Episodes - 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 LLS.

Join us as we speak with Charles Huang and Dr. Gabriel Mannis in honor of AML Awareness Day (April 21st). In this episode, Charles tells us about his treatment for AML, participation in clinical trials, and shares about his struggle to find a bone marrow donor as an Asian Pacific Islander. Charles then turned his struggle into legislation to make it easier to join a bone marrow donor registry to save lives. Dr. Mannis, of Stanford Medicine, shares about the latest advances in AML research, from clinical trials in Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR) therapy to medications that reduce graft-vs-host disease (GVHD). With research advancing quickly in the field of AML treatment, patients and caregivers are given reasons to have hope after the uncertainty of a diagnosis.

Mentioned on this episode: 

• Acute Myeloid Leukemia
• Myelodysplastic Syndromes (MDS)
• Minimal/Measurable Residual Disease
• CAR T-cell Therapy
• Stem Cell Transplant
• Graft-Vs-Host-Disease (GVHD)
• Charlie’s Law
• Be The Match – Bone Marrow Donor Registry
• LLS Advocacy & Public Policy
• Innovative Therapies in Acute Leukemias podcast episode

Additional LLS Support Resources: 

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

Support for this episode provided by Astellas and Genentech, Inc & Biogen.

The post Patient-Doctor Perspectives: Hope in the Uncertainty of AML first appeared on The Bloodline with LLS.

Join us as we speak to Dr. Hongtao Liu and Dr. Adam DuVall from University of Chicago Medicine, about current and emerging cellular therapies for acute leukemias. These innovative therapies include CAR T-cell therapy, modified Natural Killer (NK) cells and stem cell transplantations. In this episode, we discuss how these groundbreaking therapies have changed the landscape of treatment for acute leukemias. The doctors share what they are excited about in the future, citing how clinical trials are advancing therapies and how cancer centers can better serve the unique needs of adolescent and young adults (AYAs) with acute leukemias by utilizing a holistic and comprehensive approach.

Mentioned on this episode: 

• Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia
• Acute Myeloid Leukemia
• CAR T-cell Therapy
• Stem Cell Transplant
• Cellular Therapies
• Minimal/Measurable Residual Disease (MRD)
• Graft-Vs-Host Disease
• Adolescent and Young Adult (AYA) Oncology Program at University of Chicago
• CALMM Clinic at University of Chicago
• Young Adult Resources
• Survivorship Workbook
• Between Two Kingdoms

Additional LLS Support Resources: 

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

Support for this episode is provided by University of Chicago Medicine.

The post Innovative Therapies for Acute Leukemias first appeared on The Bloodline with LLS.

Bonus Content! Go to the Subscriber Lounge to see what Gregory has been up to since this episode in our new After the Podcast segment.

Join us as we speak to Gregory Proctor, a myeloma patient, and Erica Ali, the Senior Manager of Copay and Patient Financial Assistance Programs at The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. In this episode, Gregory shares his story of his diagnosis with myeloma in July 2021 and how he has benefited from the LLS Copay Program, which provided financial support for his treatment. Erica discusses all of the financial programs that LLS has to support patients, what the funds cover, and how to apply for these programs. LLS Financial assistance improves patients’ access to care and is accessible to patients of all blood cancer diagnoses when funding is available.

Mentioned on this episode: 

• Multiple Myeloma
• Financial support
• Kut2ThaChase Podcast

Additional LLS Support Resources: 

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

The post LLS Financial Assistance: How We Can Help first appeared on The Bloodline with LLS.

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 LLS.

Join us as we speak with Donnie Hill, a chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) / small cell lymphocytic lymphoma (SLL) patient and his doctor, James Essell, MD, of Oncology Hematology Care, Inc. in Cincinnati, OH. In this episode, Donnie and Dr. Essell discuss the importance of shared decision making (SDM) and how they worked together to determine the best treatment course for Donnie’s CLL/SLL. Shared decision making is a key component of patient-centered healthcare that balances risks and expected outcomes with patient preferences and values. Be sure to tune into this real-world example of how SDM works and how patients can have open communication with their healthcare team.

Mentioned on this episode: 

• Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL)
• Small Cell Lymphocytic Lymphoma (SLL)
• Shared Decision Making Fact Sheet
• Shared Decision Making in Chronic Leukemias immersive program
• Anxiety and Hope: Living with Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL) podcast episode
• Minimal/Measurable Residual Disease
• Information Specialists

Additional LLS Support Resources: 

• Free telephone/web patient programs 
• Clinical Trial Support Center
• Free booklets 
• Financial support
• Online chats 
• Caregiver support 
• LLS Community 
• Support groups 
• Free Nutrition Consultations 
• LLS Advocacy
• LLS Myeloma Link

Support for this episode provided by AbbVie Inc. and Genentech, A Member of the Roche Group.

The post Patient-Doctor Perspectives: Shared Decision Making first appeared on The Bloodline with LLS.

Join us as we speak to Dr. Peter Riedell and Dr. Benjamin Derman from University of Chicago Medicine, about the latest research coming out of the annual meeting of the American Society of Hematology (ASH). In this episode, we discuss new treatments on the horizon for lymphoma and myeloma. The doctors share how innovative therapies such as CAR T-cell therapy and new combinations of medicines are showing significant promise, providing further hope to patients.

Mentioned on this episode: 

• Lymphoma
• Myeloma
• Amyloidosis
• MGUS (Monoclonal Gammopathy of Undetermined Significance)
• Smoldering myeloma (Myeloma staging)
• Minimal/Measurable Residual Disease (MRD)
• Bispecific Antibody Therapy
• ASH Annual Meeting Highlights
• Anxiety and Hope: Living with CLL podcast episode
• Dara-KRd
• CAR T-cell Therapy
• Stem Cell Transplant
• Graft-Vs-Host Disease

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 is provided by University of Chicago Medicine.

The post Emerging Research in Lymphoma and Myeloma first appeared on The Bloodline with LLS.

Join us as we speak to Dr. Lorna McNeill, a Professor and Associate Director for Health Disparities and Community Outreach at MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, TX, along with a special guest from our LLS Patient and Community Outreach team, Erika Pomares. In this episode, Dr. McNeill shares how people of color, particularly African Americans, have disproportionate rates of cancer incidence and death, but are also more likely to face racial bias in healthcare and clinical trials. She offers potential solutions to improve the healthcare outcomes for these underserved communities. Dr. McNeill and Erika also discuss the importance of community outreach, and how programs, like LLS’s Myeloma Link, have improved access to care and trust in the medical community.

Mentioned on this episode: 

• Myeloma Link
• Center for Community Engaged Translational Research
• The Black-White Gap in Blood Cancer Outcomes – Medical News Today
• National Institutes of Health Requirement for Women in Research
• Facial Racial Disparities As A Black Disabled Patient – Podcast Episode
• 100 Black Men of America organization
• Understanding Racial and Health Disparities in Healthcare (Dr. Steven Thomas)
• LLS Public Policy & Advocacy
• Clinical Trial Support Center

Additional LLS Support Resources: 

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

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

The post Addressing Racial Health Disparities Through Community Outreach first appeared on The Bloodline with LLS.

Join us as we speak to Michelle Bratton, a registered dietitian and certified oncology nutritionist with LLS’s PearlPoint Nutrition Services®. In this episode, Michelle shares the benefits of nutrition throughout treatment and survivorship. Rather than cutting out foods, she changes the narrative for cancer patients by encouraging them to nourish their bodies. She also shares how a patient – or caregiver – with any cancer diagnosis, can take advantage of a free nutrition consultation to further guide them through their cancer experience.

Mentioned on this episode: 

• PearlPoint Nutrition Services®
• LLS Nutrition Information
• National Cancer Institute Nutrition Information 
• Eating Well Magazine

Additional LLS Support Resources: 

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

Support for this episode provided by Bristol Myers Squibb; Genentech, Inc. & Biogen; Pharmacyclics LLC, An AbbVie Company & Janssen Biotech, Inc.

The post Making a Difference Through Nutrition first appeared on The Bloodline with LLS.

Join us as we speak to Donnie Hill, a patient living with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and small cell lymphocytic lymphoma (SLL). In this episode, Donnie shares his experience and the stresses of living with a chronic disease like CLL/SLL, the various treatments he has had since he was diagnosed in 2008 and how he has worked with his doctor to determine the best treatment for him. Don’t miss this engaging story of how, throughout his cancer journey, Donnie continues to celebrate life and hope with volunteering, advocacy and the love of his family.

Mentioned on this episode: 

• Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL)
• Small Cell Lymphocytic Lymphoma (SLL)
• Shared Decision Making in Chronic Leukemias
• Blood Cancer Conferences
• Light The Night
• Man and Woman of the Year
• Patti Robinson Kaufmann First Connection Program
• Information Specialists

Additional LLS Support Resources: 

• Free telephone/web patient programs 
• Clinical Trial Support Center
• Free booklets 
• Financial support
• Online chats 
• Caregiver support 
• LLS Community 
• Support groups 
• Free Nutrition Consultations 
• LLS Advocacy
• LLS Myeloma Link

Support for this episode provided by Eli Lilly.

The post Anxiety and Hope: Living with Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL) first appeared on The Bloodline with LLS.