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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
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LLS Features
::READ
MORE::
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Research
Roundup ::READ
MORE::
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IRC Question of
the Month
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MORE::
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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 Sabrina. |
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.
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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
::
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Myelodysplastic
Syndromes (MDS): Exploring Current and Emerging
Therapies
Register now for this free
telephone education program on Thursday,
March 26, noon - 1:30 p.m. ET. The guest speaker
is Alan F. List, M.D., of H. Lee
Moffitt Cancer Center and Research
Institute.
Acute
Myelogenous Leukemia (AML): Emerging Treatment
Approaches
Join this free telephone
education program on Wednesday, April 15, noon -
1 p.m. ET. The guest speaker is
Judith Karp, M.D., of The Johns Hopkins
University. Register
online.
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.
My 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 Your Representative to Join the
Pediatric Cancer Caucus
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
- Gap Inc's nationwide Give &
Get Program will benefit you with a
special 30-percent discount coupon good at all
Gap, Old Navy and Banana Republic stores.
Five percent of all net sales go to LLS. Click here for details.
The program ends
today.
- 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.
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Unrelated cord blood and
mismatched unrelated volunteer donor
transplants, two alternatives in patients who
lack an HLA-identical donor ::READ MORE::
A Phase I study of
tipifarnib combined with conventional induction
and consolidation therapy for previously
untreated patients with acute myeloid leukemia
aged 60 years and over
::READ MORE::
The physician-patient
relationship and quality of life: lessons from
chronic lymphocytic leukemia ::READ MORE::
New therapeutic
strategies in acute lymphoblastic leukemia
::READ MORE::
Cytogenetic and molecular
responses to standard-dose imatinib in chronic
myeloid leukemia are correlated with Sokal risk
scores and duration of therapy but not trough
imatinib plasma levels ::READ MORE::
Allogeneic SCT in
refractory or relapsed adult ALL is effective
without prior reinduction chemotherapy
::READ
MORE::
> Back to the
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Selected Trials
Phase II/III: Efficacy and
Safety Study of StemEx®, to Treat
Subjects with High Risk Hematologic
Malignancies, Following Myeloablative
Therapy ::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: Combination of GTI
2040 and Cytarabine in the Treatment of
Refractory and Relapsed Acute Myeloid
Leukemia ::READ MORE::
Epratuzumab and Combination
Chemotherapy in Treating Young Patients with
Relapsed Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia
::READ MORE::
Dasatinib and Vorinostat in
Treating Patients with Accelerated Phase or
Blastic Phase Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia or
Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia ::READ MORE::
Phase III: Oral Nilotinib in
Adults with Chronic Myeloid Leukemia in Blast
Crisis Who Are Imatinib Resistant or
Intolerant ::READ MORE::
Bevacizumab in Treating Patients
with Relapsed or Refractory Chronic Lymphocytic
Leukemia ::READ MORE::
Phase II: CPX-351 in Newly
Diagnosed Edlerly AML Patients ::READ MORE::
>
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IRC Question of
the Month: Mouth
Sores
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Q: I
am starting chemotherapy
for leukemia and I know that painful
mouth sores can be a side effect. Is there
anything to prevent or treat this?
A: It's great that you're
seeking side effects information before starting
treatment. Most cancer therapies do affect
healthy cells, but side effects can be managed
and are usually temporary. Side effects vary,
depending on your treatment - discuss the side
effects you may experience with your doctor.
Together, you can weigh any unwanted effects
against the benefits of therapy. Once treatment
begins, don't delay to tell your doctor about
any side effects you experience and seek help to
manage them - don't "tough it
out."
Cells that line the mouth, throat, esophagus,
stomach and intestines are sensitive to the
effects of chemotherapy and/or radiation
therapy. Painful mouth and throat sores called
"oral mucositis" can develop as a result of
treatment with high-dose chemotherapy and or
radiation. Treatment for this side effect is
important - to relieve the discomfort or pain it
can cause; to ensure that it doesn't interfere
with nutrition or oral medication needs; and to
manage the risk of infection.
Drug, mouth care and nutrition approaches are
used to prevent or limit the severity of oral
mucositis. For some people, treatment includes
the drug palifermin (Kepivance®).
Palifermin is given intravenously and stimulates
the cells lining the mouth and other parts of
the digestive tract to grow and develop. Other
topical and intravenous agents, are being
evaluated for their ability to prevent or treat
mucositis.
Mouth care includes use of mouth rinses
recommend by the doctor. It's important to avoid
mouth washes that contain peroxide or alcohol.
Oral mucositis and other side effects of
treatment make it a challenge to take in enough
calories and protein. Nutrition management is
important because both cancer and its treatments
increase the body's need for calories and
protein.
Nutrition strategies include:
- Request pain medication if discomfort is
keeping you from eating; soothe your mouth and
throat with ice chips (suck, don't chew),
Popsicles, ice cream or frozen yogurt.
- Cook foods until soft or prepare foods in a
blender or food processor.
- Eat high-protein, high-calorie foods to
speed healing of the sores or supplement with
liquid protein drinks recommended by your
doctor; try creamed soups, mashed potatoes,
puddings, cooked cereals, served lukewarm or
cold.
- Serve drinks lukewarm or cold and use a
straw to bypass mouth sores. Ask you doctor for
a complete list of foods and drinks to
avoid.
Occasionally, oral mucositis is severe enough
to warrant a period of prescribed high-calorie
and high-protein supplements with tube or
intravenous (IV) feeding until eating and
drinking can resume. These forms of therapy may
be used to keep patients as healthy and strong
as possible during treatment.
For more information, see Understanding
Drug Therapy and Managing Side
Effects and Food
and Nutrition Facts. Also, see
Treatment at www.LLS.org/whattoask for
free printable question guides to help you talk
to your doctor about side effects and other
aspects of
treatment.
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.
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Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, 1311 Mamaroneck
Ave., White Plains, NY 10605, (800)
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