Patient Financial Aid Program
The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's commitment to improving the quality of life for patients is evident in our patient services programs.  The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's Patient Financial Aid Program offers a stipend of $150 per year to help patients offset expenses. Receipts for expenses are no longer required.

To apply, the patient must be a U.S. resident and be in active treatment or ongoing medical follow-up for leukemia, lymphoma, myeloma or myelodysplastic syndrome, or another blood cancer. The patient's physician must complete and sign the bottom portion of the application form. The patient can then mail the completed application to the chapter office.

The Patient Financial Aid Program begins each July 1 and ends each June 30. Patients can reapply every year (after June 30th). As always, reimbursement is based on patient financial aid fund availability.

For patient financial aid questions, please contact Sherry Martin, M.S.W., L.C.S.W., Patient Services Manager: (405) 943-8888 or (888) 828-4572 or email sherry.martin@lls.org

Co-Pay Assistance Program
This program offers assistance, up to $5,000 per calendar year, toward private health insurance premiums, private insurance co-pay obligations, Medicare co-pay obligations or prescription drugs covered under the program. Assistance is based on diagnosis and income for insured patients for many, but not all, of our blood cancers. E-mail copay@lls.org or visit our website at www.lls.org/copay for additional information.

Family Support Groups
The Oklahoma Chapter sponsors a number of Family Support Groups for patients and their families and friends. The support groups are free of charge, open to anyone impacted by blood cancers and are facilitated by licensed healthcare professionals. The groups often have physicians or other healthcare professionals share their expertise and answer questions. Time is allowed for group members to share experiences, concerns or coping strategies.

Oklahoma City Groups:

• Family Support Group meets the second Tuesday of each month, Mercy Cancer Center Conference Room

• Parents' Support Group meets the second Wednesday of each month, Jimmy Everest Cancer Center, OU Medical Center

• Grupo Familiar de Apoyo de Cancer en Espanol, primer Martes de cada mes, Sala de Espera del Cancer Center, INTEGRIS Southwest Medical Center

• Grupo Familiar de Apoyo de Cancer en Espanol, primer Miercoles de cada mes, Salon de Conferencias, Presbyterian Tower, OU Medical Center

Tulsa Groups:

• Family Support Group meets the first Wednesday of each month, Saint Francis Hospital

• Family Support Group meets the third Wednesday of each month, St. John Medical Center
  

For more information, contact Sherry Martin, Patient Services Manager, at (405) 943-8888, (888) 828-4572 or email sherry.martin@lls.org

First Connection
This program provides a newly diagnosed patient with a phone call from a trained volunteer who has had a similar diagnosis and who "has been there." The volunteer provides support and understanding as well as information on resources available to the patient. It means a lot to know and talk with someone who has been through a similar situation and who can provide hope. The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society utilizes a national data registry to connect people with similar diagnoses and experiences.

For more information, contact Sherry Martin, Patient Services Manager, (405) 943-8888, (888) 828-4572 or email sherry.martin@lls.org

Patient Education
The Society provides patients, families and healthcare professionals with a comprehensive variety of booklets, brochures and videos. We welcome you to drop by our office to obtain the information and resources you need. In addition to the booklets and brochures that are available to you free of charge, we have a library where you can borrow books that have more detailed information. To order materials, please contact the local chapter, the Society's national Information Resource Center (800-955-4572) or online at www.lls.org.

Our chapter co-sponsors seminars across the state to further educate patients, the public and professionals about issues that occur from the time of diagnosis and throughout the survivorship continuum. Please go to our chapter education program link for current program options.

The Trish Greene Back to School Program for Children with Cancer
The Society's Back to School initiative is designed to ensure that help is available for all children returning to school following a diagnosis of cancer. We conduct an educational program on cognitive and late term effects entitled, "Welcome Back: Facilitating the Return to School for Children with Cancer" that provides information for teachers and school personnel to assist them in easing the transition for children returning to the school environment. Videos for every age group can be shown in the classroom as a way to increase understanding, encourage communication and alleviate any fear or anxiety the returning student and his or her classmates may have. Coloring books and workbooks are available for early grade school and middle school students. For more information, contact Sherry Martin at (405) 943-8888 or (888) 828-4572.

Advocacy
The goal of our Advocacy Network is to achieve increased government research funding and improve public health policy to benefit our patients and their families. To that end we mail our nationally published Legislative Update to volunteers who have agreed to write letters, phone or email our local representatives and senators regarding current legislation related to patient care and patient rights. If you are interested in becoming a volunteer with our Advocacy Network, please call (405) 943-8888.

Information and Referral
Our chapter maintains a comprehensive database of community resources available in our state. In addition, the national Information Resource Center (IRC) provides accurate, current disease-related and coping information and maintains a library of resources. Please call or stop by the Oklahoma Chapter to talk with the patient services manager or phone the IRC at (800) 955-4572.

Volunteer Options
The Oklahoma Chapter needs your help to continue its search for lifesaving cures. There are many ways to contribute your time and join our fight against the blood-related cancers:

• If you are a survivor of a blood cancer or a family member of a survivor, join First Connection and share your experience and hope with newly diagnosed patients and their families.
  
• If you enjoy working in an office setting, volunteer to assist with mailings, data entry, answering the phone, etc.
  
• If you want to make your voice heard regarding legislative issues that affect your care, become a part of our Advocacy Network.
  
• If you like planning and carrying out activities, join a committee to coordinate a fundraising event to raise money for research and patient services.
  

The Society's mission is to cure leukemia, Hodgkin and non Hodgkin lymphoma, and myeloma, and to improve the quality of life of patients and their families. We invite you to join us at the Oklahoma Chapter.