News

As WMers, we often talk about the challenges of getting access to new drugs, in Canada, to treat our rare diagnosis.  The next step in promoting and taking action on rare diseases needs to be done now, and CORD, the Canadian Organization for Rare Disorders (https://www.raredisorders.ca/), is asking for everyone’s help. And they have made it easy for us to make our voices be heard! With the expected release of the Canadian Strategy for Drugs for Rare Diseases later this year including $500 million per year from the federal government, there is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for governments, health systems, industry, academia, [...]

This journal article by Dr. Frederic Larose and our frequent contributor Dr. Christine Chen compares various BTK inhibitors, and also provides comparison with and rationale for the continued use of Bendamustine + Rituximab in the Canadian context.  No new research results are presented; the article is a summary of existing knowledge, and thus can be useful to those looking to refresh their knowledge about these drugs and their histories, and the place of the drugs in the Canadian healthcare system.  . Sections include: Current treatment landscape in Canada (very readable to the lay person) Molecular rationale for targeting Bruton’s tyrosine kinase [...]

Written by Stu Boland, Co-Leader of the Alberta Support Group. It was 1999 when a group of 12 skiers made their first trip to Chatter Creek, British Columbia for 3 days of back-country downhill skiing – a cat-skiing experience like no other.  Living conditions were very rustic.  Ski conditions were nothing short of exceptional!! The trip was organized by Cam Fraser and some of his friends. Stu Boland was invited to join the group.  Stu and Cam knew each other through a mutual friend.  Stu, and Cam and his wife Jane, lived a few blocks apart in Southwest Calgary.  [...]

Dr. Christine Chen from the Princess Margaret Hospital in Toronto presented at the recent Lymphoma Canada National Patient Conference on Lymphoma and CLL which was held on Oct.14th and 15th.  This was one of several "breakout" sessions in which different Lymphoma varieties were discussed; it was important that WM was chosen as one of them. Her 45 minute presentation covered the following WM topics: Clinical features of WM How to diagnose WM When to start treatment First-line treatment options Second-line treatments and beyond Special situations And the discussion of treatments is, of course, from a Canadian point of view. Click [...]