THE LOGO OF THE SLOVAK MYELOMA SOCIETY

Associate professor Miroslav Hrianka, representative of the Club of myeloma patients, member of the committee of the European organizations bringing together multiple myeloma patients (Myeloma Euronet), asked me at the very beginning of setting up the Slovak myeloma society (SMS) to describe how the logo of SMS was formed.

The logo of the Slovak myeloma society was born in my thoughts and drawings during the scientific lectures at the haematological conference in Hamburg in 2005. This logo expresses the thoughts and the challenge I received from Prof. Dr. Ladislav Šoltés, Dr.Sc, director of the Institute of medical ethics and bioethics of the Slovak medical university in Bratislava, who was in 2005 at the inception of the society and especially the Club of patients SMS. He kept reminded me in this way:

"…my colleague, do not forget the patient, when building the expert/specialist society SMS. Do not forget his/her support, protection and development…"

The inception of the Club of patients SMS dates back to this moment. The Club is partnering with the Scientific/specialist myeloma group SMS, which is under the umbrella of SMS alongside the Club. The Club of patients SMS is the first Slovak oncohaematological club bringing together patients and their families. Thanks to the leadership of the Club of patients, this club is one of the most active myeloma  patients' organizations in Europe.

When creating the logo, I wanted to use circles, since they express wholeness, integrity. I succeeded in linking the acronym of the society with its goal, which I noticed only later. There are thus three circles, expressing the three key elements, which meet in the treatment of a myeloma patient – the patient, his/her family and friends, and all medical staff, who provide treatment.

I want to point out that by the term myeloma in this context I mean all clinical units in the area of dysfunction of a plasma cell – MGUS, myeloma, lymphoplasmatic lymphoma, AL amyloidosis, POEMS syndrome, disease with light and heavy chains and similar.

S – the circle on the right encloses the letter S, which stands for "society", but in a more narrow sense it means the patient's closest community, which supports him/her – the life partner, family, children, relatives, friends, colleagues.

M – the middle circle encloses the letter M, which represents the myeloma patient him/herself – with the disease that changed his/her life and the life of his/her family.

S – the left circle also encloses the letter S, which stands for "Slovak". In a narrower sense it represents the medical staff, which enters the patient's life for his/her remaining lifetime.

Looking closer at the letter M we notice that its vertical lines are formed directly from the side circles. We have to accept the reality that the patient with his/her disease (M) is fully dependent on the family (S), as well as the doctors, nurses and other medical staff (S).

Myeloma, similar to other diseases such as diabetes, high blood pressure or high cholesterol, is a very well treatable disease, which although cannot be fully healed, it can, through treatment, be kept under control.

Again I would like to point out that medical staff here represents haematologists, oncologists, radiotherapists, nephrologists, analgesiologists and anesthesiologists, physical therapists, orthopedists, surgeons, neurosurgeons, biochemists, radiologists, internists, dietologists, as well as nurses and laboratory staff from all these areas. And also many others, who will enter the treatment process.

The scientific part of SMS has the task and goal to support this team, build and develop it, as well as connect it to other Slovak, European and world-wide scientific and patient societies, so that the treatment can lead to a full-fledged life of the patient.
To be dependent is the privilege of children. However, a dependent person is better able to perceive the truth and oneself. Myeloma is for the patient, but also his/her family a disease which changed their lives. In order for the patient to correctly decide to accept his/her disease as a new reality, the whole logo of SMS is underlined by the simple statement, of where all efforts lead to:

For a full-fledged life.

Logo - vizualization

In 2014 the logo was slightly modified, alongside the change of the acronym of the Slovak myeloma society from SMS to SMyS.