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 Blood Cancer United Podcast.

Join us for our special series where we focus on adult child caregivers of a parent with cancer.  In this series we will be listening in on a conversation between a social worker and caregiver as they navigate the various stages of a parent’s cancer journey – diagnosis, treatment, the role reversal from child to parent caregiver, and post-treatment survivorship.

In the fourth episode of this series, Jennifer Bires, MSW, LCSW, OSW-C, will talk with caregiver, Rob Coles about the experience of caregiving for his stepfather through the survivorship stage of multiple myeloma.

Register at the link below.

Mentioned on this episode: 

• Myeloma
• Stem Cell Transplant
• Immunotherapy
• Caregiver support 

Additional LLS Support Resources: 

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

Support for this episode provided by the Carolan Research Institute.

The post Cancer & Caregiving: Navigating My Parent’s Cancer – Survivorship first appeared on The Bloodline with Blood Cancer United Podcast.

Join us for our special series where we focus on adult child caregivers of a parent with cancer.  In this series we will be listening in on a conversation between a social worker and caregiver as they navigate the various stages of a parent’s cancer journey – diagnosis, treatment, the role reversal from child to parent caregiver, and post-treatment survivorship.

In the third episode of this series, Jennifer Bires, MSW, LCSW, OSW-C, will talk with caregiver, Rob Coles about the experience of caregiving for his stepfather through the role reversal stage of multiple myeloma.

Register at the link below.

Mentioned on this episode: 

• Myeloma
• Stem Cell Transplant
• Immunotherapy
• Caregiver support 

Additional LLS Support Resources: 

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

Support for this episode provided by the Carolan Research Institute.

The post Cancer & Caregiving: Navigating My Parent’s Cancer – Role Reversal first appeared on The Bloodline with Blood Cancer United Podcast.

Join us for our special series where we focus on adult child caregivers of a parent with cancer.  In this series we will be listening in on a conversation between a social worker and caregiver as they navigate the various stages of a parent’s cancer journey – diagnosis, treatment, the role reversal from child to parent caregiver, and post-treatment survivorship.

In the second episode of this series, Jennifer Bires, MSW, LCSW, OSW-C, will talk with caregiver, Rob Coles about the experience of caregiving for his stepfather through the treatment stage of multiple myeloma.

Register at the link below.

Mentioned on this episode: 

• Myeloma
• Stem Cell Transplant
• Immunotherapy
• Caregiver support

Additional LLS Support Resources: 

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

Support for this episode provided by the Carolan Research Institute.

The post Cancer & Caregiving: Navigating My Parent’s Cancer – Treatment first appeared on The Bloodline with Blood Cancer United Podcast.

Join us for our special series where we focus on adult child caregivers of a parent with cancer. In this series we will be listening in on a conversation between a social worker and caregiver as they navigate the various stages of a parent’s cancer journey – diagnosis, treatment, the role reversal from child to parent caregiver, and post-treatment survivorship.

In the first episode of this series, Jennifer Bires, MSW, LCSW, OSW-C, will talk with caregiver, Rob Coles about the experience of caregiving for his stepfather through the diagnosis stage of multiple myeloma.

Register at the link below.

Mentioned on this episode: 

• Myeloma
• Stem Cell Transplant
• Immunotherapy
• Caregiver support 

Additional LLS Support Resources: 

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

Support for this episode provided by the Carolan Research Institute.

The post Cancer & Caregiving: Navigating My Parent’s Cancer – Diagnosis 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 this insightful conversation as Alicia, Edith and Lizette sit down to chat with Dr. Stephen B. Thomas, one of the nation’s leading scholars in the effort to eliminate racial and ethnic health disparities. Dr. Thomas is a Professor of Health Policy & Management and Director of the Maryland Center for Health Equity at the University of Maryland School of Public Health.  On this episode, Dr. Thomas explains structural determinants of health and defines ‘health disparity’ and ‘health equity’ as it relates to ethnicity and race in America. Dr. Thomas emphasizes that only together can we create lasting change and better outcomes for all people. He explains how his students and colleagues continue to think outside the box when creating ways to bring education and awareness to those within marginalized groups. Dr. Thomas shares the results of various research studies, current trends and future plans and projects that help to address racial and ethnic disparities within healthcare.

Mentioned on this episode:

• Race,

Additional LLS support resources:

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

The post Understanding Racial and Ethnic Disparities Within Healthcare first appeared on The Bloodline with Blood Cancer United Podcast.

Oya knew he was sick, but his inclinations were met with people telling him he was a hypochondriac.  Oya recounts the moment in his life when he decided to increase his health insurance after being told by doctors that he was fine for many years prior.  It was during the insurance company’s own testing that they told him something was wrong and instructed him to bring their results of his blood work back to his primary doctor.  Through a series of tests, he later received his myeloma diagnosis.  Listen in as Alicia, Edith and Lizette speak with Oya about the importance of advocating for yourself when something feels ‘off’.  Having been diagnosed in his 40s, Oya shares how he was diagnosed, signs and symptoms he experienced, the effects of his treatment, the importance of open communication with a patient’s healthcare team and the vital role of a caregiver.  He describes the many friendships he has made throughout this journey and the lessons he has learned about life overall.

Mentioned on this episode:

• Myeloma
• Myeloma Link initiative
• Stem cell transplantation with high-dose chemotherapy
• Dental and Oral Complications of Cancer Treatment Facts
• Patti Robinson Kaufmann First Connection Program
• Myeloma booklets
• Oya and Tim’s podcast

Additional LLS Support Resources:

• Information

Support for this episode provided by Amgen.

The post Moving Forward with Myeloma: Oya’s Story first appeared on The Bloodline with Blood Cancer United Podcast.

Eating a well-balanced diet is important, especially with a diagnosis of multiple myeloma. A proper diet during and after cancer treatment can help you feel better, maintain your strength, and positively impact recovery time. Listen in as Alicia and Lizette speak with Gina DeLuca. Gina is an Outpatient Oncology Dietitian for the Center for Cancer Care at NYU Winthrop Hospital. There, she provides individual nutrition counseling and group nutrition education presentations to patients during all phases of oncology care including prevention, treatment and survivorship. On this episode, Gina shares the types of foods that may benefit a myeloma patient and the types of food that they should avoid. Gina also explains why vitamin supplementation should be discussed thoroughly with a patient’s healthcare team, the link between myeloma and obesity, the truth about sugar and its relation to cancer, what foods can potentially interfere with treatment and useful resources for patients and their families.

Please comment below as we’d love to hear your feedback on this episode. Also, be sure to subscribe today to be notified of our next episode.

Mentioned in this episode:

• One-on-one nutrition consultation
• Food and Nutrition Fact Sheet
• LLS Blood Cancer Conferences
• Environmental Working Group
• Clean 15
• Dirty Dozen
• Foodsafety.gov
• American Cancer Society
• Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics
• Oncologynutrition.org
• American Institute for Cancer Research
• National Cancer Institute
• Eating Hints: Before, during and after Cancer Treatment

Additional LLS Support Resources:

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

Support for this episode provided by Amgen and Takeda.

The post Diagnosed with Myeloma: What Should I Eat? first appeared on The Bloodline with Blood Cancer United Podcast.

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 Blood Cancer United Podcast.