Call to help myeloma patients receive treatment near home

By Max Stainkamph

May 25, 2023

Rotary clubs across the Goulburn Valley are looking raise money to support people battling myeloma.

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The rare, incurable blood cancer made headlines this month when former sport commentator Sandy Roberts announced he had been diagnosed with it.

It’s not a common type of cancer, but for the dozen or so people fighting it across the Goulburn Valley, it often means long trips to Melbourne for treatment.

The Rotary Outreach Myeloma Program has been formed by the Camberwell Rotary Club to help myeloma patients in regional areas get the best access to care, including helping to fund training for local nurses.

Rotary Club of Shepparton president-elect Sev Cortese said the aim was to get local businesses to help fund a nurse in Shepparton, who would operate out of Goulburn Valley Health.

Currently there is one nurse at GV Health who has been specially trained to deal with blood cancers, which has significantly cut down the amount of time myeloma sufferer PeJay Mirtschin and his wife, Joy, have had to spend driving to Melbourne.

Less travel: Joy and PeJay Mirtschin. Photo by Max Stainkamph

“I’ve learned to drive in Melbourne, and I’m not a Melbourne person, because Rod’s not allowed to drive,” Joy said.

“Basically I’ve learned which lane to be in and how to get to Richmond and back again.

“The ages we are, mid 70s, that’s getting more and more difficult, and I’m starting to think, how much longer can I do the driving down?”

Mr Mirtschin said he had been young enough when diagnosed nine years ago for a stem cell transplant, which had changed the treatment he had required.

Rod Kilgour, who was diagnosed more than four years ago, did not qualify, and he and wife Karen have had to spend many 12 hours days heading to and from Melbourne.

Long drives: Karen and Rod Kilgour. Rod has had myeloma for more than four years. Photo by Max Stainkamph

“At the moment we’re fortnightly, if he’s stable enough we might go to monthly. It is a long way,” Karen said.

“The previous treatment was half an hour with injections in the belly, now he has a port and it’s four hours infusion, so it’s three hours driving, four hours infusion, three hours driving.”

She said if they could not get an appointment in the middle of the day, they would have to find somewhere to stay in Melbourne.

Mr Cortese said last month 10 people from Camberwell came up to increase the awareness of myeloma and encourage businesses to put money towards training.

He said businesses could approach any Rotary Club in the Goulburn Valley if they were interested in helping out.