waldenström’s Macroglobulinemia Patients in a Phase 1 Trial. Data from an ongoing Phase 1 trial show that BeiGene’s investigational therapy zanubrutinib is highly active in patients with Waldenström’s macroglobulinemia, a rare type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma. In the trial, 92% of patients responded to treatment and 89% were alive and progression-free after one year. The findings were revealed at the 2018 International Workshop on Waldenström’s Macroglobulinemia (IWWM-10) in New York City in October. Assoc Prof Constantine Tam with the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre in Australia, delivered the presentation, “Improved depth of response with increased follow-up in phase 1 trial of patients with Waldenström’s macroglobulinemia (WM) treated with oral Bruton tyrosine kinase (BTK) inhibitor zanubrutinib (BGB-3111).”

Further details regarding the presentation are at https://lymphomanewstoday.com/2018/10/26/zanubrutinib-shows-potential-to-treat-waldenstroms-macroglobulinemia-in-phase-1-trial/

Prize for Venetoclax

October 25, 2018October 25, 2018

Prize for Venetoclax

Prize for Venetoclax collaborators and researchers has been awarded to Australian Professor John Seymour who is on the IWMF Directory of WM Physicians. The 2018 Victorian Prize for Life Sciences has been jointly received by Professor John Seymour and Professor Andrew Roberts. The prize recognises Prof Seymour and Roberts’ collaboration and research which delivered Venetoclax, the new anti-cancer drug for patients. Venetoclax is the first drug of an entirely new class of medicines to become routinely available for clinical use. It is based on a basic science discovery made 30 years ago in Melbourne. Profs Seymour and Roberts led the first in-human clinical trial in 2011. The first three patients to receive the drug, demonstrated its remarkable potential to rapidly melt away chemotherapy-resistant leukaemia. In 2013 Colin Parrish, WMozzies member, was one of the first WM patients to receive Venetoclax (then known as ABT-199) in a trial conducted by Prof Seymour. Colin told readers of IWMF-Talk in 2014 in glowing terms of this Venetoclax experience after nearly twenty years with WM and many other treatments.

Prof Seymour is Director of the Department of Haematology at Peter Mac and the Royal Melbourne Hospital. Professor Roberts is Head of Clinical Translation at the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute, Metcalf Chair of Leukemia Research at the University of Melbourne, and a clinical haematologist at Peter Mac and Royal Melbourne Hospital. Profs Seymour and Roberts discuss their research on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zZjMsvEE0ds

Virtual Lecture on WM

April 25, 2018April 25, 2018

The lecture on Waldenström’s Macroglobulinemia, featuring Dr. Ansell, Professor of Medicine in the Division of Hematology at the Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, is now available. WM topics covered include:

Who needs treatment at presentation
Treatment options for newly diagnosed and relapsed patients

To see Dr. Ansell’s lecture, available at The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) website, click here. LLS Virtual Lecture Programs offer a convenient opportunity to learn about the latest disease-specific information from medical experts. Dr. Ansell’s pre-recorded presentation on WM will be available to view for approximately 12 - 18 months. You can view the synchronized audio and slides, download the transcript, or request a hard copy of the transcript by contacting the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society at feedback@LLS.org (link sends e-mail).

IWMF Frequently asked Questions booklet updated

March 4, 2018March 4, 2018

IWMF Frequently asked Questions booklet updated

The IWMF Frequently Asked Questions Booklet has been updated to reflect the most current knowledge about shingles and WM, and the new Shingrix vaccine. The booklet is available at https://www.iwmf.com/system/files/FrequentlyAskedQuestions.pdf It also gives much useful information on the questions listed below. INITIAL KEY QUESTIONS What is WM? What’s the difference between WM and LPL (lymphoplasmacytic lymphoma)? Are they the same disease? My doctor said WM was a rare disease. How rare is it? What does that mean for me? Is there a cure for WM? How long do I have left to live? Should I get a second opinion? If so when? How do I find a good doctor for a second opinion? When should I get treatment? What treatments are approved for WM? GENERAL QUESTIONS Should I get the shingles vaccine? Should I get a flu shot? What about the nasal mist vaccination? Should I get the pneumonia vaccine? What should I do to protect my immune system? Will I still be able to travel? How often should I see my hematologist/oncologist? OTHER QUESTIONS ABOUT WM Who was Waldenström? What does “macroglobulinemia” mean? What is IgM and how does it relate to WM? What causes WM? Is there an environmental cause? What is IgM MGUS? Is there a familial predisposition to WM? Do I have to worry about my kids getting it? If I have WM, do I have a greater risk for other cancers? What is MYD88 and what is the MYD88 mutation I’ve heard about in WM patients? What is the significance of the MYD88 L265P mutation in WM? Are there other gene mutations important in WM? QUESTIONS ABOUT SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS What are the common signs and symptoms of WM? What is the connection between WM and fatigue? What kind of skin problems are related to WM? What is the cause of night sweats in WM? How can WM affect my eyes? What is peripheral neuropathy? What does it feel like? How can I treat my peripheral neuropathy? Will it improve with treatment? What is hyperviscosity? What is plasmapheresis? Why is done? What should I do before, during, and after plasmapheresis? QUESTIONS ABOUT DIAGNOSIS AND TESTS How is WM diagnosed? What is a bone marrow biopsy? What should I expect? How often do I need to have a bone marrow biopsy? Which measurement is more reliable/valuable – IgM or SV (serum viscosity)? Are IgG and IgA levels an important measurement to follow too? What are the key numbers in my blood testing? QUESTIONS ABOUT TREATMENT Why am I on watch and wait and not being treated if I have a cancer? What can I expect from treatment for WM? What can I do for myself? Are there any foods that are beneficial or harmful to eat while in treatment? Are there any alternative medicine treatments for WM? Are there any treatments that target the MYD88 mutation in WM patients? What if my treatment doesn't work? What are some of the other “late and rare” complications of WM?

Diffuse Large- Cell B-Cell Lymphoma
Amyloidosis
Cryoglobulinemia
Hypogammaglobinemia
Bing Neel Syndrome

WhiMSICAL “Frequently Asked Questions” enhanced

November 9, 2017November 9, 2017

WhiMSICAL “Frequently Asked Questions” enhanced

Following feedback from WhiMSICAL members, the “Frequently Asked Questions” at http://www.wmozzies.com.au/index.php/whimsical/whimsical-frequently-asked-questions/ has been enhanced with additional explanatory detail. Many screenshots have been included to assist in important areas such as getting started, consent, diagnosis, and pathology results. Register for WhiMSICAL at: https://www.cart-wheel.org For further information or assistance send email to: whimsical@iwmf.com Please remember the cut-off for joining WhiMSICAL and updating details is in a week. Act now so that your WM details are part of the WhiMSICAL submission to the ASH meeting in December.

VIDEO: Dr. Trotman on BGB-3111 in Patients with WM

September 16, 2017September 16, 2017

[metaslider id=949]VIDEO: Dr. Trotman on BGB-3111 in Patients with WM

[AW1]The efficacy of BGB-3111 (a BTK inhibitor) in WM patients, is shown with Dr. Judith Trotman speaking in a 1 minute 43 second interview, on the website OncLive. The video interview is at: http://www.onclive.com/onclive-tv/dr-trotman-on-bgb3111-in-patients-with-waldenstroms-macroglobulinemia

Judith Trotman, MD, clinical associate professor, medicine, Concord Clinical School, The University of Sydney and is the co-principal investigator on the WhiMSICAL WM Patient Database http://www.wmozzies.com.au/index.php/whimsical/ discusses results of a trial investigating BGB-3111 in patients with Waldenström’s macroglobulinemia (WM). BGB-3111 is a very specific BTK inhibitor that has a very high, very good partial response (VGPR) rate in patients with WM, Trotman explains. Results showed that patients with WM did have very good responses with reduction in IgM from 33 g/L to 6 g/L and a rise in hemoglobin from 100 g/L to 140 g/L. Patients also tolerated the drug well without any of the toxicities often seen with BTK inhibitors. Adverse events included very minimal bruising as well as minimal serious bleeding. This was an extremely well tolerated BTK inhibitor, with an overall response rate of 90% with 43% of patients achieving VGPR. "What's most important is that the patients feel fantastic on this agent! How can you quantitate energy? , she adds.

WMozzies information flyer

September 13, 2017September 13, 2017

WMozzies information flyer

The new WMozzies flyer is now available. It provides information about WMozzies and the support services provided to Waldenström's Macroglobulinemia patients throughout Australia. It is produced in a 3 column double sided fold-out format as shown below.

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WM incidence in Australia

September 13, 2017

WM incidence in Australia

Australia has around 90 new cases of WM annually. Graham W one of our whizz WMozzies researches in Sydney has extracted the latest information from the official Australian Government statistics of the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare as below. This includes the: · WM incidence in Australia 2001-13 · WM incidence by Age · Australian WM population incidence compared to United States It is estimated that about 10% of WM patients are members of WMozzies. A new WMozzies A5 flyer has been drafted to assist recruitment of new WMozzies members