The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society 

It’s easy to think of scientific researchers as existing in a vacuum. © Dr_Microbe - stock.adobe.com.

It’s easy to think of scientific researchers as existing in a vacuum: spending long days and evenings in a laboratory, making observations that most people will probably never understand or hear about. But when it comes to blood cancer research, that couldn’t be less true.

Every study is a chance to make a breakthrough—one that could change, and save, the lives of patients and their families. That’s why The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) funds innovative 

. We know we need as many minds as possible to close the gap to a new treatment—or a cure.

And LLS is far from alone in that goal. 

, one of LLS’s trusted and valued partners, makes groundbreaking cancer research their highest priority. And as part of our 

 this year, LLS and Gilead and Kite Oncology are championing scientific breakthroughs like CAR-T cell therapy with “Innovation Celebrations."

“As the exclusive sponsor of the Innovation Celebrations, Gilead and Kite Oncology is honored to recognize patients who are living longer as a result of 

, and members of their support community. These celebrations serve as an opportunity for the CAR-T community to celebrate survivorship and align perfectly with our national presenting sponsorship of Celebration & Community for Light the Night,” said Chad Saward, Senior Director, Patient and Professional Relations, Kite, a Gilead Company.

These honorees’ lives have been changed, and saved, by research. More specifically, by a blood cancer treatment that’s come to the forefront of blood cancer research in the last three decades: CAR T-cell therapy.

https://lls.org/blog/bringing-together-car-t-cell-therapy-community

Articles

Blood cancer research is crucial for developing life-saving treatments, with organizations like The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) and partners such as Gilead and Kite Oncology leading the charge. They emphasize the importance of innovative research, particularly CAR T-cell therapy, which has significantly impacted patient survival. Through events like "Innovation Celebrations," these organizations honor patients benefiting from CAR T-cell therapy and their support networks. Such initiatives highlight the collaborative efforts in the scientific community to advance cancer treatment and celebrate the progress made in blood cancer research.

It’s easy to think of scientific researchers as existing in a vacuum.

Bringing Together the CAR T-Cell Therapy Community

Nutrition is a challenge for many patients with cancer. © - stock.adobe.com

Nutrition is a challenge for many patients with cancer. . Whether it’s managing the disease; side effects that impact the taste of food or appetite; or limited time, energy or finances, patients may struggle to eat well and stay nourished during treatment.

The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) understands these challenges and works to ensure patients and their caregivers are equipped with information and resources to help them manage nutrition after a cancer diagnosis. We are here for you.

Need a one stop shop for all things nutrition?

 (NESC) supports all cancer patients, not just blood cancer patients. Our registered dietitians have expertise in oncology nutrition, and they are available for free one-on-one phone consultations. Consultations may include:

Tips for meal planning and grocery shopping

You can schedule a consultationwhen it’s most convenient for you using our 

, provides nutrition tips, resources, recipes and more. This includes information about 

nutrition needs based on cancer diagnosis

 for articles on timely nutrition topics. Watch these 

The Nutrition Handbook: Feeding your family from meal planning to mealtime

This booklet provides tips and resources that can help you prepare healthy meals for you and your family.

To manage your health by tracking side effects, medication, food and hydration, questions for your doctor, grocery lists and more, download the 

. With the app you can also create reports to share with your oncology team.

If you are struggling to feed yourself or your family due to limited financial and food resources, view our 

Food Assistance Resources and Tips Fact Sheet

 with an LLS Nutrition Education Service Center registered dietitian today!

Cancer patients often face nutritional challenges due to disease management, treatment side effects, and limited resources. The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) offers comprehensive support through its Nutrition Education Services Center (NESC), providing free consultations with registered dietitians specializing in oncology nutrition. The NESC offers resources such as meal planning tips, side effect management strategies, and caregiver advice. Patients can access these services via phone consultations, the LLSnutrition.org website, and the LLS Health Manager App, which helps track health metrics and manage nutrition-related concerns.

Nutrition is a challenge for many patients with cancer.

Nutrition is Key Following a Cancer Diagnosis

Cancer is one of the most expensive medical conditions to treat in the U.S. - © stock.adobe.com

Cancer is one of the most expensive medical conditions to treat in the U.S. As a result, patients, survivors, and caregivers—already challenged by the physical and emotional burdens of cancer—often face growing medical debt. The high cost of care that leads to this medical debt adds further financial stress and burden, or financial toxicity—the last thing a patient, caregiver, or their family needs. 

Type of health insurance or not having any health insurance (and surmounting costs which factor in premiums, deductibles, out-of-pocket max, co-insurance percentage, etc.)

Cancer type, its severity, and treatment received

Age, race and ethnicity, income, and whether the patient or caregiver has a job

Advancements in blood cancer therapy are dramatically impacting the range of treatments available to patients. As a result, people living with or in remission from cancer are living longer and need ongoing healthcare management—all while possibly accumulating medical debt. 

And as patients and/or caregivers pay more and more out of their own pockets for care, financial toxicity has become another unbearable side effect of cancer, affecting 

 of patients exhaust their entire life savings within two years of a cancer diagnosis. 

, go without care, or alter their cancer treatment because of cost, affecting their outcomes.

For patients with medical debt, The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society is here for you with our 

. Our case managers work directly with blood cancer patients, their caregivers, and healthcare professionals to assist patients in managing their medical debt. Services include but are not limited to addressing financial concerns, including managing existing medical debt and planning for upcoming medical expenses, identifying resources such as charity care organizations or manufacturer patient assistance programs that may reduce the financial burden, assistance with insurance plan evaluation and enrollment, such as Medicaid, Medicare, Marketplace plans, and employer-sponsored health insurance and navigating insurance benefits, denials of care, and out-of-pocket costs. The program is not a debt forgiveness program, does NOT pay off medical debt and cannot assist with debt that is in collections.

More information about the LLS Medical Debt Case Management program can be found by contacting an 

Our case managers work individually with patients and their caregivers, which means there is a limited number of cases they can take each day.

If you do not get into the program today, please continue to check back daily.

Cancer treatment in the U.S. is costly, leading to financial toxicity for patients, survivors, and caregivers. Factors such as insurance type, cancer severity, and demographics influence financial risk. Despite advancements in blood cancer therapy, many patients face medical debt, with 42% exhausting life savings within two years of diagnosis. The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society offers a Medical Debt Case Management Program to help manage debt, though it does not forgive or pay off debt. The program provides resources and assistance with insurance and financial planning.

Cancer is one of the most expensive medical conditions to treat in the U.S. 

The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society

Bringing Together the CAR T-Cell Therapy Community

Nutrition is Key Following a Cancer Diagnosis

The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society is Helping Patients With Medial Debt

Latest News