To ask the Minister of Health to detail any work being undertaken to improve public awareness of multiple myeloma.

While there are currently no campaigns focused exclusively on multiple myeloma, the Public Health Agency (PHA), working in partnership with the Department of Health, Health and Social Care Trusts and a wide range of stakeholders, delivers programmes aimed at improving public awareness of cancer. This includes initiatives that support earlier diagnosis by raising awareness of key signs and symptoms and encouraging people to seek timely advice from their GP.

The Northern Ireland Cancer Network (NICaN) Haematology Clinical Reference Group (CRG) is currently updating the NICaN Primary Care Suspected Cancer Referral Guidance for haematology. This update will include enhanced and more detailed guidance on myeloma to support earlier recognition and referral from primary care.

The revised guidance is anticipated to launch in May/June, followed by a Primary Care education session for GPs and other healthcare professionals working in primary care.

In parallel, NICaN will work in partnership with the Public Health Agency (PHA) to update the public-facing ‘Be Cancer Aware’ website to include information on myeloma/multiple myeloma, with the aim of improving public awareness and supporting earlier recognition of potential symptoms.