In this special episode of The Bloodline, we introduce our new name and what it means for blood cancer patients, caregivers, and the wider community. Joining us from Blood Cancer United are Dr. Andy Kolb, President & CEO; Dr. Eric Cooks, Senior Director of the Equity & Access Research Program; and Bryon Daily, myeloma survivor and Senior Manager of National Community Outreach. Together, they share why inclusivity and unity are at the heart of Blood Cancer United and how this evolution strengthens our mission to support every person impacted by blood cancer.

Mentioned on this episode: 

Additional LLS Support Resources: 

The post We are Blood Cancer United: a new name, an unstoppable community first appeared on The Bloodline with Blood Cancer United Podcast.

In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Bilal Abid from University of Texas Health Science Center in Houston to discuss how healthcare disparities have an effect on cancer care — especially when it comes to cutting-edge treatments such as stem cell transplantations and CAR T-cell therapy. We discuss how race, socioeconomic status, education, and geographic location can determine a patient’s access to cancer care. With travel, insurance, and systemic barriers in the mix, we explore what patients can do to navigate these challenges, and how treatment centers and policymakers are contributing to ensure equitable access to care for all patients.

Mentioned on this episode: 

Additional LLS Support Resources: 

Supported by Genentech, A Member of the Roche Group.

The post Impact of Disparity: Navigating Treatment Equality in Cancer Care first appeared on The Bloodline with Blood Cancer United Podcast.

Navigating the maze of cancer care can be overwhelming.

Join us as Sara Grisales Jaramillo, LMSW, of CancerCare® discusses the challenges patients face in accessing affordable treatment and strategies to improve cancer outcomes.

Mentioned on this episode: 

Additional LLS Support Resources: 

Support for this episode is provided by Genentech, a member of the Roche Group.

The post Overcoming Barriers: Navigating Cancer Care first appeared on The Bloodline with Blood Cancer United Podcast.

In this episode, Dr. Sharon Castellino, a pediatric oncologist at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, examines the impact of healthcare equity and barriers to care for patients and caregivers dealing with blood cancer.

Dr. Castellino sheds light on how groundbreaking treatments have transformed the landscape of cancer care, emphasizing the crucial role that LLS, patient advocates and government entities can play in ensuring accessible and quality care for all.

Mentioned on this episode: 

Additional LLS Support Resources: 

Support for this episode provided by: Genentech, Inc. & Biogen and Merck & Co., Inc.

The post Bridging the Gaps: Striving for Accessible Cancer Care first appeared on The Bloodline with Blood Cancer United Podcast.

When adolescents and young adults (AYA) are diagnosed with cancer, they face unique challenges that aren’t seen as frequently in other age groups.  Healthcare and nonprofit professionals around the world are listening to patients and researching these issues to improve quality of life during and after treatment.

In this episode, we are taking you onsite to the 5th Annual Global Adolescent and Young Adult Cancer Congress in Long Beach, CA. Elissa met with experts who discussed mental health, the resiliency of AYA patients when facing uncertainty, healthcare transitions and disparities, and how patients can advocate for their care. 

Mentioned on this episode: 

Additional LLS Support Resources: 

The post The Bloodline Live: Emphasizing the Patient Voice in Young Adult Cancer Care first appeared on The Bloodline with Blood Cancer United Podcast.

Please join us for the latest episode of our Community Outreach In The Field series, where our field correspondents, comprised of LLS Staff, will be on the ground interviewing health advocates, patients, caregivers and healthcare professionals in the communities in which they serve. These episodes will make listeners feel like they are right in the middle of the action!

In this episode, Mia Johnson, the National Community Outreach Manager for LLS’s Myeloma Link program, hosted an event curated for Black women called “Red, Bred & Led” in Houston, TX. This weekend-long event consisted of a Sip and Paint Party, a Luxe brunch, and Sunday worship, all with an educational overview of multiple myeloma. This event heightened awareness of how myeloma disproportionately affects Black communities.  A heavy focus was given on female caregivers, and how they can spread awareness and share resources available to them within their families and communities if a loved one is diagnosed with a blood cancer. 

Mentioned on this episode: 

Additional LLS Support Resources: 

Support for this episode provided by: Bristol Myers Squibb; Eli Lilly and Company; GSK and Pharmacyclics, An AbbVie Company & Janssen Biotech.

The post Community Outreach in The Field: Red, Bred & Led Houston first appeared on The Bloodline with Blood Cancer United Podcast.

Join us live from Miami, FL, as we talk about healthcare disparities and equity with Dr. Erin Kobetz of Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center and Seth Berkowitz, Director of Patient and Community Outreach at LLS.

In this episode, we discuss how organizations like Sylvester and LLS work together to address healthcare gaps and barriers that patients may face in accessing quality and affordable cancer care.

The diverse population in South Florida has provided opportunities for researchers, cancer advocates and community health workers to implement new, innovative programs with the goal of giving every person the same access to care.

Mentioned on this episode: 

• Sylvester Community Advisory Committee
• National Cancer Institute
• LLS Blood Cancer Conferences
• The Paradox of Prevention – Geoffrey Rose
• Game-changer vehicles
• Medical Care for Undocumented People (En Español)

Additional LLS Support Resources: 

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

Support for this program is provided by: Bristol Myers Squibb; Eli Lilly and Company; GSK and Pharmacyclics, An AbbVie Company & Janssen Biotech.

The post Chipping Away at the Iceberg: Addressing Healthcare Disparities and Equity first appeared on The Bloodline with Blood Cancer United Podcast.

Please join us for a brand new series called, Community Outreach In The Field, where our field correspondents, comprised of LLS Staff, will be interviewing health advocates, patients, caregivers and healthcare professionals in the communities in which they serve. These episodes will give the listener the feel that they are right in the middle of the action.

In the first episode, Bryon Daily, the National Community Outreach Manager for LLS’ Myeloma Link Program, explored one of the newest outreach settings called Blood and Chess. This chess event took place in Atlanta, Georgia, at The Anguished Barber and is designed as an off shoot of the barbershop model, where advocates can spread blood cancer awareness in comfortable community settings and help to decrease healthcare disparities of underserved communities.

Mentioned on this episode: 

Additional LLS Support Resources: 

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

The post Community Outreach In The Field: Blood and Chess Atlanta first appeared on The Bloodline with Blood Cancer United Podcast.

Únase a nosotros mientras hablamos con Ana Zermeño y Ana Victoria Portillo sobre asistencia financiera y recursos para pacientes que enfrentan un diagnóstico de cáncer de la sangre. Ana Zermeño es trabajadora social del Centro Médico de la Universidad de California en San Francisco. Ana Victoria Portillo, también trabajadora social, es Especialista en Información en La Sociedad de Lucha contra la Leucemia y el Linfoma (LLS, por sus siglas en inglés). Ambos ayudan a los pacientes y sus familias a navegar por sus finanzas, así como a encontrar información y apoyo. En este episodio se analizan los recursos financieros.

Enlaces:

• Programas de asistencia económica al paciente
• Especialista en Información de LLS
• LLS.org/Espanol
• Ayuda con los asuntos financieros / Help With Finances
• El cáncer y tus finanzas
• Programas sociales del Gobierno

Por favor, envíenos sus comentarios sobre este episodio. Si desea asistencia financiera personalizada, proporciónenos su nombre, dirección de correo electrónico y/o número de teléfono para que un Especialista en Información se comunique con usted.

The post En Español: Asistencia Financiera Después de su Diagnóstico first appeared on The Bloodline with Blood Cancer United Podcast.

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 Blood Cancer United Podcast.