Actress Maura Tierney And Amgen Launch The Chemotherapy: Myths or Facts™ Campaign

THOUSAND OAKS, Calif., June 25, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Amgen (NASDAQ:AMGN) today launched Chemotherapy: Myths or Facts™, an awareness campaign for cancer patients and their caregivers featuring Emmy®-nominated actress and breast cancer survivor Maura Tierney. In 2009, Tierney was diagnosed with and treated for an aggressive form of breast cancer. Almost three years after successfully completing treatment, she is reflecting back on her cancer journey and its impact on her life with the hope of helping others. 

"When I was going through my cancer treatment, I learned that you can never ask a stupid question. I asked every single question that came to my mind, and I believe that helped to calm my own anxiety," said Tierney. "The Chemotherapy: Myths or Facts campaign encourages patients and caregivers to ask a lot of questions, arming themselves with as much information as possible to take charge of their journey."

With approximately 650,000 patients undergoing chemotherapy in the United States each year, many people feel as though they already know how the disease and treatment will impact them or their loved one.[i]  However, chemotherapy can affect each patient's body differently, so it is important for patients to speak openly with their doctor to fully understand their treatment and what to expect. The Chemotherapy: Myths or Facts campaign aims to address some of the misconceptions cancer patients and their caregivers may have.

"One common myth is that all patients receiving chemotherapy should avoid spending time with friends and family during their treatment," said Patrick Cobb, M.D., oncologist, Frontier Cancer Center, Billings, Mont. "This is largely untrue.[ii] While most people receiving chemotherapy should be careful about visiting others who are sick and avoid large crowds, having a support system in place to help keep a positive outlook is critical to a patient's emotional well-being during this time."[iii] 

As part of the campaign, a video booth will travel across the country to collect personal stories of patients and caregivers to capture myths or facts they may have uncovered during their experience. More information on the booth, including what cities it will visit, and the campaign can be found at www.chemomythsorfacts.com.

About Chemotherapy: Myths or Facts

Chemotherapy: Myths or Facts aims to debunk common misconceptions associated with chemotherapy and encourages patients and caregivers to take charge of their cancer journey by speaking openly with their doctors. The campaign features Emmy-nominated actress Maura Tierney who is sharing her own experience as a cancer survivor to help others. Chemotherapy: Myths or Facts is sponsored by Amgen. To learn more about the campaign, visit www.chemomythsorfacts.com.

About Maura Tierney

Maura Tierney has spent her adult life acting, first on the stage in New York and then moved to Los Angeles in the late 1980s where she had parts in TV-movies as well as episodic shows such as "Growing Pains," "Family Ties" and "Law & Order." She also appeared in "Liar Liar" with Jim Carrey. In 2000 she landed her most famous role as Abby in the long running series "ER."

About Amgen

Amgen discovers, develops, manufactures and delivers innovative human therapeutics. A biotechnology pioneer since 1980, Amgen was one of the first companies to realize the new science's promise by bringing safe, effective medicines from lab to manufacturing plant to patient. Amgen therapeutics have changed the practice of medicine, helping millions of people around the world in the fight against cancer, kidney disease, rheumatoid arthritis, bone disease and other serious illnesses. With a deep and broad pipeline of potential new medicines, Amgen remains committed to advancing science to dramatically improve people's lives. To learn more about our pioneering science and vital medicines, visit www.amgen.com. Follow us on www.twitter.com/amgen.

CONTACT: Amgen, Thousand Oaks
Christine Regan, 805-447-5476 (Media)
Arvind Sood, 805-447-1060 (Investors)

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20081015/AMGENLOGO)

[i] Kantar Health Cancer Impact. Drug Treated Patients.
[ii] National Cancer Institute. Chemotherapy and You. http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/coping/chemotherapy-and-you. Accessed 9 May 2012: 12, 27.
[iii] National Cancer Institute. Chemotherapy and You. http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/coping/chemotherapy-and-you. Accessed 9 May 2012: 12, 27, 31.

SOURCE Amgen