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Yet, more than three quarters of a million people in the United Statescurrently have some form of blood cancer. Every ten minutes someone dies froma blood cancer and an estimated 52,310 will die from one this year.
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The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society is a beacon of help and guidance to thosetouched by blood cancer and each September the Society observes Leukemia,Lymphoma and Myeloma Awareness Month, to shed light on these diseases and letthe public know that there are resources available for blood cancer patientsand their families.
"Awareness Month is an opportunity to increase the public's understandingof blood cancers and encourage people to support the funding of research tofind cures and education programs to help patients have the best possibleoutcomes throughout their cancer experience," said Dwayne Howell, theSociety's President and CEO.
Since its inception in 1949, the Society has invested more than $550million in research to find cures and better therapies, and funded $64.9million in 2007 alone. The Society supports investigators' efforts to find newmolecular targets for treatment and potential immunotherapies, and helps themtranslate their laboratory findings into more effective therapies forpatients.
Through its patient services programs, the Society offers a comprehensivearray of education and support services to blood cancer patients and theirfamilies There are family support groups, patient education workshopsfeaturing health experts, and First Connection - a peer-to-peer supportprogram that matches newly diagnosed patients with trained volunteersurvivors. A back to school program help children treated for cancertransition back to school. The Society also provides financial assistance topatients with significant financial need and an insurance co-pay assistanceprogram.
The Society's web site -- www.LLS.org is the definitive resource forinformation about blood cancers and its Information Resource Center (IRC) is acall center staffed by master's level social workers, nurses and healtheducators who provide information, support and resources to patients and theirfamilies and caregivers. IRC information specialists are available at(800) 955-4572, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET.
About The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society
The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society(R), headquartered in White Plains, NY,with 68 chapters in the United States and Canada, is the world's largestvoluntary health organization dedicated to funding blood cancer research andproviding education and patient services. The Society's mission: Cureleukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin's disease and myeloma, and improve the quality oflife of patients and their families. Since its founding in 1949, the Societyhas invested more than $550 million in research specifically targetingleukemia, lymphoma and myeloma. Last year alone, the Society made 4.2 millioncontacts with patients, caregivers and healthcare professionals.
Contact: Andrea Greif914.941.0237 [email protected]
SOURCE The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society
