What is the ASH Conference?

The American Society of Hematology (ASH) holds a yearly conference in December to allow researchers and doctors in the blood cancer community an opportunity to share their research related to the newest developments in treatments, technologies, and more for all of hematology. 

This includes blood cancers like leukemias, lymphomas, multiple myeloma, myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS), and myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPN). The conference also includes research advances about other types of blood conditions like thrombosis (blood clots that form in blood vessels) and blood transfusions. 

Last year’s 2023 attendance record showed that more than 32,081 people from 113 countries attended the conference. 

Over 7,950 abstracts about hematology were accepted for this 2024 ASH conference. An abstract refers to a research publication. This demonstrates the number of scientific advancements currently happening in hematology. 

When and Where is the ASH Conference Held? 

This year, the conference will be held from December 7-10, 2024, in San Diego, California. We look forward to meeting with myeloma specialists to cover the latest and greatest insights about care options. Following the event, expect to see HealthTree News articles sharing what we learned at ASH from myeloma specialists. 

We have found that patients who educate themselves about the cancer are better able to advocate for themselves and receive improved care and quality of life. Stay tuned for upcoming ASH content to learn about the latest in myeloma research. 

What are the Parts of the ASH Conference?  

The conference features a variety of sessions, including:

• Research presentations: Here, doctors and researchers unveil their latest findings in myeloma treatment and management. These presentations are often the culmination of extensive research and clinical trials. Research findings are presented in the following formats:
  • Oral presentations: Researchers share their studies and data through formal speeches, often accompanied by visual aids like slideshows.
  • Poster sessions: Researchers display their findings on posters, offering a more interactive format where attendees can engage directly with the presenters to discuss the research in depth.
• Educational sessions: These sessions aim to update medical professionals on the current best practices and new approaches in the treatment of myeloma.
• Networking events: These events provide a platform for myeloma specialists to connect, discuss, and potentially collaborate on future projects.

Can Patients Come to ASH? 

While the ASH conference is mainly for medical professionals, myeloma patients can also attend if they register. However, it's important to note that the technical nature of the presentations might be challenging for non-medical professionals to understand well. 

How Can I Access Research Presented at ASH?

Much of the research discussed at the conference is available on ASH’s website. To help make this information easy to understand for patients, HealthTree will be writing about topics discussed at the conference and sharing it with the myeloma community in the form of HealthTree News. Stay tuned for upcoming ASH content. 

Summary

The American Society of Hematology's annual conference is a significant event for the blood cancer community, including those involved in myeloma research. This conference facilitates the sharing of groundbreaking research and developments in myeloma. While primarily aimed at medical professionals, myeloma patients are also welcome to attend once registered, though the technical nature of the presentations may be difficult to understand for non-specialists. HealthTree will help communicate important insights from the conference to the myeloma patient and care partner community to ensure they have the best opportunity to educate themselves about the latest in myeloma research.

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Sources: 

• American Society of Hematology
• ASH Annual Meeting Abstracts
• ASH Annual Meeting Press