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Advances in Cancer Research and Treatment in 2020
Progress in new cancer treatments is accelerating so rapidly that the standard of care for many cancer patients is changing right before our very eyes.
Since 2017, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved a remarkable 53 therapies just to treat patients with blood cancers, and The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) has helped advance 46 of these treatments.
I have no reason to believe the next few years won’t be as productive and groundbreaking as the last few. With that, here are some of my predictions for 2020:
SAVE THE DATE AGAIN: GETTING MARRIED AFTER CANCER
My name’s Dustin. December 3, 2016 was the date that I was supposed to get married to KT. It was a Saturday. We had that date set for over a year, but there was no wedding—we canceled it the Tuesday before. KT informed most of our guests with an explanatory text: “So, I have some unfortunate news. We’re going to have to call off the wedding this weekend. Dust got cold feet…and leukemia.”
Defining and Redefining a Blood Cancer Diagnosis
Science historian June Goodfield wrote, “Cancer begins and ends with people.”
This Blood Cancer Awareness Month, it’s important to know that The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) is on a mission to cure blood cancers and improve quality of life for the nearly 1.7 million people in the U.S. living with or in remission from blood cancer.
LLS is all about people—an organization full of people who are united in the urgent effort to help every person impacted by blood cancer.
LLS, advocates celebrate major state policy wins for patients
While Congress meets year-round, state legislatures typically meet only in the first half of the year. The start of the summer generally marks the end of the state sessions.
As LLS prepares for our 2024 state work, it’s important to celebrate the incredible wins we achieved at the state level in 2023.
These policies are the culmination of years of work from volunteers and LLS staff from across the organization. We hope you’ll take a moment to learn about them – and share them with your own stakeholders.
Making the Right Choice: Medicare Plan Selection and Access to Cancer Care
Selecting a Medicare plan is a time-sensitive and complex decision with substantial financial implications, particularly for individuals with cancer. The proposed project evaluates the financial and health outcomes for individuals selecting different Medicare coverage options and how these outcomes vary by the presence and timing of a cancer diagnosis. The goal of this work is to identify opportunities to improve plan selection and reduce inequities in cancer care and outcomes.
Finances and Insurance Coverage
Healthcare costs are a key concern for most people with blood cancer. Many patients don't have health insurance, and for others, coverage is limited. If you have health insurance, it's essential that you know what your plan covers and how to maintain your benefits.
Where to Start
You and your family will need to decide how to pay for treatment while managing household finances. You probably also need to consider additional indirect costs, such as lost time from work, childcare and travel expenses.
5 Ways to Support Blood Cancer Patients
Have you ever Googled, “what to do for someone with cancer”?
Have you felt helpless or frustrated when trying to think of something meaningful to offer them or do for them? You want them to know you’re ready to help, but don’t know how to help.
We’re often told to just ask the person what they need. But the truth is, they probably don’t know what they need. And figuring it out can be tough on top of all the new questions that come with their diagnosis.
So now what?
The Gift of Time: Giving More Moments to Blood Cancer Patients
As we transition from one year to the next, we often reflect on milestones achieved, challenges faced, and moments shared with those we love. It’s a time to focus on what’s most important—family, community, and how we’ll spend our time going forward. At the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS), we know that time is more than just a passing moment for blood cancer patients. It’s the most valuable gift they can receive.
Understanding Myeloma: A Quick Guide
Myeloma is a rare blood cancer
Work, School & Finances
Work and SchoolSome people continue to work or attend school through cancer treatment, but others are not able to do so. Talk to your healthcare team to know what to expect from treatment so you can make the decision that is best for you.
Managing Insurance and Expenses During Illness
It's important to resolve financial issues before they become a source of increased stress or limit your access to needed treatments, prescription medications or support services. Therefore, discuss payment options with members of your healthcare team or the treatment centers' patient financial services department. Patients and providers can work together to devise ways to reduce costs without compromising treatment. Ask your providers about:
LLS Services and Support
Does LLS offer any financial assistance? LLS has a Co-Pay Assistance Program that offers financial support towards the cost of insurance co-payments and/or insurance premium costs for prescription drugs. Patients must qualify both medically and financially for this program. Visit our Financial Matters webpage for more information about financial assistance resources.
LLS and Burlington Celebrate 20 years of Fighting Blood Cancer Together!
The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) and Burlington Stores are marking two decades of an incredible partnership this year. With Burlington’s help, LLS has been able to provide free information, education, and 1:1 support for hundreds of thousands of blood cancer patients. And we’re still going strong. Continuing the momentum, Burlington is committed to helping support lifesaving research for the LLS Children’s Initiative.
LLS advocates helped North Carolina expand Medicaid
North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper just signed Medicaid expansion into law, following years of advocacy from LLS volunteers and staff.
Once it takes effect, the bipartisan deal will make 600,000+ North Carolinians newly eligible for lifesaving care, including cancer screenings and treatment.
Investigating the Impact of Insurance Coverage on Access to Care and Outcomes among Lymphoma Patients
In this proposal we will investigate the association between insurance coverage and access to care, survival, and financial hardship among patients across Non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) subtypes and to what extent insurance coverage explains and modifies racial disparity in access to care and outcomes. To this end, we will use the Optum Clinformatics DataMart database, the Texas Cancer Registry, the Harris Health System Cancer Database and Data from the Lymphoma Epidemiology of Outcomes (LEO) Cohort Study.
Ushering In a New Era of Pediatric Blood Cancer Treatment and Care
We caught up with Gwen Nichols, MD, Chief Medical Officer at The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS), to share the progress we’re making to bring cures and better care to children with blood cancer through The LLS Children’s Initiative.
Tell us about The LLS Children’s Initiative and why it’s so important to you and LLS.
Mabel
My name is Mabel. I was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) in December 2018. I started aggressive treatment at Northside Hospital in Atlanta, GA. The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) became my safety net emotionally and financially. Emotionally they were very present and readily available to answer any questions or concerns I had. Financially they helped me cover the costs of my private medical insurance premiums, co-pays, and co-insurance for medication, labs, and tests. I am forever thankful to the LLS because they are able to help people like me.