The Australian MPN community was given a wonderful gift on Friday 28 April by Ann Brazeau and her team from MPN Advocacy and Education International, together with Drs Ruben Mesa, Laura Michaelis, and Raajit Rampal from the US; and Drs Cecily Forsyth, Steven Lane, Kate Burbury, David Ross, and Wendy Erber, and Andrew Lim, (standing in for Prof Andrew Grigg), from Australia.

Months of planning culminated in an outstanding educational event for the group of over 150 Australian MPN patients, caregivers and haematologists.

We all expected great things from the US contingent, and they certainly delivered. We were also extremely impressed by the presentations from our home-grown haematologists. The level of passion, dedication and care for patients was very evident in each and every one of the presentations.

After the formal presentations, patients and caregivers were able to ask questions of the presenters in disease-specific break-out sessions.

I think for patients and caregivers ranging from the newly diagnosed to the old hands, everybody learned something, and valued the opportunity to share with patients and professionals during breakfast, lunch, and the wonderful Mix and Mingle event at the end of the day. If we didn’t finish all that wonderful food, it was only because we were so busy talking!

Given the amount of information which was presented on the day, I am looking forward to seeing the video of the presentations, to have the opportunity to revisit it.

Together with my MPNAA colleagues, I felt privileged to have had the opportunity to listen to the clinicians in their meeting on the Thursday afternoon, as we gained insights into the challenges of diagnosis and treatment of these complex blood cancers.

Thanks so much to Ann and Marina (as well as Kathleen behind the scenes) and the wonderful doctors who were willing to cross the vast Pacific to share their knowledge. Thanks also to all the wonderful clinicians and researchers who came from far and wide across Australia. Together you enlightened, empowered and entertained all those who were lucky enough to be present!

I feel so inspired.

Sue Taylor

Videos of the presentations are available here.