1. Educational Presentation

2. 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.

3. 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.

4. 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

5. 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?

6. 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

7. 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

8. 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.

9. 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

10. 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.

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

12. 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

13. 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

14. 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
Organ transplants or HIV/AIDS can increase risk.
NHL is the 5th most common type of cancer in the US.

15. 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

16. 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.

17. 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

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

19. 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