The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society Welcomes New England Journal of Medicine Findings on Treatment of Advanced Hodgkin Lymphoma

Leukemia and Lymphoma Society
Thursday, 12 June 2003

Findings May Mitigate Patients' Risk of Secondary Cancers and Cardiovascular Disease

The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society welcomes findings published in the June 12 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine, which determined that radiotherapy did not improve the outcomes of patients with advanced Hodgkin lymphoma.

The findings are significant because patients, subjected to involved-field radiotherapy, are at increased risk for secondary cancers and cardiovascular disease, according to the study entitled "Involved-Field Radiotherapy for Advanced Hodgkin's Lymphoma." These patients may now avoid these long-term effects of radiation without increased risk of relapse.

The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, headquartered in White Plains, NY, is the world's largest voluntary health organization dedicated to funding blood cancer research, education and patient services. The Society's mission is to cure leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin's disease and myeloma, and to improve the quality of life of patients and their families. Since its founding in 1949, the Society has provided more than $385 million for research specifically targeting blood cancers. For additional information, please contact the Society at (800) 955-4572 or visit www.LLS.org.

For more information, or to contact Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, see their website at: www.leukemia.org