Latest news with #Leukemia&LymphomaSociety
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Community leaders raise funds for Leukemia & Lymphoma Society
SAVANNAH, Ga. (WSAV) — WSAV News 3's Ben Senger and Kaley Fedko were the hosts for the 2025 Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's 'Visionaries of the Year' awards ceremony Saturday. The 10-week campaign came to a close by honoring the candidates whose actions directly impact the lives of patients around the world. Candidates for Visionaries of the Year were Anna Young, Amanda Cutrer, Bridget McCarthy, Greg Finch, Katie Tashjian, Pritpal Singh and Sarah Araneda. The total amount raised during the 2025 Visionaries of the Year campaign was $481,158. Bridget McCarthy with Team Emily's Encore raised $143,182. Every team worked hard for weeks to raise funds needed to help the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's succeed in putting an end to blood cancer. Tom DeTulleo, Savannah's Campaign Development Director with LLS said, 'We raised over $100K at the Gala, including a frantic and awe-inspiring $74K during Fund the Fight!! The celebrations were electric and there was never a moment — not one — where the mission wasn't front and center. I love what we do, why we do it, who we do it for, and who we do it with. It was a special campaign, an extraordinary evening, and an experience I'll never forget.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
03-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
I survived blood cancer as a child. Help others beat leukemia and lymphoma.
'Your son has a fifty-fifty chance to live.' I don't have children of my own, so it's hard to imagine how a parent responds to those words. But 28 years ago, my parents found themselves facing that dilemma. It's strange to look back on a moment I don't remember and think about how — at an age when death is on the horizon for so few — my life was already down to coinflip. But that's the reality of cancer. Specifically, acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL). ALL results when a cancerous growth causes immature lymphocytes — a certain type of white blood cells — to grow uncontrollably and thereby prevent the production of healthy white and red blood cells. Because of the progression of my illness when I was first diagnosed, I was labeled a 'high-risk' patient. And so I began 30 months of chemotherapy. One of the 'perks' of being diagnosed so young is that I don't remember many of its effects — the vomiting, nausea, inability to sleep, weight loss, hair loss, et cetera. I only have pictures and brief glimpses of memories from that time. Like of showing up to kindergarten hooked up to an IV. Or of the many hours spent in a hospital room or bed. And the scars with which I can remember the intravenous infusions. That said, I do have my life, and I avoided many of the long-term side effects associated with some of the experimental drugs I took. Some people who participated in the same trials experienced severe heart issues and significant developmental issues. I remain grateful that my survival did not come at the cost of my long-term health. And while I have personal experience with blood cancer, so do thousands of other Americans. Roughly 200,000 people are diagnosed with a blood cancer on a yearly basis. Blood cancer will claim the lives of 55,000 Americans every year. And that's to say nothing of the thousands of others who will be impacted by a cancer diagnosis — family, friends, co-workers, community, and more. But that doesn't mean that cancer is inevitable. Over the past 50 years, survival rates for three most common blood cancers — leukemia, non-Hodgkin lymphoma, and Hodgkin lymphoma — have increased by leaps and bounds. A patient diagnosed with leukemia in 1975 had a survival rate of about 34% on average. A patient diagnosed today would survive about 70% of the time. That's a monumental accomplishment, one that has been possible only through billions of dollars in research and public-private partnerships. But that balance is in more danger than ever. Politically-driven changes at the federal level threaten billions in dollars in research funding, with the potential for more on the way. And fewer Americans are donating to charity, even if the average donation amount is up. That's part of the reason that I work with the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS). The LLS has been at the forefront of the battle against blood cancer for the last 80 years, and it will continue to lead the charge in the years to come. They funded several of the experimental drugs that helped rid me of cancer, and they helped me gain access to the clinical trials for those drugs. In addition to research, the money they raise also goes to support patients who are currently battling cancer. And they provide that support to thousands of patients and families every year. All that's to say, I hope that you will consider donating to my campaign for the LLS (you can donate here - The money goes to a good cause (but you can also check the organization out here - and every dollar counts. With your help, we can find a cure. Jacob Durst lives in Nashville with his puppy, Meatloaf. He is strategic litigation counsel in the Strategic Litigation Unit within the Office of the Tennessee Attorney General and is a childhood leukemia survivor. This article represents the opinions of the author and not necessarily those of the Office of the Tennessee Attorney General and Reporter. This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Support efforts to fight and cure leukemia and lymphoma | Opinion
Yahoo
01-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Tampa toddler named 2025 ‘honored hero' after beating cancer before her 2nd birthday
TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — At just two years old, Lana Michel has already overcome a battle most adults can't imagine, and now, she's being celebrated as a symbol of resilience and hope. Diagnosed with a rare form of leukemia just months after her first birthday, Lana faced an intense medical journey that included multiple rounds of chemotherapy and even spending Christmas in the hospital. Her diagnosis, acute myeloid leukemia, was linked to her having Down syndrome, something her parents, Olivia and her husband, knew could increase her risk, but still weren't fully prepared for. 'My poor baby is going to have to endure so much,' said Olivia. 'We were actually in the car when we found out, and we just had to pull over and cry.' But Lana fought hard, and just before her second birthday, doctors delivered the news her family had been praying for: she was in remission. 'That was the best feeling,' said Olivia. 'She's in remission now.' Now, the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society is honoring Lana as their 2025 Honored Hero, a title that recognizes her courage and determination. She'll be recognized at the Visionaries of the Year Gala Friday evening at Armature Works in Tampa, where she'll take the spotlight in a red dress and little black heels. 'She inspires me, and I thought that she could inspire other people,' Olivia said. As Lana plays happily at home these days, her story is already making an impact. Olivia hopes it gives strength to other families navigating a cancer diagnosis in children. 'Take it one day at a time. There will be hard days, for sure,' said Olivia. 'But there will also be good in some days.' The Visionaries of the Year Gala begins at 6 p.m. Friday at Armature Works. All funds raised will go toward cancer research and family support services provided by the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Associated Press
21-04-2025
- Health
- Associated Press
LLS Expands its Global Master Trial for Hard-To-Treat Leukemias in Children
Marks the First-Ever Global Pediatric Trial for Menin Inhibitors The PedAL (Pediatric Acute Leukemia) Master Trial is at the heart of LLS's Dare to Dream Project to transform treatment and care for kids with blood cancer WASHINGTON, April 21, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) announced today the first pediatric patient has received treatment in a new subtrial of its Pediatric Acute Leukemia (PedAL) Master Clinical Trial ( NCT04726241 ). PedAL is a first-of-its-kind integrated worldwide master trial that tests multiple targeted drugs simultaneously to accelerate treatments for leukemia, the most common childhood cancer. Infants and children with specific types of relapsed/refractory leukemia (KMT2A-rearranged, NUP98-rearranged, or NPM1-mutant acute leukemia) are now eligible to enroll in the subtrial, which is investigating a combination of chemotherapy and a menin inhibitor. This subtrial involves pediatric patients with some of the most common and hardest-to-treat leukemias. In fact, 80% of infants with acute lymphoblastic leukemia have a genetic rearrangement of the KMT2A gene. About 40% of infants with acute myeloid leukemia have one of the three specific types of leukemia that the trial's treatment targets1. Menin inhibitors are a new and promising class of drugs that block the interaction between other proteins and the menin protein. Research has shown that the menin protein is responsible for driving progression of certain types of leukemia. The new subtrial is open in North America at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Cincinnati Children's Hospital, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago and SickKids - The Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto. Global trial sites are open in Spain, the Netherlands, France and Austria. 'It is rare for a trial to be so ambitious and forward thinking about the needs of children while studies in adults are still ongoing. The new subtrial is evaluating the safety, efficacy and dosing for the treatment of certain acute leukemias in pediatric patients,' says E. Anders Kolb, M.D. President and Chief Executive Officer of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. 'Historically, cancer treatments have been evaluated in adults first and if successful, then children. This has resulted in a nearly decade-long delay between when therapies are first available for adults compared to children.' The new subtrial brings LLS one step closer to achieving its bold goal: By 2040, LLS will enable patients with blood cancer to gain more than one million years of life. New trial expands on PedAL, builds on success of LLS's Dare to Dream Project PedAL launched in 2022 with one treatment subtrial investigating venetoclax. That trial is now open at approximately 80 clinical sites in 19 countries across the globe. Enrollment in the treatment trials begins with the robust PedAL screening trial ( NCT04726241 ), open in 179 sites in the United States, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. To date, the screening trial has enrolled almost 450 children to identify their unique tumor biology and help match them to any targeted treatment clinical trial they are eligible for, whether in or outside of PedAL. Because blood cancers are more common in adults, there is a larger incentive for new treatments to be developed in that population, and progress for pediatric acute leukemia has fallen behind. PedAL is changing this paradigm. A delay in research and the development of therapies for children with aggressive forms of cancer threatens their survival. Today, leukemia is the second leading cause of cancer deaths in children. And for children who survive, 80% develop life-altering and chronic health issues from their treatment. 'More children are being diagnosed with leukemia today than ever before,' says Kim Schuetz, an oncology nurse, an LLS Dare to Dream Ambassador and mother to Austin, who was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia in 2011. 'We need to study more treatment options for these children. Through Dare to Dream, we're striving to transform care, so they don't experience a laundry list of life-long health issues and the possibility of developing secondary cancers because of treatment from standard therapies, such as harmful chemotherapies.' LLS has supported the development of menin inhibitors over two decades In the early 2000s, LLS provided funding to a group of bright scientific investigators, which led them to discover the menin protein inside cancer cells and its role in the devastating effects of certain forms of leukemia. Over the next several years, LLS provided more than $6 million through its venture philanthropy program, the Therapy Acceleration Program (TAP), to scientists at the University of Michigan. They discovered small molecule inhibitors of the interaction of two proteins, menin and KMT2A/MLL, that, when fused together, drive progression of AML. With TAP funding, the scientists demonstrated the activity of their compounds in the laboratory setting. To facilitate translation of the scientists' progress in the laboratory to the clinic, LLS introduced the scientists to a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company. Helping children with blood cancer survive and thrive Dare to Dream is transforming treatment and care for kids with blood cancer, so they not only survive but thrive after treatment. PedAL is an integral part of LLS's Dare to Dream Project along with support services, advocacy efforts and funding for blood cancer research: 'The successes of the Dare to Dream Project, now and in the future, positions us well to reach our bold goal of enabling blood cancer patients to gain more than one million years of life by 2040,' says Gwen Nichols, M.D., Chief Medical Officer of LLS. 'Advances in treatment and care, spearheaded by Dare to Dream, will give even more children a chance to grow and thrive into adulthood.' People can donate to LLS at any time. From May 12-16, all donations made to LLS will go directly to The Dare to Dream Project. Interested in donating to The Dare to Dream Project? Visit this link for more information. About The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society® (LLS) is the global leader in the fight against blood cancer. The LLS mission: Cure blood cancer and improve the quality of life of all patients and their families. LLS funds lifesaving blood cancer research around the world, provides free information and support services, and is the voice for all blood cancer patients seeking access to quality, affordable, coordinated care. Founded in 1949, LLS has regions throughout the United States and Canada. To learn more, visit Patients should contact the Information Resource Center at (800) 955-4572, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. ET. For additional information, visit Follow us on Facebook, X, Instagram, LinkedIn and TikTok. About The Dare to Dream Project Dare to Dream exists to transform treatment and care for kids with blood cancer. Because kids are different and need to be treated differently, Dare to Dream funds groundbreaking research and the LLS PedAL Master Clinical Trial as well as expands LLS support services and drives advocacy efforts to help all kids with blood cancers get accessible, affordable, quality healthcare. LLS proudly and gratefully acknowledges all those contributing to the LLS mission, including corporate partners Walgreens, Valvoline™ Global Operations, The Wawa Foundation, and Subaru of America, Inc. and its retailers who have each pledged over $1 million to Dare to Dream. LLS also recognizes Sarah Asma and the Moore family; The Don & Lorraine Freeberg Foundation; The Harry T. Mangurian Jr. Foundation; Norcross Foundation, Inc.; Joan and Paul Rubschlager; and The Bobby Zahurak Pediatric AML Research and Patient Support Fund for their outstanding contributions to Dare to Dream. For more information about Dare to Dream, including resources for patients and their families, trial details, and eligibility, visit: About LLS PedAL As part of LLS's Dare to Dream Project, the Pediatric Acute Leukemia Master Trial (PedAL) is the first-of-its-kind global master clinical trial for pediatric acute leukemia patients that will fundamentally change how children are treated. Prior to enrolling in therapeutic trials, patients enroll in the PedAL Screening Trial ( NCT04726241 ) to identify the unique tumor biology of each child's cancer and help them to match with the most promising treatment. The Screening Trial is currently open at multiple sites in the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. At this time, two PedAL therapeutic trials are open and actively enrolling patients in the U.S., Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, and Europe, with more therapeutic trials planned for global execution. To learn more about PedAL, visit PedAL would not be possible without the support of major foundation donors such as Gateway for Cancer Research, which pledged $1.5 million over three years to support genomic sequencing and flow cytometry, which is being conducted through the PedAL screening trial, and the Lisa Dean Moseley Foundation, which has committed $1.25 million over five years to support the PedAL Principal Investigators Fellowship Program, whose members are leading the PedAL screening trial and therapeutic trials. Media Contact: Sandra Salviejo Senior Director, Communications [email protected] Reference: 1 Juul-Dam KL et al. European Journal of Medical Genetics 2023 View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS)
Associated Press
21-04-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
United To End Blood Cancer: Dedicated Volunteers Across the U.S. are Helping Patients Live Longer Better Lives
Business & Community Leaders Join The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's 2025 Visionaries of the Year 36th Annual Philanthropic Competition WASHINGTON, April 21, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Now underway for the 36th consecutive year, business and community leaders across the U.S. are committed to improving the lives of those impacted by blood cancer through The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's (LLS) Visionaries of the Year philanthropic campaign. Participants have 10 weeks to raise funds that will directly support LLS's life-changing work. LLS recognizes these inspiring individuals as 'Visionaries,' who are dedicated volunteers fundraising and creating awareness about blood cancer in their very own communities. Through their efforts, LLS is getting closer to its recently announced bold goal: to enable blood cancer patients to gain more than one million years of life by 2040. 'Gaining one million years of life means more birthdays, graduations, weddings, holidays and memories shared with family and friends,' said Coker Powell, LLS Chief Revenue Officer. 'Together, we are helping cancer patients live longer, better lives.' For over 75 years, LLS has been united in action, making measurable progress across its 360-approach to cancer treatment and care. During the campaign, Visionaries candidates form powerful fundraising teams and center their efforts around one of LLS's three core 'mission pillars"— policy and advocacy, patient education and support or research — dedicating their work to local blood cancer survivors. Top fundraisers in each market receive the coveted title of local Visionary of the Year - and the reward of making a life-changing impact - while the top fundraiser overall is named the 'National Visionary of the Year,' to be announced this June. This year's Visionaries of the Year candidate class is featured in a celebratory announcement on here. LEARN MORE: Visit About The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society® (LLS) is the global leader and innovator in creating a world without blood cancer. The LLS mission: Cure blood cancer and improve the quality of life of all patients and their families. LLS is focused on accelerating research, providing free support and services, and advocating for policies to ensure access to quality, affordable care. For more than 75 years, LLS has been helping blood cancer patients live longer, better lives. To learn more, visit Patients can contact the Information Resource Center at (800) 955-4572, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. ET. Connect with us on Facebook, X, Instagram, LinkedIn and TikTok. LLS Media Contact: [email protected]. View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS)
