National Young Adult Cancer Awareness Week

This week is National Young Adult Cancer Awareness Week.  This is a very important demographic of cancer patients for a number of reasons. Read below as we highlight the challenges this underserved group faces during and after treatment. 

Why are AYAs (adolescents & young adults) an underserved population? 

AYAs are defined by the National Cancer Institute (NCI) as people diagnosed with cancer when they are 15-39 years old.  This range covers a specific biological and developmental time frame that encompasses different needs than young children or older adults.   This is important because cancer is the leading disease-related cause of death in 15-39 year-olds.  Since this group is in such a critical growth & reproductive phase they face a unique set of medical issues when faced with cancer.  A few examples include delays in diagnosis, limited access to required specialists, unknown responsiveness to treatments since they do not fit pediatric or adult models, concerns about the impact on future fertility/sexuality and psychological issues.  Despite this great need, AYAs have low enrollment in clinical trials due to restricted access and options.  

  

How prevalent are blood cancers in this demographic?

Cancer is the leading disease-related cause of death in adolescents and young adults (AYAs).  About 70,000 young people (ages 15-39) are diagnosed with cancer each year in the United States – accounting for about 5 percent of cancer diagnoses in the United States. Leukemias and  lymphomas are the most common cancers among 15-24-year-olds.  

How is this group unique?

Adolescents and young adults are at a unique stage in their emotional, cognitive, and social development, which cancer often disrupts. Many younger AYAs are in the midst of taking steps to establish independence from their parents and to complete school or enter a desired career. Older AYAs are focused on ways to progress in the workforce toward a desired career goal, to find a life partner, and to raise a family. A cancer diagnosis often temporarily, and sometimes permanently, derails these plans.  

What resources do adults and young adults with cancer have at their disposal?

While there are resources for pediatric and adult oncology patients, the resources tailored to the AYA population are lacking.  This population faces many short- and long-term health and psychosocial consequences of cancer diagnosis and treatment, but many programs for cancer treatment, survivorship care, and psychosocial support do not focus on the specific needs of AYA cancer patients.  The need is noteworthy, so much so that The Institute of Medicine’s National Cancer Policy Forum convened a public workshop to identify the unique care requirements for this population.  

How is LLS helping address these needs?

The North Texas Chapter Patient Access team is currently planning an educational event this spring for this demographic.  It will provide an overview of current research geared towards AYAs and discuss how oncology programs can best suit their needs.  Additional information about this program will be released shortly.  Contact Seetha Modi with any questions.

#MAD4LLS

NTX Executive Director Patricia Thomson and her pup,
Sunny, are both #MAD4LLS. 

Have you seen all the MAD (MAD = Make A Difference) faces on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram lately?  Want to know what it means to be #MAD4LLS and how you can get involved?  Read the description below, give us your best scowl, donate at www.mad4lls.org, and invite your friends to get #MAD4LLS too! 

School & Youth Program: New Partner for 2014-2015 School Year

Urban Air Trampoline Park is partnering with the North Texas Chapter of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) for the upcoming school year.  The popular entertainment venue is joining LLS’ School and Youth Program to incentivize students to raise money for children who are currently battling a blood cancer, like leukemia and lymphoma.

The School and Youth Program is an educational and philanthropic program where students across 119 North Texas counties learn about blood cancers and then collect spare change to benefit LLS and its mission of creating a world without blood cancers.  Urban Air Trampoline Park is joining LLS in its efforts to encourage students in the immediate DFW area to fundraise by offering free passes to one of their four locations as a reward for schools that raise more than $2,015 this year.

“Urban Air Trampoline Park is an ideal partner for School and Youth,” says Director Steve Abrey.  “Passes to enjoy Urban Air’s unique facilities are something that will certainly encourage students to rally behind our mission and collect money that is so vital to funding cutting-edge lifesaving research.”

The School & Youth Program is a signature event of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society because of the close connection between children and blood cancers.  Leukemia is the #1 cancer killer of children under 20 years old. 

The LLS mission attracted Urban Air to School & Youth.  “At Urban Air we have a huge heart for children and their families. We are excited about our partnership with LLS because it allows us to help raise awareness and money for a cause impacting so many of our customers,” says Alix Wren, Special Events Coordinator for Urban Air Trampoline Park.  “We cannot wait to see kids in these local schools make a difference as they rally behind such a great cause.”

Urban Air Trampoline Park first got involved with LLS through a fundraiser at its Frisco location called Jump for Julia and Leap for Lainey.  Supporters raised money to honor two families with young daughters currently battling a leukemia diagnosis.  Urban Air saw the impact LLS makes for patients in North Texas and reached out to start a partnership with School & Youth.

Big D Climb Honored Hero: Chief Tittle

The 2015 Big D Climb is honored to have Chief Tim Tittle of the Lewisville Fire Department serve as its First Responders Honored Hero.  He is a leukemia survivor and is passionate about raising money and awareness to help The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) to achieve its mission of creating a world without blood cancers.  Below he describes his blood cancer journey.

"WOW, where do I start?  This has been an incredible journey,  a very moving experience that has been life altering in the way that I view things today, but let me back up and start where it all began for me and what my journey of being diagnosed with Acute Leukemia has been like.

I was promoted to Chief of Department for the Lewisville Fire Department on September 1, 2011, and it has been a very rewarding position. I am the first Chief of this Department that came from within the ranks, and it is a position that I don’t take lightly. In late 2012/early 2013, I started noticing that I felt winded very easily while doing normal, everyday tasks.  Of course my first thought was that I must be getting older and out of shape, but I also couldn’t believe this was happening because I really wasn’t that old and I still led an active, healthy lifestyle.  I was working out regularly, playing league softball, and working in my yard as much as I always did. But, I was still feeling winded 

During August of 2013, we had several major multi-alarm fires in Lewisville. I went to all of those fires and tried to function as best I could.  I found it extremely taxing to just put my protective gear on and walk down the street to the scene, let alone try to perform an active function without being totally exhausted afterwards.  I woke up with bruises all over my torso just from the pinching and binding that occurs while wearing bunker gear.  The bruises were out of the ordinary for me and they wouldn’t go away in a normal time frame. We always say that the Lord has a way of taking care of those that need taking care of,  and this was the wake-up call I needed to make me realize that something was wrong with me…“Go see a doctor dummy.” I went to my Primary Physician on September 23^rd; he drew blood to help determine the cause of my symptoms, and thought I was probably anemia - a relatively easy fix.   

The “big day” for me was on September 24^th. I got a call from my nurse asking me to come right in; and, “oh by the way, can you clear your schedule for the rest of the day?”  I knew I was in for some bad news. I arrived an hour later, was quickly roomed, and I could tell by the looks on their faces that I was about to hear something that I wasn’t prepared for.  My doctor came in and started to explain my test results, and then he stopped. He just handed me the papers and said “look at this.” He couldn’t even tell me; I had to read it for myself.  After reading a bunch of blood work numbers that made no sense to me other than they were really low, I came to the last line on the second page that read “has all the markers for Acute Leukemia.”  I looked at my doctor and said, “Is this telling me what I think it’s telling me?” And I’ll never forget his response, “it sucks, but yes, that’s what it’s telling you.” 

As you can imagine my head began to spin. I was thinking “Am I going to die? I want to see my youngest son graduate from High School and see what he pursues in life.  I want to see my granddaughters grow up and get married. I love my wife too much to leave her with this mess. I love my job as Fire Chief for the City of Lewisville and I’m not ready to leave my guys. They would end up with an outside Chief, I can’t do that to them.”  While all this was going on in my head, my doctor was  telling me how lucky I was that I hadn’t gotten sick recently because my blood counts were so low that my body couldn’t have fought off any illness, and it would have killed me.  He also said “I know you need to make some phone calls, but we need to get you in the hospital, in a safe environment within the next two hours.”

Now my thoughts quickly turned to “who do I call, who do I call first, what do I tell them?”  I knew I needed to call my wife, my oldest son, my parents, my boss, but how do I tell them and how can I hold it together?  But I knew I was in for a fight--I wasn’t ready for this to be my end. I just prayed to God, “I’m putting this in your hands, and I know that if it is your will, I will come through this.” This is happening because He has a greater plan for me, and I’m to learn something from this journey and He will take care of me.

I made the calls, and two hours later I checked into the hospital, my family rallied around me, and my journey of living in the hospital for the next five and a half weeks began.  We met my oncologist and he explained that the next few days would consist of tests and medications to determine the type of my leukemia.  He gave my family marching orders about how protect me from germs to keep me from getting sick. “If you can get through the next two weeks without having a heart attack or stroke, your chances of survival will be a lot greater.”

I started oral chemotherapy and later found out that my strain of Acute Leukemia was “the one to get” with a treatment success rate of 90%.  I started an immediate round of intravenous chemo over an eight day period; one day on, one day off.  After the final day of treatment I still felt pretty good. But, two days later, I was sick as a dog and wouldn’t have wished this on my worst enemy.  My oncologist and the entire medical team took great care of me, kept me updated, and made it clear what needed to happen before I could go home.

That was definitely the longest five and a half weeks I’ve ever endured in my life. I was getting close to my mental breaking point when the day finally came that my counts were in a range that my oncologist said I could go home. Now I know what it must feel like to be released from jail and I couldn’t get out of there fast enough. Getting back home was just the medicine I needed, but I still had another four weeks of outpatient chemo treatments and twice weekly visits for blood draws before I was able to go back to work for half days, be around my guys again, and just get back to some sort of normalcy.

From that point on it has been a few days missed here and there when I felt run down or weak from continued treatments.  But I have continued to get stronger and feel better, and I am now seven weeks into remission!  I have to do maintenance treatments for two more years, and hope at that time, I will be completely done with this part of my journey. I want to move on to my new journey of helping others get through the same type of experiences.

I say this because while I was in the hospital, other leukemia patients that are now in remission for several years would stop by to tell me their stories and experiences. They helped me understand that there are going to be some tough days, but it will get better and I have to stay strong, mentally positive, eat right and take care of myself, and know that I can get through this.

I want to do the same thing to help others that find themselves in my position. I also want to help LLS raise funding for more research so that those affected after me may have an easier or better treatment someday.  I still feel I am going through this journey for a reason, and I want it to be a positive one with something good coming out of it in the end."

Registration for the 2015 Big D Climb is now open.  Register today.

Susan on LLS Services: An Introduction

The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) offers a wide range of offerings and services to blood cancer patients, their family members, caregivers and survivors.  In an effort to better educate people of what LLS has to offer in North Texas, we are starting a monthly series that will highlight the different services and how you can get the most out of them.

This month we introduce Susan Allen, the new Patient Access Manager for North Texas.  Susan will be writing this monthly series.

Hello,

My name is Susan Allen and I am the Patient Access Manager (PAM) for LLS.

As the PAM in the North Texas Chapter I am focused on serving our patients and their families. I am the person on the other end of the phone when they call that has the opportunity to listen to their story, find out their needs and connect them with the services that will help meet those needs. LLS is a large organization that works tirelessly to raise money for research in order to cure the patients but, the North Texas Chapter is a small family that cares about the patients on a day to day basis by offering them one on one support, co-pay assistance, educational opportunities and community resources.

My personal journey to find my way to LLS started in 1992 when I was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma and became associated with the Society. In 1995 I had the pleasure of participating in Team In Training and running Hawaii Marathon and have always stayed in touch with LLS. I am also a registered Nurse and a Certified Nurse Navigator so the opportunity to work with the patients and their families through their Cancer Journey is very near to my heart and something that I strive to do with excellence. What an honor to have this job and be the one to develop that special relationship with those going through cancer.

Being a 22 survivor I look forward to gathering other Blood Cancer Survivor’s and becoming a “Champions” for those that have a way to go. We can offer them hope, support and lend out voices to become advocates to make sure that those patients have access to the care and treatment that they need.

Take Care and LLS will always be there… if you need us,

Susan Allen
Susan.Allen@lls.org
(972) 996-5905

Mission Monday: January Education Programs

When a patient is diagnosed with a blood cancer their life changes dramatically in an instant.  It is not only their life that changes, but that of their family and friends.  The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) understands and appreciates that a blood cancer patient does not tackle their diagnosis alone.  For that reason, LLS has created a series of different telephone and web education programs for patients and their support group that will help them along the rocky road to remission.

Below are two educational phone and web education programs that are FREE and available to you.  Please take advantage of this opportunity to learn more about ALL and Myeloma.

Adult Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL)

Tuesday, January 14, 2014 from 1:00 to 2:30 pm (ET)

Dan Douer, MD, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center

www.LLS.org/pastprogram

Myeloma- Update on Research and Treatment

Tuesday, January 21, 2014 from 1:00 to 2:30 pm (ET)

Robert Orlowski, MD, PhD, MD Anderson Cancer Center

www.LLS.org/pastprogram

Mission Monday: Gingerbread House Fundraiser

In San Francisco, CA a little boy named Rhett created a spectacular gingerbread house in The Fairmont Hotel to raise money and awareness of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society and blood cancers.  In front of this life-size gingerbread house he posted this note:

My name is Rhett.  My sister's name is Annesley.

Happy Holidays and Welcome to the Fairmont Hotel Gingerbread House.

Leukemia is cancer in my blood

Cancer cells are the bad guys.

I take chemo to get the bad guys out.

Thank you for raising money to help get the bad guys out.

Someday we will all say GONE WITH THE CANCER

My name is Rhett and I GIVE A DAMN

We are thankful for volunteers of all ages who work tirelessly to further the LLS mission to create a world without blood cancers.

Happy Holidays from North Texas!

Freebie Friday: A Jazzy Christmas Celebration

The North Texas Chapter of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) is thankful to have the support of so many individuals.  Many participate in our local events while others make donations throughout the year and others create third party events to benefit LLS and our fight to create a world without blood cancers.

A Jazzy Christmas Celebration with John Holiday and his Big Band is an opportunity for you to get into the Holiday spirit with a fun evening out with a portion of the proceeds to benefit the North Texas Chapter.

Happy Holidays!

Wordless Wednesday: Team In Training in Afghanistan

Mission Monday: Advocate for Children

Each year, 13,500 children are diagnosed with cancer. We can help them.

The Gabriella Miller Kids First Research Act of 2013 would take the revenue from the Presidential Election Campaign Fund and reassign it to the National Institute of Health to improve treatments for childhood cancer, diabetes, and many other pediatric diseases.

We need 200 co-sponsors to make this bill a reality – CLICK HERE see where your Representative stands and send your message below:

"As an advocate with The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, I want to thank you for signing on as a co-sponsor of H.R. 2019, the Gabriella Miller Kids First Research Act. 

Each year, over 140,000 Americans are newly diagnosed with blood cancers, accounting for nearly 10 percent of all newly diagnosed cancers in the United States. Among them are more than 13,500 children who will face cancer in the coming year -- far too many, especially when we can do something to help them.

That’s why I’m writing to you today to thank you for co-sponsoring the Kids First Research Act of 2013, which will increase funding for pediatric medical research activities administered through the Common Fund at the National Institutes of Health. By turning off the Presidential Election Campaign Fund and instead designating this revenue to expand pediatric disease research, we can get closer to a cure for blood cancers and for many other childhood diseases, all within the current budget.

Thanks again for supporting H.R. 2019."

Thank you for helping us create a world without blood cancers.

Mission Monday: Back to School Resources

The childhood cancer journey is complex and everybody needs help along the way.  The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) has FREE programs and materials for children, families, schools and healthcare professionals to help manage the return to school.  All materials are reviewed by medical experts.

The Trish Greene Back to School Program for Children with Cancer
Resources and support from LLS to increase communication among healthcare professionals, parents, children with cancer and school personnel so that the child has a smoother transition back to school.

Welcome Back: Facilitating the School Experience for Childhood Cancer Survivors
An education program about emotional, physical and cognitive late effects of treatment.

Learning & Living With Cancer: Advocating for your Child's Educational Needs
Information for parents and schools, specific ways to help, and facts about the laws that protect the child's educational needs.

Coping with Childhood Leukemia & Lymphoma
Information and insights about the child's initial diagnosis, treatment and survivorship; for parents, families and professionals.

Pictures of My Journey
A coloring and activity book to help children ages 3 to 11 cope with the new people, situations and concerns that are part of the childhood cancer experience.  Topics include the hospital, treatment, school, returning home and plans for the future.

The Stem Cell Transplant Coloring Book
For children who are coping with having a stem cell transplant and for siblings, classmates and children with a parent who is having a transplant.

If you would like to have any of these materials sent to you, please contact the North Texas office at (972) 996-5900.  www.lls.org/ntx

Mission Monday: LLS Angels

This holiday season the Team In Training (TNT) North Texas Alumni Association is teaming up with local child life specialists to make the holidays better for children who are spending Christmas in the hospital.  We are thrilled to introduce the LLS Angels' holiday gift drive.  We are accepting only new toys, books and stuffed animals to bring to area hospitals.  A complete list of recommended gifts is located here.

If you are interested in participating, please bring your unwrapped gift to The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's Dallas Office (8111 LBJ Fwy., Ste 425. Dallas, TX 75251) on Saturday, December 14th from 9am - 12pm.  You are also welcome to drop off your gift before that date during regular business hours.

Please contact Donna Vander Grinten at 214-205-3665 if you have any questions.

Freebie Friday: Celebrating Male Survivors

November has come to represent more than Thanksgiving and the kick-off of the Christmas season in the United States.  For many, November has transformed into Movember - a month about raising awareness of men's health issues.  Here at The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) we are taking this month as an opportunity to celebrate male blood cancer survivors.

CELEBRATING SURVIVORS

Today Zach Rigby is a senior at the University of Texas, the Vice President of the Silver Spurs (a student organization dedicated to the care of Bevo), and most importantly, a survivor.  Zach was diagnosed with adult Hodgkin's lymphoma on his 16th birthday.  After a difficult treatment plan, he was declared to be in remission and has been living an active, healthy lifestyle ever since.

Zach's father, Steve Rigby, is currently the chairman of the North Texas Board of Trustees.  Recently the Rigby family hosted Bevo at a fundraiser before the University of Texas vs. New Mexico State game and raised $7,500 at the event for pediatric blood cancer research.

We are thrilled to count Zach among the thousands of blood cancer survivors in North Texas.

Mission Monday: Champion of Coverage

The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) has been selected as a "Champion of Coverage" by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).  LLS joined more than 100 national organizations and businesses that have volunteered to help Americans learn about the health care coverage available in a non-partisan manner.

Our goal is to ensure that blood cancer patients and their families have the information needed to make an informed decision about purchasing health care coverage.  In order to do this, LLS has created a dedicated section on the website, www.LLS.org/ACA, which provides helpful information and links to useful tools, such as the cancer insurance checklist that LLS helped to develop.  The LLS Information Resource Center is also available to answer questions Monday - Friday from 9a.m. - 6p.m. at (800) 955-4572.

LLS continues to pursue opportunities that provide greater access to information and resources for blood cancer patients.

Thankful Thursday: Burlington Coat Factory

The Light The Night Walk (LTN), one of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's (LLS) signature events, raises millions of dollars through its evening walks in cities across the country every October.  National Corporate Sponsors, like Burlington Coat Factory, play a major role in helping to raise awareness and money for LLS and its mission.

Burlington Coat Factory is the #1 National Corporate Partner and Honored Friend of the Light The Night Walks.  Over the last 11 years, Burlington locations across the country have raised more than $16 million through its paper balloon campaign.  That money is used to fund innovative research and help blood cancer patients and their families afford medical treatments.  Last year alone, more than three million Burlington customers donated to LLS and its mission to create a world without blood cancers.

This year we are asking you to show your support of Burlington Coat Factory's generous partnership and the 2013 Light The Night Walks by participating in the paper balloon campaign.  It's easy.  Visit a Burlington location near you and purchase a paper balloon for a $1 donation at the register when you check out.  The balloon sale campaign wraps up on October 19th.

More information about Burlington's partnership and the paper balloon campaign can be found at www.lightthenight.org

Mission Monday: LLS Information Specialists

The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS)  offers a number of services free of charge for blood cancer patients, their families and caregivers.  Today the focus is on LLS Information Specialists and how they can play a significant role in helping a newly diagnosed person understand their treatment options.

Our Information Specialists are master's level social workers and health educators who can help people with cancer navigate through treatment, financial and social challenges and give accurate, up-to-date disease and treatment information.

Below is a list of some of the major issues they can help you address:

• help you deal with the challenges of your diagnosis
• provide information about treatment options
• help you map the best route from diagnosis through treatment and survivorship
• conduct individual clinical trial searches for you and help you develop a list of questions to ask your doctor about participating in a clinical trial
• help you communicate with members of your healthcare team
• connect you to national resources
• connect you with the patient services manager at your local chapter who can guide you to local programs and resources
• provide you with free materials to help you on your cancer journey

Callers may request the services of a language interpreter. Medical interpretation services are available in 170 languages.  For automated translation assistance, go to web page translation. This automated tool can provide only a general translation of the page.

Reach out to an Information Specialist in one of the following ways:

• Call (800) 955-4572, Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET, for support and guidance.
• Leave a message for a call back 24/7. Use the automated response system 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Call (800) 955-4572. An Information Specialist will return your call the next business day. You can also listen to recorded information about LLS and our programs.
• Visit Live Patient Help to chat with a specialist online, Monday to Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET.
• Email your inquiries to infocenter@LLS org. All email messages are answered within one business day.

Mission Monday: Patient Financial Aid

The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS)  offers a number of services free of charge for blood cancer patients, their families and caregivers.  Today the focus is on the different patient financial aid programs LLS offers patients.

A limited amount of financial assistance is available to help patients with significant financial need and who are under a doctor's care for a confirmed blood cancer diagnosis. This program is supported entirely by public contributions and patient aid funds are subject to availability.

To find out if you are eligible for the LLS Co-Pay Assistance Program, you will need to contact LLS.  For eligible patients, the Co-Pay Assistance Program may offer a larger amount of financial support for select diseases toward the cost of insurance co-payments and/or insurance premium costs for prescription drugs. Please visit the Co-pay Assistance Program for more information or to apply.

The Patient Financial Aid Program provides $100 a year to help patients offset expenses. Receipts for expenses are not required. To apply, you must be a US resident or US military personnel stationed abroad and in active treatment or ongoing medical follow-up care for a blood cancer. Your prescribing healthcare provider must complete and sign the bottom portion of the application form.  The program begins each July 1st and ends on the following June 30th. You must reapply every year after June 30th in order to receive assistance.

How to Apply:

Contact the North Texas Chapter at (972) 996-5900 to request an application
or Print, complete and return the online application: (color or black and white) to your chapter.

For more information about the Patient Financial Aid program, contact the North Texas Chapter.

For information and an application in Spanish, click here.

Freebie Friday: Meet Melissa Garner

My name is Melissa Garner, and I am the Patient Advocate Manager with The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS).

A grant from Baylor University Medical Center funds my unique position.  I work with patients and families, providing them with information about LLS and patient services, in addition to providing education and support groups.  I am on-site at Baylor to assist with any issues a blood cancer patient, or family member, may have.

What amazes me the most about this job, and what I feel is the most rewarding aspect of it, is being able to listen to people’s stories.  I am always amazed at the strength, resilience, faith, and hope that I see each week. 

While confronting what is often the scariest event in their lives (a blood cancer diagnosis usually followed by chemotherapy and a stem cell transplant), people more often than not show just how strong they truly are.

Of course, this doesn’t mean there isn’t a great deal of pain and vulnerability that goes along with it.  It just means that people find a place within themselves to connect to faith and hope too.

This is also very true for the caregivers as well.  Just today I talked to a caregiver who said, “My husband (the patient) has always been the strong one, not me.  I never was, until now. “

She is balancing a home life, young children, and being there for her husband at the hospital.  She has been here with him since April, and this is his second go at a stem cell transplant.  She shared with me how scared she felt, but at the same time, she knew she was surrounded by a strong faith and a support system of friends.  All of this gave her strength.

I get the honor and privilege of listening to people share stories like this all the time.  I feel their stories are such gifts to anyone who hears them.  I am better for hearing them. 

I also really want people to know that we at LLS are there for them throughout their blood cancer journey.  I typically will end my visit with them saying something like this:

"Please know that LLS is in your corner and that we are here for you.   Even if it’s a year from now or sometime down the road, please know that you can always call me and we will be there for you.  Even if it’s something we can’t answer for you directly, please know we will help you find out who you can talk to.  Just know we are here for you." 

When I say this, I see their faces brighten and a real sense of relief comes over them.  I am proud to be affiliated with LLS Patient Services because being there is so important to our patients and families.

Mission Monday: Specialist Thompson

On June 9, 2013 U.S. Army Specialist Warren Thompson completed the Wounded Warrior Half Marathon in Irving as a summer participant with Team In Training (TNT).　 Warren is a familiar face to many TNT participants in North Texas, as he was a marathon coach for several years prior to enlisting in the Army in the fall of 2011 to become a combat medic.　 In January Warren reunited with TNT, but this time as a participant.　 Throughout the summer season (when he didn’t have Army commitments), he made the almost-three-hour commute from Fort Hood in Killeen, where he’s currently stationed, to Grapevine to join his North West Cities teammates for Saturday morning trainings.　 Not only that, he trained for the race wearing his 45-pound Army rucksack to honor his fellow military service members and those wounded in action.　 On race day, Warren represented the Army and TNT well – wearing both his fatigues and his purple race jersey (and his heavy rucksack)!　 We congratulate Warren on a successful race and season with TNT, and extend our sincere gratitude to Specialist Thompson for his service to our country.

Freebie Friday: New Ideas in Blood Cancer Research

The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) has recently developed a new grant concept to facilitate innovations in research and science. "The New Idea Award" grant concept funds untested treatment paradigms that are safer, more effective and substantically different from current therapies. Because these types of treatment are less likely to be funded by the traditional grants administered by the National Cancer Institute, the New Idea Award grant is crucial to ensuring the delivery of novel treatments and ultimately cures for more patients with blood cancers.

Applicants interested in the New Idea Award submit their innovative idea or approach as well as a method for testing it within the one-year grant period. Grants will be awarded up to $100,000 for the first year, after which applicants will be evaluated on the extent to which their innovative concept was substantiated based on initial testing. LLS plans to fund up to eight awards this first year and hopes that each new idea will help with the clinical advancement of cancer treatments.


A volunteer panel of researchers who are leaders in blood cancer treatment and research, chaired by Armand Keating, MD, Director of the Division of Hematology at the Institute of Biomaterials and Biomedical Engineering at the University of Toronto, will peer-review all grant applications. Panelists initially screened more than 100 applications and selected three dozen for review. After closely evaluating all applications, the panel will present their final recommendations in June for grants that will begin in October.

We look forward to releasing the names and projects of the winners of The New Grant Award later this year.