Patients and Caregivers Can Now Interact with Leading Experts in Myeloma ResearchLeukemia and Lymphoma Society Leading researchers will present the latest information about the treatment of multiple myeloma as part of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's free educational program, Myeloma: The Latest Treatment Options. The program will take place on Tuesday, June 15, 2004, 8 p.m. - 10 p.m. ET. Patients, caregivers and healthcare professionals are invited to attend this program at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA or participate via telephone conference. Slides of the presentation will be available online for the duration of the educational program.  Presenters include:
"Researchers continue to look for better ways to diagnose and treat myeloma. New approaches hold the promise of increasing the rate of remission, and one day finding a cure for myeloma," explains Robin Kornhaber, M.S.W., the Society's senior vice president of patient services. "We strongly encourage patients and their families and caregivers to take part in the program, either by telephone, online and, if possible, in person." Registration A Webcast of the program will be available on June 16, 2004. To view the Webcast or download a transcript, visit www.lls.org/myelomaeducation . About Myeloma Myeloma is a malignant disease (cancer) of the plasma cells, white blood cells found in many body tissues but primarily in the bone marrow. When plasma cells become malignant, they grow continuously and destroy normal bone tissue in the marrow, causing pain and inhibiting normal blood cell production. Myeloma affects the body's immune system. Antibodies (also called immunoglobulins) are an important part of the body's natural defense against infection. They "recognize" invasive microbes and trigger events that cause their destruction and removal. With the onset of myeloma, malignant plasma cells produce abnormal monoclonal immunoglobulin, which interferes with the production of normal antibodies and increases a patient's susceptibility to infection. An estimated 54,930 Americans have myeloma and an estimated 15,270 new cases will be diagnosed in 2004. Incidence of myeloma is 50 percent higher in men than in women. Eighty percent of all cases occur after age 60; the disease rarely occurs in people under the age of 50. Americans of African descent have a much higher incidence rate of myeloma than those of European descent. About The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, headquartered in White Plains, NY, is the world's largest voluntary health organization dedicated to funding blood cancer research and providing 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 invested more than $360 million in research specifically targeting leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma. Last year alone, the Society made more than 441,000 patient contacts through services provided at its home office and by its 63 chapters nationwide. For more information about blood cancer, visit www.LLS.org or call the Society's Information Resource Center (IRC), a call center staffed by master's level social workers, nurses and health educators who provide information, support and resources to patients and their families and caregivers. IRC information specialists are available at (800) 955-4572, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET.
For more information, or to contact Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, see their website at: www.leukemia.org |
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