Remission rate after first early ALL relapse better than expected in retrospective study
A retrospective study of children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) suggests that the remission rate after first relapse may be higher than previously reported.

First Use of Antibody and Stem Cell Transplantation to Successfully Treat Advanced Leukemia
For the first time, researchers at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center have reported the use of a radiolabeled antibody to deliver targeted doses of radiation, followed by a stem cell transplant, to successfully treat a group of leukemia and pre-leukemia patients for whom there previously had been no other curative treatment options.
Support for the study was provided by The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.

Risk of thyroid cancer increased in childhood cancer survivors
Childhood cancer survivors are 18 times more likely to develop thyroid cancer than the general population, UK researchers report.

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Register for free telephone/webcast education programs:
• ŸThe Pediatric Treatment Approach to Adult Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia: Perspectives for  Oncology Nurses
  This program will take place on Thursday, November 19, 2009 from 12-1:30pm ET with featured speakers Barton Kamen, MD, PhD, Chief Medical Officer, The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, White Plains, NY, Professor of Pediatrics and Pharmacology, The Cancer Institute of New Jersey, UMDNJ - Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, New Brunswick, NJ and Katherine A. Breitenbach, BA, RN, Clinical Research Nurse, Section of Hematology/Oncology, University of Chicago Medical Center, Chicago, IL. Participants will have the opportunity to ask the presenters questions during the program. 
• Understanding AML: From Diagnosis to Treatment
  This program will take place on Tuesday, November 24, 2009 from 12-1pm ET with featured speaker Elihu H. Estey, MD, Professor of Medicine, Division of Hematology, University of Washington School of Medicine, Member, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA, Adjunct Professor, The University of Texas, M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX.  Participants will have the opportunity to ask the presenter questions during the program.
• New Developments in CLL from the American Society of Hematology (ASH) Annual Meeting
  This program will take place on Thursday, December 10, 2009 from 1-2pm ET with featured speaker Susan O'Brien, MD, Professor of Medicine, Department of Leukemia, The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX. Participants will have the opportunity to ask the presenter questions during the program.
• Current Treatment Options for CML: Progress in Research
  This program will take place on Tuesday, December 15, 2009 from 1-2:30pm ET with featured speakers Michael J. Mauro, MD, Associate Professor, Center for Hematologic Malignancies, Knight Cancer Institute at Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR and Neil P. Shah, MD, PhD, Assistant Professor, Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco School of Medicine, San Francisco, CA. Participants will have the opportunity to ask the presenters questions during the program.

My Personal CLL Journey
LLS is proud to offer My Personal CLL Journey, an interactive program following the story and experience of Mike, a CLL survivor. Kanti Rai, MD, of the Long Island Jewish Hospital and Physician Assistant Nancy Driscoll provide expert insights along the way.

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. 

Act Now! - Urge Congress to Improve Comprehensive Cancer Care

We'd Like to Hear from You!
Please give us your feedback after you read an LLS Publication by completing our evaluation:
LLS Disease & Treatment Publications - Survey for Patients, Family and Friends

Nos gustaría saber sus opiniones
Por favor denos sus comentarios después de leer una publicación de LLS completando nuestra evaluación:
Publicaciones de LLS sobre enfermedades y tratamiento: Encuesta para pacientes, familiares y amigos

LLS Blog

• Basketball Legend Kareem Abdul-Jabar Diagnosed with CML
• Clinical Trials and Transportation Barriers - We Need Your Feedback
• Doing Good - One Search and One Purchase at a Time

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.  

Quality of Life in Younger Leukemia and Lymphoma Survivors ::READ MORE::

Phase II Nilotinib with Newly Diagnosed Chronic Phase Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia (CML) ::READ MORE::

Phase II: CLAG Gleevec in Relapsed or Refractory Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) ::READ MORE::

Phase II Study of Lenalidomide to Evaluate Safety and Efficacy in Patients with Relapsed or Refractory Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia ::READ MORE::

Phase III: Combination Chemotherapy in Treating Young Patients with Relapsed or Refractory Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia ::READ MORE::

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Q:  How can I be an active participant in my care?

A: You can play a vital role in your wellbeing by being involved in your own care. Participating can help you understand how your disease is being managed, make informed decisions and feel more in control of your life.

5 Important Steps for Participating in Your Healthcare

1. Learn all you can about your diagnosis.

• Know your specific disease type, stage of disease and what all of your potential treatment options are, including treatments in clinical trials.

2. Get the most from your meetings with your doctor and other members of your healthcare team.

• Prepare ahead of your medical appointments. Bring a list of questions and concerns with you. Maintain a list in between appointments so you can record questions and concerns as they arise. Be assertive. Ask questions until you receive a complete explanation. If your doctor provides information that is too technical or limited in scope, ask that he/she provide you with information that is more patient-friendly. Take notes or tape record the session so you can easily recall and review the responses at a later time. If possible, bring someone with you to appointments to take notes and be a second "pair of ears."

3. Follow medical advice.

• Keep all medical appointments. Take at-home medications as instructed. Following instructions for preventing infections. Maintain healthy diet, exercise and sleep habits.

4. Keep a file with copies of your medical records and other diagnostic and treatment information.

• Keep copies of your medical history, your test results and the medications used to treat you. Include you started and stopped medications, any side effects, a list of medications you take for other health reasons, such as blood pressure medication. Keeping copies and/or recording key information will enable you to refer it for discussions with members of your healthcare team.

5. Seek support and network with other people who have your diagnosis.

• This is an excellent way to learn more about the disease, what to expect from treatment, share common concerns and gain support.

To help you advocate for yourself, LLS offers you

• Educational materials that provide this helpful information regarding blood cancers. Click here for free Disease, Treatment and Support booklets and fact sheet.
  
  
• A clinical trial service using an easy search tool and/or our Information Specialists . In fact, if you have any questions about leukemia, lymphoma or myeloma give our information specialists a call at 1-800-955-4572 or contact us online. We're available Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET.
  
  
• Free live telephone and Web-based education programs that feature disease experts who present information about the latest on disease research and treatment. If you are unable to take part the day of the program, an audio and written transcript on saved our Web site. Click here for more information. To be notified by email of our upcoming programs you may register, for email alerts, on our homepage (www.LLS.org).
  
  
• Support services all over the United States and Canada to meet the needs of patients, caregivers and families. Please contact your local chapter office to learn more and become active. To identify your local chapter, input your Zip or Postal Code in the Chapter Finder tool on our homepage ( www.LLS.org).

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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