On 6 June 2026, over 90 patients, relatives and healthcare professionals gathered in Luxembourg for the country’s first dedicated myeloma information day, a clear sign of the growing demand for reliable, patient-centred information about the disease. The event was the result of an unlikely conversation. Elizabeth Collinge, a myeloma patient advocate who completed the MPE Advocate Development Programme (ADP) in 2024, recalled how she had floated the idea to Dr. de Wilde, Head of Haemato-Oncology at Luxembourg’s Centre Hospitalier, during a cocktail reception. Dr. de Wilde, who opened the conference with characteristic good humour, joked that she had only agreed to organise it after a few glasses of champagne.

Since completing the MPE ADP, Elizabeth has become a leading advocate for the myeloma community in Luxembourg. Working in partnership with the Cancer Foundation, she helped establish a dedicated myeloma patient support group, has spoken on English-language radio to raise awareness of myeloma symptoms and in March 2026 addressed an audience of several thousand people at Luxembourg’s annual Relay for Life fundraising event.

Her opening remarks set the tone for the day. Elizabeth underlined the importance of patients understanding their disease and treatment options so they can participate actively in shared decision-making and communicate confidently with their healthcare teams. She also spoke about the wider role of patient organisations, including ensuring the patient voice is represented in clinical trials and in discussions with regulatory bodies such as the European Medicines Agency (EMA).

The clinical programme was led by Dr. de Wilde, who gave an overview of major recent advances in myeloma treatment, including bispecific antibodies and CAR T-cell therapies. Alongside her, a psychologist, dietitian and physiotherapist each addressed a different dimension of living with myeloma, covering emotional well-being, nutrition and adapted physical activity respectively.

The event also brought an important European dimension. Georg Raida of VFKMMMPA and Valentine Baheux of AF3M, representing German and French myeloma patient associations, travelled to Luxembourg to take part, sharing their experiences with attendees over a buffet lunch and enriching the day with perspectives from neighbouring patient communities. This collaboration came about from Elizabeth networking at the recent MPE 2026 Masterclass in Lisbon, where she approached other members about joining this event.

The morning concluded with a lively round-table discussion, with particular interest from participants in cilta-cel CAR-T therapy, which had recently been approved for reimbursement in Luxembourg.

The success of Luxembourg’s first Myeloma Information Day demonstrates how the MPE Advocate Development Programme empowers patients to become effective advocates and catalysts for change within their national communities.

The day demonstrated what is possible when patients, healthcare professionals, industry and patient organisations come together to share knowledge, experience and support and suggested that Luxembourg’s myeloma community is ready to build on this strong foundation.