Educational Presentation

About LLS Mission: To cure leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin’s disease and myeloma, and improve the quality of life of patients and their families. LLS is a non-profit organization and advances its mission through RESEARCH and PATIENT SERVICES.

Cancer- Defined A general term for diseases in which abnormal cells divide without control and do not properly carry out their normal function. Cancer is not contagious.

Blood Cancers Leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma are cancers that originate in the bone marrow or lymphatic tissues . An estimated 957,000 people are currently living with blood cancers in the US. Lymphatic tissues are part of the body’s immune system that helps protect it from infection and bacteria

Blood Cancers- Statistics Approximately every four minutes, someone is diagnosed with a blood cancer. Every ten minutes, someone dies from a blood cancer. How long are most of your classes?

Leukemia- Defined Leukemia is a disease of the bone marrow, the spongy center of bones that makes blood cells. In leukemia, the body makes too many abnormal (cancerous) white blood cells. Abnormal (cancerous cells crowd out the health WBCs and don’t allow them to do their jobs

Leukemia- Signs and Symptoms Easy bruising or bleeding Due to lack of platelets Paleness or easy fatigue Due to lack of red blood cells Recurrent infections Due to lack of functioning white blood cells No symptoms

Leukemia- Causes and Incidence The cause is not known; however, long term exposure to certain chemicals and large doses of radiation can cause the disease. Leukemia is most common among adults over age 67. Although cancer is rare in children, leukemia is the most common cancer in children less than 20 years old.

Leukemia- Treatment Chemotherapy Immunotherapy Stem Cell Transplants “Watch and Wait” Clinical Trials Radiation Targeted therapy Chemo: cytotoxic drugs that kill abnormal cells and/or impair cell division. Unfortunately, they also target other fast-dividing cells (hair) Immunotherapy: drugs used to stimulate the immune system to reject and destroy tumors/abnormal cells Stem Cell Transplants: an infusion of healthy cells into the body (1)autologous (2)allogenic (shortage of donors, need to have the same “antigen” marker on your blood). Prior to: chemo and immunosuppressed Clinical Trials: evaluating new drugs and treatments Radiation: penetrating beams of high energy waves in high doses it kills abnormal cells or keeps them from dividing Unlike cancer cells, most normal cells can recover from radiation Targeted therapy: drugs that block the growth and spread of cancer by interfering with specific molecules that are involved in carcinogenesis Target the proteins that are involved in the “signaling process:” telling cancer cells to grow and divide uncontrollably Less harmful to normal cells

Leukemia- Survival Survival rates, overall, are higher in children than in adults. In 1964, the five-year survival rate for children under age 15 was only 3%. Today, it has improved to 88% due to the advancements in treatment made possible by research.

Lymphoma- Defined A group of related types of blood cancer. In lymphomas, the abnormal (cancerous) white blood cells develop in the lymphatic system.

Lymphoma- Types Hodgkin’s Disease Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma B-cell lymphoma (14 different types) NK cell lymphoma T-cell lymphoma Immunodeficiency-associated or post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorders

Lymphoma- Signs and Symptoms Painless swelling of lymph nodes in the neck, armpits or groin area Persistent fatigue Recurrent high fever Night sweats Weight loss/loss of appetite Bone pain Excessive itching No symptoms

Lymphoma- Causes and Incidence The cause is not known, although long term exposure to certain chemicals and large doses of radiation can cause the disease. The risk of NHL increases with age. The highest incidence of Hodgkin’s is among people between ages 20-35. Organ transplants or HIV/AIDS can increase risk. NHL is the 5th most common type of cancer in the US.

Lymphoma- Treatment Chemotherapy Immunotherapy Stem Cell Transplants “Watch and Wait” Clinical Trials Radiation Monoclonal Antibodies Monoclonal antibodies: antibodies that bind only to cancer-specific cells and produce an immune system response

Lymphoma- Survival Hodgkin lymphoma is considered one of the most curable forms of cancer Five-year survival rates for NHL are around 69%; however, this varies depending on a person’s age, other medical problems and the type of NHL.

Purpose of Pennies for Patients Raise funds to find a cure Teach students the power of giving together Give students the opportunity to experience empathy in action

Pennies for Patients Thank you for making a BIG difference in the lives of blood cancer patients!

U of M Nurses' Video Brave Videos to Inspire You U of M Nurses' Video Brave Sara Bareilles's Response Pennies for Patients Music Video