"My personal goal was to live until the next LLS conference because each year the research was improving."

Calvin Harkless and his wife make the drive from Edmond, OK to Dallas, TX every year to attend the North Texas Cancer Expo presented by Briggs Equipment.  They make a point not to miss it.  Why?  We'll let Calvin tell you in his own inspiring words.

"I was diagnosed December 24, 2010 with stage four multiple myeloma, cancer of the bone marrow. On January 5, 2011 I started weekly IV chemo infusions. I had no idea it would be four years and four months later before being taken off of all cancer treatment and drugs. 

My wife and I made it our mission to attend the North Texas Cancer Expo (formerly the North Texas Blood Cancer Conference) sponsored by The Leukemia &Lymphoma Society (LLS) each year. In 2011, we attended our first LLS conference and was overwhelmed by the information on Multiple Myeloma and other blood cancers. While attending the various sessions I recall thinking “I have a new paradigm for a hero.” The men and women, who dedicate their life to research and technology to find a cure for cancer, there can be no higher calling.

Having access to the top researchers in blood cancer, face to face Q&A with pharmaceutical representatives, networking with other blood cancer patients and care providers and hearing the many inspiring testimonies were invaluable. The LLS conference became my Christmas, each year anxiously waiting to hear about the new drugs approved and future research on blood cancer. My personal goal was to live until the next LLS conference because each year the research was improving.   

The highlight of attending the LLS conference was in 2012 after the FDA approved Velcade to be administered subcutaneous. The announcement was made during a presentation at the conference. At my next appointment with my oncologist, I shared the information on the FDA approval of Velcade to be administered subcutaneous and provided supporting documentation collected from the conference. This began the process of changing the hospital protocol from IV to subcutaneous injections. The following week the pharmaceutical representative confirmed the FDA approval during a doctor visit. I became very emotional having my chemo infusion for the first time subcutaneous. Each year after attending the LLS conference I would share with my oncologist the current research on Multiple Myeloma.

I was taken off of cancer treatment and drugs on May 2015.  In August 2016 no multiple myeloma cells were found active in my body. My wife and I will always be an advocate for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society."

Don't miss your opportunity to participate in the FREE 2017 North Texas Cancer Expo presented by Briggs Equipment.  Registration is now open for the expo as well as the general and healthcare sessions.  The event is free but requires registration.  

Saturday, September 16th
Omni Hotel, Dallas, TX
8:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.

www.ntxcancerexpo.org

The Motivation Behind Team Fight Like Hell

Team Fight Like Hell organized a golf tournment to raise money
for their Light The Night Walk team in Ann Marie's honor.
They raised more than $19,000!

Ann Marie Herbst, an acute myeloid leukemia (AML) survivor and Fort Worth Light The Night Walk honored hero, recently shared her personal story at the Fort Worth Corporate Recruitment Event.  Read her script, which brought the audience to tears.

"My name is Ann Marie Herbst and I am an acute myeloid leukemia survivor.  At the time I was diagnosed I was a seemingly healthy and very happy 29-year-old.  My husband, Jay, and I had a 15-month-old baby girl and hopes of expanding our family.  Fortunately, the desire to have another child would be what would take me to the doctor for blood work, as I had no other symptoms. 

Unfortunately, instead of getting exciting news of a new baby, we were faced with the shocking and heartbreaking news of a cancer diagnosis.  I know that bad news never has good timing but receiving the call on a Friday made for a very long weekend.  On Monday I went to a clinic in Fort Worth.  I received my first ever bone marrow biopsy.  Looking back I am glad I didn’t know what was coming and I was so desperate for someone to help me that I was willing to fight through any amount of pain.  The following Tuesday I was admitted as a patient at UTSW in Dallas.  Unfortunately they do all their own testing so I had to have my second biopsy.  At the time I was so relieved to be in a doctor’s care and I had no idea I would suffer through 4 intense rounds of chemotherapy, spend 2 nights in the ICU with the fear of heart failure, get the flu with no immune system, that I would see people come into the hospital to never return home or that I wouldn’t be able to see my baby girl for 87 nights.   As every loving mother knows, putting yourself before your child goes against everything you stand for but my choice was now or forever and that answer was simple.  I had to get better so I could have her forever.  People ask me all the time what the hardest part of cancer was and I can say without a doubt that for me putting motherhood on hold was the most heart wrenching.  At the same time, I also know how incredibly blessed I was to have her to go home to.  

Prior to starting treatment, I spent 5 days in the hospital waiting on bone marrow results.  At the time I felt like I was sitting around waiting to die.  What I know now is that I am incredibly blessed that my case was an urgency but not an emergency and that I had that time to wait on the results because the doctors were able to diagnosis my specific genetic mutation and treat me accordingly.  As strange as it sounds, my doctor was happy with my mutation because the research for my diagnosis have come so far and the results of the specific treatment I received are extremely promising, which was surprising for an AML diagnosis.  In the past, an AML diagnosis yielded grim results and protocols remained practically the same for nearly 40 years. Thanks to the more than $8 million that LLS has invested in AML research in the past few years, some of which went to researchers at UT Southwestern, that is rapidly changing and my story had a happy ending. We are on a path toward cures, and I stand before you today because my dream is to live in a world without cancer and in the meantime, for every cancer patient to have the same chance at fighting as I did and we simply can’t get there without funding and research. Thank you for your time and for allowing me to share my story. I feel incredibly blessed to be able to take such a painful experience and turn it into something so positive."  

Survivors like Ann Marie are what motivate the thousands of LLS supporters and volunteers in North Texas to keep fighting and fundraising to fund much needed cures.  Motivated by Ann Marie's story?  Walk alongside Ann Marie and her team, Fight Like Hell, at the Fort Worth Light The Night Walk on Sunday, October 30th. 

LLS Participating in a Congressional Roundtable

The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS)  has worked tirelessly to become a leader in the cancer field when it comes to fighting for better treatment and improved access for patients.  This relentless pursuit has been noticed by the lawmakers on Capital Hill and now they are asking to hear from LLS about the future of cancer treatment.

Tomorrow (Wednesday, July 23, 2014) LLS interim CEO and President Dr. Lou DeGennaro will participate in a roundtable hosted by the House Energy and Commerce Committee.  The roundtable will focus on personalized medicine and how it can help advance cures and treatments in the 21st Century. 

You can watch and listen to the discussion tomorrow from 10a.m. - 12p.m. EST.  It will be streamed live here.