Declan Watson, Executive Director of Myeloma Ireland writes an insightful story about living with myeloma and the new campaign from Myeloma Ireland in TheJournal.ie.
In this article, Declan Watson, shares his own experience and journey with myeloma following his diagnosis in 2020. He mentions how he had time to understand and educate himself on his diagnosis, as well as the challenges of the treatment and what kept him physically and mentally grounded. Around 3,000 people in Ireland are living with myeloma, with over 300 new diagnoses each year. Research shows that delayed diagnosis can lead to serious complications, making early recognition of symptoms and timely blood tests essential. Myeloma Ireland’s new awareness campaign aims to educate both the people and healthcare professionals, encouraging earlier conversations, quicker investigations and better outcomes. As Watson reminds us, awareness isn’t about creating unnecessary worry—it’s about helping people recognise when something isn’t right and seeking medical advice sooner.
Declan reminds us that Multiple myeloma is still a relatively unknown blood cancer, but greater awareness could make a life-changing difference. It’s difficult to diagnose because symptoms such as back pain, fatigue, frequent infections and unexplained fractures, are common and often mistaken for other conditions. Awareness of these symptoms are not to scare patients but instead invite them to start asking more questions earlier and to ask doctors to think more about testing and ask whether normal blood tests are enough to explain these persistent symptoms. Investigating symptoms early can make an enormous difference.
Read the full article here: Living with myeloma by Declan Watson, TheJournal.ie, 27 May 2026
