Fire with Fire: We Want to Cure Cancer (short video)

Who would dare to pit one fatal disease against another… inside the body of a six-year-old patient? The results will shatter all expectations.

This is a short film on how some doctors are trying to find a cure for cancer using a whole new method.

You can support The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society find a cure for cancer.
Donate here! 

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In Honor of Camila

Camila de la Llata:

Today I was saddened to find out the news that a young woman, only 23 years old passed away on June 9th from Acute Myeloid Leukemia.

I first met Camila when I worked at a summer camp in college. She was just finishing her Freshman year of High School and was full of life and energy. Despite the age gap between us there was something about Camila that made you want to be her friend. It was great getting to know her that summer and watch her perform in the camp play.

I never really spoke with Camila again after that summer, but we were Facebook friends and would keep in touch with each others lives.

Last fall, Camila was diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia. At this point I was already committed to The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. Finding out this news just continue to fuel my passion and I signed up to complete my first triathlon in her honor. I sent Camila an email telling her I was thinking about her and tried to help promote her cause.

Camila desperately needed a bone marrow transplant. Due to her bi-racial background and not having any siblings should could not find one. She continued to do chemotherapy in hopes of finding a match.

This morning I was saddened to find this article posted by her parents. Camila had a beautiful spirit and despite how briefly she was part of my life, she still made an impact.

If there is one thing to take away from Camila's story it is to live life to it's fullest because you never know when things may change.

Thousands of patients with blood cancers like leukemia and lymphoma, sickle cell and other life-threatening diseases depend on the Be The Match Registry^® to find a match to save their life.

Patients need donors who are a genetic match. Even with a registry of millions, many patients cannot find a match. Donors with diverse racial or ethnic backgrounds are especially needed.

You can find out more about the National Bone Marrow Registry and Be the Match here.

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Who is LLS?

Who is The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society and why should you donate?

WHO:  

The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) is the world’s largest voluntary health organization dedicated to funding blood cancer research and providing education and patient services. Founded in 1949, we are relentless in pursuit of our mission: Cure leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin’s disease and myeloma, and improve the quality of life of patients and their families.

WHAT:

Investing in blood cancer research: LLS has invested more than $750 million in research, approximately $72 million in fiscal year 2010 alone. Programs like the Specialized Center of Research (SCOR), which brings together teams of scientists from different disciplines and our Translational Research Program, which funds research with a high probability of producing innovative patient treatments in an accelerated time frame, have directly contributed to many breakthrough cancer treatments.

Research funded by LLS has led or contributed to advances such as chemotherapy, bone marrow and stem cell transplantation and new, targeted oral therapies such as Gleevec®, Rituxan®, Velcade®, Thalidomid®, Revlimid®, Dacogen® and Vidaza®. Providing critical information and support for patients and their families:

We made 4.7 million contacts with patients, caregivers and healthcare professionals in fiscal year 2010, through our Information Resource Center (IRC), our award winning Web site and community-based patient service programs. We put people together with experts through Web-casts and teleconferences, and provided professional education through seminars, to extend the latest findings to a broader professional audience. Advocating for issues impacting blood cancer patients: With more than 50,000 advocacy volunteers throughout the country, our voice is being heard by those responsible for legislation to fund blood cancer research and educational programs.

WHY:  

The need is critical: An estimated 957,902 people in the United States are living with, or are in remission from, leukemia, Hodgkin lymphoma, non-Hodgkin lymphoma or myeloma. Every four minutes, someone new is diagnosed with blood cancer. Every 10 minutes, someone dies.

Leukemia causes more deaths than any other cancer among children under the age of 20. Lymphomas are the most common blood cancers and incidence increases with age. The survival rate for myeloma is only 38.5 percent. Incidence is nearly twice as high among African Americans as for all other races.

HOW: 

As a nonprofit, we rely on the generosity of individuals, corporations and foundations. Seventy-five percent of our total expenses support cancer research, education, advocacy and patient services. Major, annual fundraising campaigns include Team In Training®, Light The Night® Walk, School & Youth ProgramsSM, Man & Woman of the Year and The Leukemia Cup Regatta.

WHERE: 

 In addition to our national headquarters in White Plains, NY, we have a network of 59 local chapters across the United States and Canada. Information on blood cancers and support is available at www.LLS.org.

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Someday is Today

Someday is Today







Take a moment...donate to The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. Every little bit counts.

$10 is the cost of sending two newly diagnosed patients information about their disease and how to get support.

$25 covers a single prescription co-payment.

$35 pays for transportation expenses for a patient living in Northern California's most rural areas to treatment at a comprehensive cancer center.

$40 is the cost of sending a comprehensive packet of information for children with cancer.

$75 is the average cost of tissue typing to become a bone marrow donor.

$100 provides 3 patients access to an information teleconference.

$150 allows 5 patients to make a First Connection with a trained peer volunteer.

$200 provides a Family Support Group Program for one year for a patient and their family.

$500 allows 10 patients to log on to a webcast and hear the latest information in treatment for their disease.

$550 is the cost of a CT scan.

$1000 supports one week's salary for a medical researcher at UCSF, Stanford, or Berkeley who may discover key information to developing curative treatments for blood cancers.

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Real Life Hero News

Hello everyone!

    I know it has been a long time since we last updated, but I found out today that one of the Real Life Heroes spotlighted on our page was recently told that her Leukemia has returned.

Sylvia was one of the first stories we told on our Real Life Heroes page. She is taking this news head on and started an aggressive course of treatment today.  She is mostly concerned about her three daughters, who have gone through this with her before three years ago.  Sylvia has been an active part of TNT and LLS by being an advocate for patients, collecting hats and scarves, an Honoree, and a great friend to many.  Now she needs our support. She will be inpatient at the hospital with the same treatment as last time, Chemo injected 24hrs for a week, then she will remain in the hospital for a month.

I ask that you please keep her in your thoughts and prayers over the next few weeks. She is a beautiful person inside and out.

After finding out that another person close to me was diagnosed with a rare form of Leukemia over the summer and is unable to find a bone marrow match I decided to sign up for another season with Team In Training (TNT). This time I will be competing in my first triathlon. My season was in honor of Camilia and Gina, and I will now be adding Sylvia to the people I pray for and admire. There is a link at the bottom of this page as well as a widget on the side if you would like to help the cause.

Thank you to all of you for your generosity,

ZiggyND

You can donate to The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society here.

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