Myeloma

Our specialist myeloma team holds four myeloma outpatient clinics per week, seeing over 300 patients every month.

As well as consultants, research fellows and clinical nurse specialists, our myeloma multi-disciplinary team includes clinical oncologists, pain specialists, palliative care clinical nurse specialists, spinal surgeons and musculo-skeletal radiologists. Our clinical nurse specialists meet with patients at their first consultation and remain their key worker throughout their myeloma journey.

We run a large and active clinical trial programme, from phase I first-in-man studies to randomized phase III trials. Our patients have the opportunity to receive novel treatments, including state-of-the-art protocols. Around 50% of patients receiving treatment for myeloma at UCLH are on clinical trials, and they are supported by a myeloma research nurse and two myeloma clinical trials practitioners. We also run a survivorship study for patients who have completed their chemotherapy.

We perform around 70 stem cell transplants annually; the majority are autologous stem cell transplants.

Conditions treated

Multiple myeloma
Plasmacytoma
Amyloidosis
MGUS
POEMS

Consultants

Dr Shirley D’Sa, Consultant Haematologist

Dr D’Sa specialises in the treatment of Waldenströms macroglobulinaemia, paraproteinaemic neuropathies, Bing-Neel syndrome, POEMS syndrome and Myeloma and Solitary Bone Plasmacytoma. She is also an honorary Senior Lecturer at the UCL Cancer Institute.

“UCLH is an enabling and forward-facing institution with excellent academic links. It is a pleasure to be able to work in close knit clinical teams with medical, nursing colleagues and support staff who collectively strive to work for the patients. I have had the good fortune to meet and look after patients with relatively rare conditions, many of whom are motivated to work together to improve the outlook for Waldenströms patients through the work of a self-styled doctor-patient charity, WMUK (www.wmuk.org.uk)“

Full consultant profile

Dr Charalampia Kyriakou, Consultant Haematologist

Dr Kyriakou is a consultant haematologist. She is actively involved on national and international clinical trials in haematological diseases.

Prof Atul Mehta, Consultant Haematologist

Professor Mehta is a consultant haematologist with a special interest in myeloma. His academic interest is in rare lysosomal diseases and their treatment.

Dr Rakesh Popat, Consultant Haematologist

Dr Rakesh Popat is a consultant haematologist who specialises in multiple myeloma and Phase 1 and 2 clinical trials for haematological cancers. His main area of research interest is the clinical development of new drugs for the treatment of haematological cancers. Dr Popat is also an honorary clinical senior lecturer at the UCL Cancer Institute, the National Institute for Health Research North Thames Clinical Research Network Haematology (Cancer) lead, and a member of both the National Cancer Research Institute myeloma sub-group and the Myleloma UK clinical trials steering group.

“The most rewarding part of my work at UCLH is being able to offer new potential treatments to those that need them.”

Full consultant profile

Dr Neil Rabin

Dr Neil Rabin runs the myeloma trials clinic, is responsible for patients referred up for autologous stem cell transplantation and participates in the general myeloma service at UCLH. Dr Rabin is principal and co-investigator on several studies evaluating new treatments for myeloma, both at diagnosis and in relapse. He investigated novel therapies to treat myeloma bone disease for his PhD, and continues to have an active interest in this area.

Full consultant profile

Dr Ashutosh Wechalekar, Consultant Haematologist

Dr Wechalekar is a academic consultant haematologist specialing in plasma cell dyscrasias (multiple myeloma and AL amyloidosis). He is Reader in Medicine and Haematology at UCL. He is a chief investigator on national and international trials in the respective areas and has published extensivey on plasma cell disorders.

His academic and clinical interests are focused on amyloidosis and multiple myeloma.

Prof Kwee Yong, Multiple Myeloma Clinical Lead

Professor Kwee Yong is the clinical and academic lead in multiple myeloma at UCLH and the North London Cancer Network (NLCN), and wrote the NLCN guideline for the management of this cancer.

Full consultant profile

Clinical Nurse Specialists (CNS)

Juan de Cruz, Myeloma Clinical Nurse Specialist

Juan has worked in cancer care since qualifying as an adult nurse and specialising in cancer nursing and chemotherapy. He is bringing his extensive knowledge and experience of caring for inpatients to provide excellent care for patients treated on a day care basis.

“Communicating effectively and building relationships with all my patients is vital. I am passionate about providing care that is patient centred”

Sarah Worthington, Myeloma Clinical Nurse Specialist

Sarah has worked in Haematology since 2002 and on a number of haematology wards in Manchester and London, caring for patients at all stages of their diagnosis. She worked as a bone marrow transplant co-ordinator at UCLH before 2012 when she took the role of Myeloma Clinical Nurse Specialist. In addition to myeloma, she has worked with a specialised group of Cardiac AL Amyloid patients. Sarah has also facilitated the London Myeloma Support Group for a number of years.

“Myeloma is an exciting field to work in with new developments being made. It is a privilege to be able to help people and their families through a difficult period in their lives.”

Catherine Yeomans, Clinical Nurse Specialist

Catherine specialises in Myeloma, Waldenströms Macroglobunaemia and other plasma cell disorders. She has specialised in haemato-oncology for eight years and completed a BSc in Haemato-oncology care.

“The most rewarding part of my role is meeting many different people at various stages of their diagnosis when they first come for treatment. With our pioneering Cancer Centre, we are able to provide patients with cutting edge treatments in a therapeutic, and holistic environment. This enables interaction with patients to be delivered in a way that is conducive to flexibility, providing an overall better experience for the patient and family”