|
|
|
Welcome to LeukemiaLinks,
your monthly source of leukemia news, research
updates, clinical trials and events sponsored
by The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society
(LLS). For even more information, regularly
visit our Patient
Services and Disease
Information Web
sections. | |
 |
|
|
|
LLS Features
::READ MORE::
.....................................................................................................................................
Research
Roundup ::READ MORE::
.....................................................................................................................................
IRC Question of
the Month
::READ
MORE::
| |
|
Inspirational
Stories
 Learn
how individuals touched by blood cancer
cope. The LLS LifeMosaic
Web feature offers hundreds of
inspiring stories by patients and families. Read
them or submit
your own. This month, read about Steve
Dianis. |
Here to
Help
For even more information,
regularly visit the LLS Web site, www.LLS.org, where many of our education programs
are archived free of charge for convenient
access 24/7.
If you haven't found what
you're looking for in LeukemiaLinks ,
please call our Information Resource Center
(IRC) to speak with trained information
specialists. IRC staff are available Monday
through Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET, toll free
at (800) 955-4572; email infocenter@lls.org; or click the "Live Patient Help" button
on the www.LLS.org homepage.
| |
|
|
Commentary
Deborah Banker,
Ph.D., shares more
news on
cancer stem
cells.
Clinical
Trials
We invite you to use
our LLS-supported TrialCheck® Web site
, a clinical trial search service that
offers patients and caregivers immediate access
to listings of all leukemia clinical
trials. Answer just a few simple questions and a
list of available clinical trials related to
your cancer will appear in an easy to read list
of search results.
You may also
want to visit the National Cancer Institute's Cancer
Trials Support Unit, providing resources and
information on Phase III cancer treatment trials
supported by the National Cancer
Institute. :: SELECTED
TRIALS::
Newsfeeds &
Podcasts
Now
you can get RSS Feeds and Podcasts from LLS.
:: CLICK HERE TO SIGN
UP::
Free
eNewsletters
Free LLS
eNewsletters deliver the latest information on
research and treatment options, patient services
programs and fundraising events.
::
CLICK HERE TO SIGN
UP::
| | | |
| 
| | | |
|
|
|
CML:
Understanding Treatment, Monitoring
Response
Register now for this free
telephone education program on Tuesday, May 19,
noon - 1:00 p.m. ET. The guest speaker is Eric
J. Feldman, M.D., of Weill Cornell Medical
College, New York-Presbyterian Hospital
My
Personal CML Journey
LLS is proud to
offer My Personal CML Journey, an
interactive, online video education program. The
feature follows the stories and experiences of
two chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML)
survivors. Learn more.
Personal
Clinical Trials Journey
Participate in
this personalized and interactive program that
follows the stories and experiences of three
cancer survivors who have participated in
clinical trials.
Co-Pay
Assistance Program Broadens Funding
Qualified patients with chronic myelogenous
leukemia can now receive up to $5,000 in
assistance from LLS' Co-Pay Assistance
Program. The aid helps offset prescription
drug co-pays and other insurance-related
expenses according to disease diagnosis.
LLS
Advocacy
LLS's advocacy team represents
the needs of cancer patients and their
families in Washington, DC and state
capitals throughout the United States. We need
your help. Join our
Advocates Network and make your
voice
heard.
Take Action: Urge
Congress to Co-Sponsor Access to Cancer Clinical
Trials
Find
out about updates to COBRA covered by the
Recovery Act signed into law on Feb.
17.
Patient Services
Survey
Please give us
your feedback by completing LLS Disease
& Treatment Publications - Survey for
Patients, Family and Friends.
LLS Blog
Two New Promotions
Support LLS's Mission
- Bring LLS/TNT to your Mozilla
Firefox Browser! Personalize your browser with
LLS and TNT skins. Click
here for details.
- You can now have an LLS- or
TNT-branded VISA credit card, personalized with
any image you choose. LLS will receive $50 for
each card used plus a percentage of all
purchases. Click
here for details.
The
Leukemia & Lymphoma Society is committed to
curing blood cancers and helping patients and
their families. Learn
the many ways you can help advance
LLS's mission.
> Back to the
top
| |
|
Other malignancies in
chronic lymphocytic leukemia/small lymphocytic
lymphoma ::READ
MORE::
Quality of life beyond 6 months after
diagnosis in older adults with acute myeloid
leukemia ::READ
MORE::
FLT3 inhibitors in acute myeloid
leukemia ::READ
MORE::
Efficacy of imatinib dose escalation in
patients with chronic myeloid leukemia in
chronic phase ::READ
MORE::
A study of rituximab and ifosfamide,
carboplatin, and etoposide chemotherapy in
children with recurrent/refractory B-cell
(CD20+) non-Hodgkin lymphoma and mature B-cell
acute lymphoblastic leukemia: a report from the
Children's Oncology Group ::READ
MORE::
Amniotic fluid may provide new source of stem
cells for future therapies ::READ
MORE::
> Back to the
top
| |
 Selected Trials
Phase III: Compare Bosutinib to
Imatinib in Subjects with Newly Diagnosed
Chronic Phase Philadelphia Chromosome Positive
CML ::READ
MORE::
Phase II/III: Efficacy and
Safety Study of StemEx®, to Treat Subjects with
High Risk Hematologic Malignancies, Following
Myeloablative Therapy (ExCell)
::READ
MORE::
A Phase Ib Study of ISF35 in
Combination With Chemotherapy (FCR) in Subjects
With Relapsed, Refractory, and/or 17p- CLL
::READ
MORE::
Phase II Trial of CPX-351 in
Newly Diagnosed Elderly AML Patients
::READ
MORE::
Phase III: A Web-Based Stem Cell
Transplant Support System or Standard Care in
Young Patients Undergoing Stem Cell Transplant
and Their Families ::READ
MORE::
Effectiveness of Topical
Thalidomide to Treat Chronic
Graft-Versus-Host-Disease Related
Stomatitis ::READ
MORE::
>
Back to the
top
| |
IRC Question of
the Month: Pain Management
Issues
| 
Q: I
am being treated for leukemia. I'm taking pain
medication prescribed by my doctor but I still
have pain. What should I
do?
A:
Some patients with leukemia have disease and/or
treatment-related pain. Having pain does not
necessarily mean your cancer is getting worse.
It's good that you have sought pain treatment to
avoid additional health problems later on. And
it's important that you continue to seek proper
assessment and effective pain management
throughout your treatment and recovery-untreated
pain can suppress the immune system, delay
healing and often leads to depression.
There are two main types of pain:
acute and chronic. People taking pain medication
may also have "breakthrough pain" a brief,
sometimes severe, flare of pain. Breakthrough
pain can start as the pain medication is wearing
off, before the next dose is due, or from a
pain-producing activity or event. There are many
options available to manage pain effectively. A
combination of medications and non-drug options
are often prescribed to provide relief. The
approach used to manage your pain will depend on
the cause and type of your pain.
Good communication will help your physician
to understand and treat your pain. Because there
is no objective measure, you play an important
role in achieving good pain control. It's not
unusual to find it difficult to talk about pain
with the doctor. You might have trouble finding
the right words to describe how the pain feels
or you may worry about becoming addicted to pain
medicine. You should know that patients with
persistent pain who require prolonged opioid
therapy, and take these medicines as directed,
have little-to-no risk of developing addictive
disease.
Remember that there are
many ways to manage pain effectively. Tell your
doctor if you have any side effects from your
pain medication. Most side effects from pain
medicine (for example, fatigue, gastrointestinal
problems) can be managed. If your pain is not
adequately controlled ask to be referred to a
pain specialist. For more information on this
topic, including suggestions for how to discuss
pain with your doctor, read, print or order a
free copy of the LLS Pain
Management Fact Sheet at www.lls/org/freematerials
or contact the Information Resource Center for a
copy.
Is the Cost of
Medication a Concern for You?
If so, discuss this with your
doctor. He or she may assume that your medical
insurance will cover all the costs. Your doctor
may be able to prescribe less expensive
medications or refer you to sources for
financial aid. LLS offers a Patient Financial
Aid Program to help with the cost of some
medications, transportation and procedures for
those in need. LLS also has a Co-Pay Assistance
Program to help with the cost of insurance
co-payments and/or insurance premium costs for
prescription drugs for some blood cancers.
Support for the Co-Pay Assistance Program is
based on the availability of funds by disease
diagnosis; patients must qualify both medically
and financially.
Please call our
Information Resource Center (IRC) to speak with
a trained information specialist. IRC staff are
available Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 6
p.m. ET, toll free at (800) 955-4572. Contact
us online or click the "Live
Patient Help" button on the www.LLS.org
homepage.
> Back to the
top
| |
| | | |
|
|
 |
Supported by an
unrestricted
educational grant
from
 |
 |
|
Contact Us: The
Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, 1311 Mamaroneck
Ave., White Plains, NY 10605, (800)
955-4572
|
|
| Visit our e-Store
& Special Offers page where you can
support businesses that support
LLS. | | | | | |
|
| | | |
