This weekend, I had the honor to attend the 2011 Light The Night Walk kickoff event for Red Bank, New Jersey. The Red Bank walk in the newest location in New Jersey to host a Light the Night Walk -- this is the third year for this location. As I explained in an earlier post, Light the Night is the oldest walk to raise money for cancer research.
At the kickoff event, we heard some additional information regarding the new treatment breakthrough for chronic lymphocytic leukemia, or CLL. Lawhawk posted about this last week. This new therapy essentially takes cancer T-Cells, infuses them with a new protein and reintroduces them into the body. The new infused cells begin to attack the cancer cells, and most excitedly, get the bodies existing cells to fight the cancer as well. Currently, two patients are more than 1 year cancer free, with a third approaching 1 year. When they get 12 patients cancer free for 1 year, the procedure will be considered for approval.
The reason for the discussion at the kickoff was that the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society has donated more than $50 million to this research over the years. Over that past several years, the FDA has approved 19 new drugs and therapies for blood cancer -- all with the assistance of the LLS. Of the 19, 12 have been approved or are being studied for the treatment of other forms of cancer as well. That is remarkable.
I was watching a baseball game the other day and a commercial for the MLB's involvement with Stand Up 2 Cancer came on (anyone who saw the All Star Game, the Stand up 2 cancer half inning display was chilling.) They splashed two stats on the screen that shook me. 1 in 3 women and 1 in 2 men will get cancer. The numbers are staggering. With respect to blood cancer:
• Every 5 Minutes: Someone in the United States learns that he or she has leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin’s disease or myeloma.
• Every 10 Minutes: Another child or adult is expected to die from a blood cancer.
This is why I renew my plea to all our readers and donations to the Light the Night Walk can be made through the link on the top left of the page, or by going to my team page . Any amount of support is greatly appreciated. By donating, you are not only helping to cure blood cancers, support caregivers, assist patients with purchasing drugs they could not otherwise afford, but you are indirectly supporting research that is going to treat and cure other cancers as well.
Showing posts with label Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. Show all posts
Monday, August 15, 2011
Thursday, July 28, 2011
The 2011 Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s Light the Night Walk
A few weeks ago I asked Lawhawk to place a widget on this page to donate to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s Light the Night Walk. The Light the Night Walk is the oldest walk to raise money for cancer research and patient care. For those who have not attended one, the Light the Night Walk is an inspirational event, where thousands of people walk holding colored balloons with lights (red to honor someone, white for survivors and gold in memory of a loved one.)
Last year, I became personally involved with the LLS when my wife, while 29 weeks pregnant with our second child, was diagnosed with a rare form of Non-Hodgkin’s disease called Primary Mediastinum B-Cell Lymphoma. Essentially, a 10-centimeter mass had grown in her chest, above the lung, next to the heart and was effecting her breathing and blood flow. Because of the size of the mass, she required immediate treatment. She received two rounds of chemotherapy while pregnant, gave birth to our son at just shy of 36 weeks, and then continued for 4 additional rounds of chemo, followed by 17 rounds of radiation.
Since her diagnosis, both of us have become involved with the LLS. The LLS provides funding for research, support for patients who cannot afford medication, as well as patient and care-giver counseling and information. LLS is proud that over 72% of every dollar received goes directly toward the mission: To cure leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin’s disease and myeloma, and improve the quality of life of patients and their families. However, the statistics are startling:
• Every 5 Minutes: Someone in the United States learns that he or she has leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin’s disease or myeloma.
• Every 10 Minutes: Another child or adult is expected to die from a blood cancer.
Without support from the LLS, drugs like Rituxan (one of the main drugs in my wife’s regiment) and Gleevec (dubbed the “miracle drug” for Chronic Myeloid Leukemia) may never have hit the market. Thanks to the LLS, and support from its donors, people who cannot afford these drugs receive financial support. Patients, families and care-givers, have a place to turn for information, support or just someone to talk to.
Thankfully, for us the treatments worked. My wife is now in remission and our son, who just turned one, suffered no ill-effects from the chemo. She has also been honored by being selected as one of the 2011 Honored Heroes (http://www.lightthenight.org/nj/localchapter/patients). From what I was told by members of the selection committee, she was a unanimous, and virtually instantaneous, selection.
If any of you are so inclined, donations to the Light the Night Walk can be made through the link on the top left of the page, or by going to http://tinyurl.com/3v9w22m. Any amount of support is greatly appreciated.
For more information on the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society please go to www.LLS.org.
For more information on the Light the Night Walk, to join a walk in your area or to see a message from this year’s Ambassador, Michael C. Hall (himself a Hodgkin’s Lymphoma survivor), please go to http://www.lightthenight.org/.
Thank you for your support.
Last year, I became personally involved with the LLS when my wife, while 29 weeks pregnant with our second child, was diagnosed with a rare form of Non-Hodgkin’s disease called Primary Mediastinum B-Cell Lymphoma. Essentially, a 10-centimeter mass had grown in her chest, above the lung, next to the heart and was effecting her breathing and blood flow. Because of the size of the mass, she required immediate treatment. She received two rounds of chemotherapy while pregnant, gave birth to our son at just shy of 36 weeks, and then continued for 4 additional rounds of chemo, followed by 17 rounds of radiation.
Since her diagnosis, both of us have become involved with the LLS. The LLS provides funding for research, support for patients who cannot afford medication, as well as patient and care-giver counseling and information. LLS is proud that over 72% of every dollar received goes directly toward the mission: To cure leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin’s disease and myeloma, and improve the quality of life of patients and their families. However, the statistics are startling:
• Every 5 Minutes: Someone in the United States learns that he or she has leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin’s disease or myeloma.
• Every 10 Minutes: Another child or adult is expected to die from a blood cancer.
Without support from the LLS, drugs like Rituxan (one of the main drugs in my wife’s regiment) and Gleevec (dubbed the “miracle drug” for Chronic Myeloid Leukemia) may never have hit the market. Thanks to the LLS, and support from its donors, people who cannot afford these drugs receive financial support. Patients, families and care-givers, have a place to turn for information, support or just someone to talk to.
Thankfully, for us the treatments worked. My wife is now in remission and our son, who just turned one, suffered no ill-effects from the chemo. She has also been honored by being selected as one of the 2011 Honored Heroes (http://www.lightthenight.org/nj/localchapter/patients). From what I was told by members of the selection committee, she was a unanimous, and virtually instantaneous, selection.
If any of you are so inclined, donations to the Light the Night Walk can be made through the link on the top left of the page, or by going to http://tinyurl.com/3v9w22m. Any amount of support is greatly appreciated.
For more information on the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society please go to www.LLS.org.
For more information on the Light the Night Walk, to join a walk in your area or to see a message from this year’s Ambassador, Michael C. Hall (himself a Hodgkin’s Lymphoma survivor), please go to http://www.lightthenight.org/.
Thank you for your support.
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