Episodes - The Bloodline with Blood Cancer United Podcast

Join Alicia and Lizette as they speak with Dr. Rayne H. Rouce. Dr. Rouce is a pediatric hematologist and oncologist at Texas Children’s Cancer Center where she is a member of the Leukemia and Bone Marrow Transplant programs. Specifically, she works as part of a research program called The Center for Cell and Gene Therapy at Baylor College of Medicine, focused on translating targeted T-cell therapies from the bench to bedside, and has been involved in every aspect of CAR T-cell development for clinical use.  On this episode, Dr. Rouce explains the process of chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapy, also known as CAR T-cell therapy. She also explains the role of normal T cells, how re-engineered T cells are expected to perform after being reinfused into the patient, and the lifespan of these re-engineered T cells. Dr. Rouce shares her excitement not only for the future of CAR T-cell Therapy but also for the hope that this therapy provides to many patients and caregivers.

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Mentioned on this episode:

• CAR (chimeric antigen receptor) T-cell immunotherapy
• Clinical Trials
• Clinical Trial Support Center (CTSC)

Additional LLS Support Resources:

• CAR T-Cell Therapy Process
• Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR) T-Cell Therapy Facts
• Information Specialists
• Free telephone/web patient programs
• Free booklets
• Financial support
• Caregiver support
• Support groups

Support for this episode provided by Celgene; Kite, A Gilead Company; and Novartis Oncology.

The post CAR T-cell Therapy Explained: What Is It and How Does It Work? first appeared on The Bloodline with LLS.

Join in as Shona sits down with Ellen Polamero onsite at CancerCon 2019. Ellen is a clinical social worker at City of Hope in Duarte, California. CancerCon is an annual conference held year by Stupid Cancer, an organization that provides support to young adult cancer survivors. This is the fourth year that Ellen has hosted a ‘Couples Coping with Cancer’ session at CancerCon and shares why it is important to her to provide this offering. On this episode, Ellen speaks about the impact of cancer, not only on the specific person that is diagnosed, but on the family unit as a whole and on intimate partners specifically. She describes the challenges a couple may experience, expectations that couples may place on themselves, the importance of communication and various resources available to couples. Ellen shares key takeaways to help couples navigate their cancer journey.

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Mentioned on this episode:

• CancerCon
• ‘Couples Coping with Cancer Together Program’ at City of Hope
• The Dear Jack Foundation
• The American Cancer Society 
• Young adult information
• Relationships

Additional LLS support resources:

• Young adult videos
• Information Specialists
• Free telephone/web patient programs
• Free booklets
• Financial support
• Online chats
• Caregiver support
• LLS Community
• Support groups

Become a First Connection volunteer! Learn more by calling an LLS Information Specialist at (800) 955-4572, Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. ET or visiting www.LLS.org/InformationSpecialists.

The post Coping with Cancer as a Couple first appeared on The Bloodline with LLS.

Like any therapy that is administered in oncology, there is great promise but also, unfortunately, several toxicities and side effects that must be understood and monitored. Join Alicia and Lizette as they speak with Dr. Jonathon B. Cohen, an Assistant Professor in the Department of Hematology and Medical Oncology at Emory University School of Medicine in Atlanta, Georgia. On this episode, Dr. Cohen explains the potential side effects of chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapy, also known as CAR T-cell therapy. He describes how side effects may change over time and how a patient’s family members and caregivers can identify some of the more subtle neurologic toxicities that can potentially lead to more severe side effects. Dr. Cohen also shares great information about what patients can ask their doctors about CAR T-cell therapy and things to consider when having this conversation.

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Mentioned on this episode:

• CAR (chimeric antigen receptor) T-cell immunotherapy
• Possible Side Effects of CAR T-Cell Therapy
• Clinical Trials
• Communicating with Your Specialist

Additional LLS Support Resources:

• CAR T-Cell Therapy Process
• Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR) T-Cell Therapy Facts
• Information Specialists
• Free telephone/web patient programs
• Free booklets
• Financial support
• Caregiver support
• Support groups

Support for this episode provided by Celgene; Kite, A Gilead Company; and Novartis.

The post CAR T-Cell Therapy Explained: Understanding Potential Side Effects first appeared on The Bloodline with LLS.

Join Alicia and Lizette as they speak with Dr. Mohammad Maher Abdul-Hay, a hematologist and bone marrow transplant physician in New York, New York who is affiliated with multiple hospitals including NYC Health and Hospitals, Bellevue, and NYU Langone Hospitals. On this episode, Dr. Abdul-Hay explains how ALL is treated and addresses pre-treatment considerations. He also shares the long-term effects of treatment and the importance of getting a second opinion and open communication between a patient and their healthcare team.

Click here to listen to our other episode with Dr. Mohammad Maher Abdul-Hay where he explains how ALL is diagnosed.

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Mentioned on this episode:

• Acute lymphoblastic leukemia
• CAR (chimeric antigen receptor) T-cell immunotherapy
• Types of ALL treatment
• Allogeneic stem cell transplantation 
• Chemotherapy
• Clinical trials
• Relapsed and refractory

Additional LLS Support Resources:

• Information Specialists
• Free telephone/web patient programs
• Free booklets
• Financial support
• Caregiver support
• Support groups

Support for this episode provided by Amgen and Takeda Oncology.

The post Treating Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL) first appeared on The Bloodline with LLS.

There have been few advances in treatment for AML in 40 years. Why is acute myeloid leukemia (AML) so difficult to treat? What is the current treatment for AML? How is The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) striving to change that? How are targeted therapies being used for patients? Is immediate treatment for patients necessary for all AML patients? How does a patient’s ethnic background play a role in finding a matching bone marrow donor?

Join Alicia and Lizette as they address these questions and more with Dr. Martha Arellano from Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia. On this episode, Dr. Arellano addresses current treatment and treatment advances for AML, including stem cell transplantation and cellular therapy. She also explains the goal and impact of the Beat AML Master Trial, a groundbreaking collaborative and targeted clinical trial for patients with AML. Listen in as Dr. Arellano shares her excitement about the future of treatment for AML.

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Mentioned on this episode:

• Acute myeloid leukemia (AML)
• Treatment
• Beat AML Master Trial
• Myelodysplastic Syndromes (MDS)

Additional LLS Support Resources:

• Information Specialists
• Free telephone/web patient programs
• Free booklets
• Financial support
• Caregiver support
• Support groups

Support for this episode provided by Jazz Pharmaceuticals.

The post Treating Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) first appeared on The Bloodline with LLS.

As a junior in college and an intramural volleyball player who attributed the increasing pain in her right arm to the sport, Dawn Scott was forced to take notice when she woke up one day and realized that her arm was so swollen that she could not bend it. Although blood clots run in her family, there was a small voice that told her that it was something else. During her three-week admission time, she received her diagnosis of epithelioid hemangioendothelioma (EHE). Join in as Shona sits down with Dawn to discuss Dawn’s story and why Dawn believes fertility should be discussed between every patient and physician, even if the odds are slim. Although having a child naturally seemed unlikely, Dawn explored her other options and chose to pursue adoption. She shares her experience, advice she received from those around her, questions to ask, the differences she experienced between local and national adoption agencies, and how this experience has shaped her outlook on life. Hear Dawn’s story about how her and her husband, Brent, created the family they envisioned.

Mentioned on this episode:

• CancerCon
• Epithelioid hemangioendothelioma
• Adoption
• The Oncofertility Consortium
• Young adult information
• Fertility
• Relationships

Additional LLS support resources:

• Young adult videos
• Information Specialists
• Free telephone/web patient programs
• Free booklets
• Financial support
• Online chats
• Caregiver support
• LLS Community
• Support groups

The post Adopting After Cancer: Dawn’s Story first appeared on The Bloodline with LLS.

Join Alicia as she speaks with young adult leukemia survivor, Stephen and his wife, Rebecca. This episode was recorded onsite at the filming of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s young adult reunion video, which you can access here. As Stephen prepared when he would introduce Rebecca to his parents, he realized that he was experiencing shortness of breath which prompted an emergency room visit. While in the ER, he received the shocking diagnosis of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Having dated for only four months, it was in the ER where Rebecca met Stephen’s parents and where both Stephen and Rebecca knew that they had found the one. Listen in as they share their story about dating, fertility and the importance of advocating for the needs of a patient.

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Mentioned on this episode:

• Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL)
• Young adult information
• Fertility
• Relationships
• Communicating with your partner
• Suggestions for coping with cancer and intimacy

Additional LLS support resources:

• Young adult videos
• Information specialists
• Free telephone/web patient programs
• Free booklets
• Financial support
• Online chats
• Caregiver support
• LLS Community
• Support groups

Support for this episode provided by Amgen.

Become a First Connection volunteer! Learn more by calling an LLS Information Specialist at (800) 955-4572, Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. ET or visiting www.LLS.org/InformationSpecialists.

The post Dating with a Diagnosis: Stephen & Rebecca’s Story first appeared on The Bloodline with LLS.

Join Alicia and Lizette as they speak with Dr. Martha Arellano, Associate Professor of Hematology and Oncology and Program Director of the Hematology and Medical Oncology Fellowship Program at the Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia. On this episode, Dr. Arellano defines acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and how it is diagnosed. She addresses questions about cause and prevention and how treatment is determined for younger vs older patients. Dr. Arellano also explains the importance of a patient getting a second opinion to not only increase their education about diagnosis and treatment options but also as a way to move forward with a team they trust.

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Mentioned on this episode:

Additional LLS Support Resources:

Support for this episode provided by Jazz Pharmaceuticals.

The post Acute Myeloid Leukemia: Diagnosis & Prognosis first appeared on The Bloodline with LLS.

Join Alicia and Lizette as they speak with Dr. Mohammad Maher Abdul-Hay, a hematologist and bone marrow transplant physician in New York, New York who is affiliated with multiple hospitals including NYC Health and Hospitals, Bellevue, and NYU Langone Hospitals. On this episode, Dr. Abdul-Hay defines and explains how acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is diagnosed and the risk factors and symptoms of ALL. He also stresses the importance of patients and families asking questions along their treatment journey to ensure that they feel comfortable with their healthcare team.

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Mentioned on this episode:

Additional LLS Support Resources:

Support for this episode provided by Amgen and Takeda.

The post Diagnosing Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia first appeared on The Bloodline with LLS.

Join Alicia and Lizette as they speak with Dr. Marc Braunstein, a Board-certified hematologist, medical oncologist at NYU Winthrop in New York, NY. This is episode four of our five- part episode series, ‘Removing Mystery from Myeloma‘. On this episode, Dr. Braunstein explains how management of myeloma differs between younger and older patients. He stresses how treatment is not solely based on age and shares the other factors that are taken into consideration when determining how a patient may respond to treatment. Dr. Braunstein discusses minimal residual disease (MRD), the role of autologous and allogeneic transplant for myeloma patients and the difference between palliative and hospice care.

Be sure to listen to our other episodes from this series. The fifth episode will be launching this Spring.

Mentioned on this episode:

Other episodes from this series:

Additional LLS Support Resources:

Support for this episode provided by Amgen and Takeda.

The post Removing Mystery from Myeloma: Management of the Elderly Myeloma Patient first appeared on The Bloodline with LLS.