Listen in as Alicia and Lizette from The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society speak with Bishoy Tadros.  Bishoy was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) at three years old. As an Egyptian immigrant with many things for his family to consider such as, where the best treatment would be and how to go about relocating, Bishoy describes his journey as a cancer survivor. He explains the challenges he faced both individually and as a family, his turning point which occurred in 2017 at Mile 40 of an IronMan, and what his diagnosis has taught him about overcoming life’s obstacles.

Mentioned on this episode:

• Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia
• Leukemia
• Bishoy Tadros
• Venous

Additional LLS support

• Information

Support for this episode provided by Amgen and Takeda Oncology.

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 Survivor, Author, Athlete & Overcomer: Bishoy’s Story first appeared on The Bloodline.

Listen in as Alicia and Lizette speak with Casey Biltz Marsh. Casey is a high school mathematics teacher and acute myeloid leukemia (AML) survivor. With Spring Break approaching, Casey noticed her increasing fatigue however, attributed it to the demands of a high school teacher during that time. Casey realized something was very wrong when she attended a Garth Brooks concert with ‘standing room only’ tickets and found herself paying a nearby shoe shine station multiple times just to get off her feet. Join the conversation as Casey describes how her life changed after her fourth visit to Urgent Care. She shares how she was diagnosed with AML, how she prepared for and recovered from her stem cell transplant, the importance of asking questions and maintaining a positive mindset even during the roughest times.  

Mentioned on this episode:

• Acute myeloid leukemia (AML)
• Treatment for AML
• Beat AML Master Trial
• Stem Cell Transplantation
• Light The Night
• Volunteering at LLS

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 Jazz Pharmaceuticals.

The post Still Sparkling After AML: Casey’s Story first appeared on The Bloodline with LLS.

Listen in as Alicia and Lizette speak with Alan Kraimer. Alan is an acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) survivor who owns a small medical supply distribution company in Georgia. In 2014, what Alan and doctors believed to be strep throat soon proved to be otherwise. It was not until his third visit to Urgent Care that he was referred to a hematologist in which he received his leukemia diagnosis. Join Alan, Alicia and Lizette as Alan shares how he was diagnosed, questions he had for his healthcare team, the important role his wife played as his caregiver, and how he learned about an interesting new treatment for his dry eyes called autologous serum drops.

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Mentioned on this episode:

• Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia
• Leukemia
• Stem cell transplant
• Autologous serum eye drops
• Side effects
• Patti Robinson Kaufmann First Connection Program

Additional LLS support resources:

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

Support for this episode provided by Amgen and Takeda Oncology.

The post My ALL Diagnosis: Alan’s Story first appeared on The Bloodline with LLS.

Join in as Shona sits down with Elissa Baldwin onsite at CancerCon 2019. CancerCon is an annual conference held every year by Stupid Cancer, an organization that provides support to young adult cancer survivors. Elissa is a young adult acute myeloid leukemia (AML) survivor. After a bone marrow biopsy two weeks earlier, she went on a solo trip to Europe and was diagnosed by email while staying in a hostel in Lisbon, Portugal. She was able to book an emergency flight back home to Portland, OR to begin chemotherapy within a week. On this episode, Elissa shares how and when she was diagnosed, the emotional and physical challenges she experienced and how her diagnosis served as inspiration for a career change. She emphasizes the importance of therapy during a cancer diagnosis and continues to serve as a source of encouragement for other young adult survivors.

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Mentioned on this episode:

• CancerCon
• Acute myeloid leukemia (AML)
• Treatment for AML
• Beat AML Master Trial
• Light The Night
• Volunteering at LLS

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 Jazz Pharmaceuticals.

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 My AML Diagnosis: Elissa’s Story 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.

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 from The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society as they speak with Dr. Ann LaCasce, Program Director of the Dana-Farber/ Partners CancerCare Fellowship, the largest hematology/oncology training program in the country. On this episode, Dr. LaCasce explains the difference between chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and small lymphocytic lymphoma (SLL), CLL and its connection with Agent Orange exposure, resources available for Veterans, current and emerging therapies, clinical trials and the importance of medication adherence. Dr. LaCasce shares her excitement for what is to come for CLL treatment and her appreciation for fellow providers around the world, who work to move science forward as they continue to learn from each other. 

You can listen to our other episode with Dr. LaCasce about CLL here.

Support for this episode provided by Pharmacyclics.

The post CLL: Risk Factors, Resources and Research first appeared on The Bloodline with LLS.

Listen in as Alicia and Lizette chat with Dr. Ann LaCasce, a Program Director of the Dana-Farber/ Partners CancerCare Fellowship, the largest hematology/oncology training program in the country. While studying pre-med, Dr. LaCasce took additional classes that piqued her interest in art history. After managing an art gallery in New York for five years and returning to medical school, she found that being visually oriented allowed her to approach hematology with creativity while caring for her patients. Join in as Dr. LaCasce discusses diagnosis and treatment of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), small cell lymphocytic lymphoma (SLL), the importance of patients feeling comfortable with their healthcare team and why she prefers the term ‘active surveillance’ over ‘watch and wait’ when monitoring a patient’s disease.

You can listen to our other episode with Dr. LaCasce about CLL here.

Mentioned on this episode:

LLS Support Resources:

Support for this episode provided by Pharmacyclics.

The post Understanding a CLL Diagnosis first appeared on The Bloodline with LLS.