WHEREAS, According to the American Cancer Society, multiple myeloma is a blood cancer formed from malignant plasma cells found in the bone marrow; and

WHEREAS, Multiple myeloma is the second most common blood cancer worldwide and currently afflicts more than 100,000 people in the United States; and

WHEREAS, An estimated 30,000 new cases are diagnosed each year; and

WHEREAS, Multiple myeloma is twice as common in African Americans than in Caucasian Americans, and someone with a sibling or parent who is diagnosed with multiple myeloma is four times more likely to be diagnosed; and

WHEREAS, Early symptoms of multiple myeloma may be bone problems, such as bone pain in the back, hips, or skull, types of bone weakness, and the detection of a shortage of red blood cells, white blood cells, and blood platelets; and

WHEREAS, An increased awareness of multiple myeloma for clinicians and the general public will lead to earlier diagnosis and better treatment, allowing people to live longer and with a higher quality of life; and

WHEREAS, The State of California is committed to increase awareness of multiple myeloma and encourages continued investment into blood cancer research, as innovation to achieve early diagnosis and other advancements may lead to the more effective and safer treatments for multiple myeloma patients; now, therefore, be it