Join us as we speak to Dr. Lee Greenberger, the Senior Vice President and Chief Scientific Officer of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. In this episode, Dr. Greenberger gives us updates on the COVID-19 pandemic. As the virus has continued to evolve at a rapid pace, we discuss how the national approach to this pandemic has changed and what measures we can use to stay safe.

Patients and their families will be given updated and accurate information to stay safe as we all move into the winter season, where we gather indoors and celebrate holidays with family and friends.

Mentioned on this episode: 

• LLS COVID Website
• LLS Patient Registry
• Protecting Patients: COVID and Vaccine Updates podcast episode
• COVID variant soup is making winter surges hard to predict – Nature
• CDC Weekly Covid Tracker
• Coronavirus (COVID-19) Online Chat for Patients and Caregivers: Banding Together: Feeling Good Fridays
• Caregivers: Banding Together: Feeling Good Fridays

Additional LLS Support Resources: 

• Information Specialists
• Financial support
• Free telephone/web patient programs 
• Free booklets 
• LLS Public Policy & Advocacy
• Patti Robinson Kaufmann First Connection Program
• Clinical Trial Support Center
• LLS Community 
• Online chats 
• Support groups 
• Caregiver support 
• Caregiver Workbook
• Free Nutrition Consultations 
• LLS Advocacy
• Survivorship Workbook

Support for this episode provided by: BeiGene; Bristol Myers Squibb; Genentech, Inc.; Kite, A Gilead Company; Pfizer, Inc.; Pharmacyclics, An AbbVie Company & Janssen Biotech.

The post COVID: Staying Safe As The Virus Evolves first appeared on The Bloodline With Blood Cancer United Podcast.

Join us as we speak to Dr. Benjamin Lampson of Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston, MA. In Part One of this two-part series on mantle cell lymphoma (MCL), Dr. Lampson discusses the latest treatment advances for MCL. With more treatments available than just a few years ago, Dr. Lampson shares how his conversations with his patients have changed, providing more hope after a diagnosis of MCL.

Be sure to tune into Part 2 launching on May 23, 2022, where Dr. Lampson will focus on the exciting possibilities of CAR T-cell therapy for MCL.

Mentioned on this episode: 

Additional LLS Support Resources: 

Support for this episode provided by Eli Lilly & Company.

The post Mantle Cell Lymphoma (MCL) Part One: Treatment Advances first appeared on The Bloodline With Blood Cancer United Podcast.

Join us as we speak to Damion Davis, a myeloma patient and licensed professional counselor. In this episode, Damion talks about his myeloma diagnosis and how he reached remission after a stem cell transplant. Dealing with the difficulty of a cancer diagnosis as a husband and father of young daughters, Damion knew the benefits that therapy would provide for him and his family. In honor of Mental Health Awareness Month in May, we share his story of resilience, highlighting the importance of mental health care for cancer patients and their families. 

Mentioned on this episode: 

• Multiple Myeloma
• Stem Cell Transplant
• Autologous Stem Cell Transplant
• Parenting Resources
• Mental Health Resources
• Additional Mental Health and Crisis Resources
• Survivorship Workbook

Additional LLS Support Resources: 

• Information Specialists
• Financial support
• Free telephone/web patient programs 
• Patti Robinson Kaufmann First Connection Program
• Free booklets 
• LLS Public Policy & Advocacy
• Clinical Trial Support Center
• Online chats 
• Caregiver support 
• LLS Community 
• Support groups 
• Free Nutrition Consultations 
• LLS Advocacy

Support for this episode provided by Genentech, Inc & Biogen; GlaxoSmithKline; and Janssen Oncology.

The post Mental Health and Myeloma: A Story of Resilience first appeared on The Bloodline With Blood Cancer United Podcast.

Join us as we speak to Dr. Lee Greenberger, the Chief Scientific Officer of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, and Dr. Larry Saltzman, the Executive Research Director of the LLS Patient Registry. In this episode, Dr. Greenberger and Dr. Saltzman provide important updates on the continued COVID-19 pandemic, the LLS Antibody Research Study, patients’ responses to the COVID vaccines, and additional methods of protection. Be sure to tune in to these important updates as LLS strives to protect patients.

Mentioned on this episode: 

• LLS Patient Registry
• LLS Antibody Study
• COVID Resources
• FDA Approved Monoclonal Antibodies – including Evusheld
• Ask The Expert in LLS Community *Membership (no cost) required

Additional LLS Support Resources: 

• Information Specialists 
• Free telephone/web patient programs 
• Free booklets 
• Online chats 
• Financial support
• Clinical Trial Support Center
• Caregiver support 
• LLS Community 
• Support groups 
• Patti Robinson Kaufmann First Connection Program Free Nutrition Consultations

As part of LLS’s COVID-19 Response Program, this podcast episode is supported in part by BeiGene, Bristol Myers Squibb, Kite, A Gilead Company, Pfizer and Pharmacyclics, An AbbVie Company & Janssen Biotech.

The post Protecting Patients: COVID and Vaccine Updates first appeared on The Bloodline With Blood Cancer United Podcast.

Join us in this next installment of our series, Patient-Doctor Perspectives, where we explore a diagnosis from the view of a patient and doctor. In this episode, we speak to Bryon Daily, a myeloma survivor and Dr. Scott Solomon from Northside Hospital in Atlanta, GA. Diagnosed in 2018, Bryon shares his experience living with myeloma after an autologous stem cell transplant. Bryon has also started working at LLS in our Myeloma Link Program where he is helping to close the healthcare disparity gap in communities of color. Dr. Solomon then delves deeper into myeloma treatments, and what is new on the horizon for myeloma treatments. He also discusses how clinical trials and having greater treatment options are providing hope to those diagnosed with myeloma. 

Mentioned on this episode: 

• Myeloma
• Bone Marrow Transplant
• Myeloma Link
• CAR T-cell Therapy
• Vaccines for Blood Cancer Patients
• LLS COVID-19 Antibody Research Study: Your Questions Answered

Additional LLS Support Resources: 

• Information Specialists 
• Free telephone/web patient programs 
• Free booklets 
• Financial support
• Clinical Trial Support Center
• Online chats 
• Young Adult Resources
• Caregiver support 
• LLS Community 
• Support groups 
• Patti Robinson Kaufmann First Connection Program Free Nutrition Consultations

Support for this episode provided by GlaxoSmithKline and Janssen Oncology Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson.

The post Patient-Doctor Perspectives: Hope for Myeloma Patients first appeared on The Bloodline With Blood Cancer United Podcast.

Join us as we speak to Lyneshia Johnson-Woodland, an internet radio show host, actress and comedian who was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma in September 2020.  In this episode, Lyneshia shared how she was diagnosed with lymphoma and the difficult treatments she endured during the COVID-19 global pandemic. She also discussed the emotional impact of cancer and how she is appreciating this second chance at life.

Mentioned on the episode:

• Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma
• Black Women Connexting Communities
• UniverSoul Circus®

Additional LLS Support Resources:

• Information Specialists
• Clinical Trial Support Center
• Free telephone/web patient programs
• Free booklets
• LLS Young Adult Resources
• Financial support
• Online chats
• Caregiver support
• LLS Community
• Support groups
• Patti Robinson Kaufmann First Connection Program
• Free Nutrition Consultations

Support for this episode provided by Pharmacyclics, An AbbVie Company & Janssen Biotech.

The post A New You: You Made It Through (NHL) first appeared on The Bloodline With Blood Cancer United Podcast.

Join us in this next installment of our series, Patient-Doctor Perspectives, where we explore a diagnosis from the view of a patient and doctor. In this episode, we speak to Dr. Larry Saltzman, a Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL) survivor and physician researcher and Dr. Steven Coutre from Stanford Medicine. Dr. Larry shares his experience living with CLL, participating in LLS Team In Training events, and his current work with LLS studying patient outcomes and COVID-19 vaccine antibody response. Dr. Coutre then delves deeper into CLL treatments, responses to vaccines and what is on the horizon for new treatments and clinical trials. 

*Please note that this episode was recorded prior to the rise of the COVID Delta variant and release of booster shots. We encourage patients to consult with your physician regarding COVID-19 safety and vaccines. Preliminary results have also been released for the antibody study and can be found in the show notes below.

Mentioned on this episode:

• Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL)
• Small Cell Lymphocytic Lymphoma (SLL)
• CAR T-cell Therapy
• Minimal Residual Disease
• Team In Training
• Financial support
• Clinical Trial Support Center
• LLS Patient Registry
• Vaccines for Blood Cancer Patients
• LLS COVID-19 Antibody Research Study: Your Questions Answered

Additional LLS Support Resources:

• Information Specialists 
• Free telephone/web patient programs 
• Free booklets 
• Online chats 
• Caregiver support 
• LLS Community 
• Support groups 
• Patti Robinson Kaufmann First Connection Program 
• Free Nutrition Consultations 

Support for this episode provided by Genentech, Inc. & Biogen and Pharmacyclics, An AbbVie Company & Janssen Biotech.

The post Patient-Doctor Perspectives: CLL and a Decade of Transformation first appeared on The Bloodline With Blood Cancer United Podcast.

Join us as we speak to Alex Okafor, a defensive end with the Kansas City Chiefs. Alex lost his mother to acute myeloid leukemia (AML) in 2020. In this episode, Alex talks about his mother’s short battle with AML and the difficulties his family faced receiving this diagnosis during a global pandemic. Following his mother’s death, Alex found a new determination to make his mother proud and continue her legacy in fighting against racial injustice and creating a better society for the black community.

*Since the taping of this podcast, Alex has launched the Alex Okafor Family Foundation, which is raising funds for the LLS Scholarship for Blood Cancer Survivors Program. In addition, in honor of Mother’s Day, Alex wrote a touching letter to his mother, titled A Letter to My Mother for The Players Tribune website.

Mentioned on this episode:

• Acute Myeloid Leukemia
• Kansas City Star Article
• Kingdom United Reading Program
• Alex Okafor Family Foundation and Scholarship
• A Letter to My Mother

Additional LLS Support Resources:

• Information Specialists 
• Clinical Trial Support Center
• Free telephone/web patient programs 
• Free booklets 
• Financial support 
• Online chats 
• Caregiver support 
• LLS Community 
• Support groups 
• Patti Robinson Kaufmann First Connection Program Free Nutrition Consultations

Support for this episode provided by Genentech, Inc. and Jazz Pharmaceuticals.

The post Tragedy to Legacy: NFL Player Continues The Fight first appeared on The Bloodline With Blood Cancer United Podcast.

Has the Coronavirus (COVID-19) affected your non-Hodgkin lymphoma treatment? Join Alicia, Lizette and Edith as they speak with Dr. Lori Leslie about non-Hodgkin lymphoma and how patients have been receiving treatment during the coronavirus pandemic. Dr. Leslie is a part of the lymphoma division of the John Theurer Cancer Center in Hackensack NJ.  She treats lymphoma and CLL clinically, is the director of the indolent lymphoma and CLL research programs and is heavily involved in the lymphoma CAR-T program. On this episode, Dr. Leslie explains the different types of lymphoma. The doctor informed us on how the coronavirus is affecting lymphoma patients, as well as if lymphoma patients should be taking any extra precautions at this time.  Dr. Leslie also updated us about the latest news regarding a vaccine for the coronavirus.  During this time, we remain hopeful after hearing Dr. Leslie say that research for lymphoma has continued despite the pandemic, and new treatments were recently approved for lymphoma patients.

Mentioned on this episode:

• Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma (NHL)
• COVID-19
• Follicular lymphoma (FL)
• Diffuse Large B-cell Lymphoma (DLBCL)
• CAR T-cell Therapy
• Allogeneic Stem Cell Transplantation
• New England Journal of Medicine
• Vaccines

Additional LLS Support Resources:

• Information Specialists
• Information & Support Services
• Clinical Trial Support Center
• Free telephone/web patient programs
• Free booklets
• Financial support
• Online chats
• Caregiver support
• LLS Community
• Support groups
• Patti Robinson Kaufmann First Connection Program
• Free Nutrition Consultations

Support for this episode provided by Epizyme, Genentech, Karyopharm, and Pharmacyclics/Janssen.

The post What Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma (NHL) Patients Should Know During the COVID-19 Pandemic first appeared on The Bloodline With Blood Cancer United Podcast.

What does the effect of the virus have on blood cancer patients? What are hospitals doing to ensure cancer patients can still get treatment during this pandemic? What makes COVID-19 so different than other viruses? Has there been any progress made regarding treatment for COVID-19? Join us on this episode as Alicia and Lizette speak with Ruben A. Mesa, M.D., FACP who will answer these questions and more. Dr. Mesa is director of the Mays Cancer Center, home to the UT Health San Antonio MD Anderson Cancer Center, a National Cancer Institute-designated Cancer Center. Dr. Mesa has been principal investigator or co-principal investigator in more than 70 clinical trials for patients with myeloid disorders and played a lead role in various FDA approvals. Currently, he is a co-principal investigator of the NCI Program Project Grant Funded Myeloproliferative Neoplasms Research Consortium, where he co-leads the clinical trial consortium. Listen in as Dr. Mesa details the reality of COVID-19, answers questions that many patients and caregivers are asking, and shares why he is hopeful about the future of this pandemic.

On behalf of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, thank you to all healthcare workers on the frontlines of battling this virus. Doctors, nurses, researchers, technicians, transporters, EMTs, pharmacists, maintenance and cleaning staff, and everyone who supports patient care are rising to the occasion and caring for our most vulnerable populations.

We will get through this together. Stay safe.

Mentioned on this episode:

• Coronavirus (COVID-19)
• LLS COVID-19 Patient Financial Aid Program
• Food and Drug Administration (FDA)

Additional LLS support resources:

• World Health Organization
• Information Specialists
• Free telephone/web patient programs
• LLS Community
• Additional financial support
• Online Chats
• Caregiver support
• Support groups

The post What Blood Cancer Patients Need to Know About COVID-19 first appeared on The Bloodline With Blood Cancer United Podcast.