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The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society
Facts Flyer

The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society is a national voluntary health agency dedicated to curing leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin's disease and myeloma--and to improving the quality of life of patients and their families. The Society accomplishes these goals through a wide variety of service programs.
RESEARCH - Since its establishment in 1949, the Society has awarded more than $125 million to research. Many life-saving modern approaches to curing all cancers were pioneered with leukemia patients.
PATIENT AID - The Society's patient assistance program provides up to $750 per patient per year on an outpatient basis.
PUBLIC HEALTH EDUCATION - Current information on leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma is available from local chapters and the Home Office in New York City.
PROFESSIONAL EDUCATION - The latest research and treatment advances are shared with the full team of medical professionals through symposia and print materials.
ADVOCACY - The Society's advocacy program goals are to promote increased federal funding of biomedical research and to influence health care reform issues including access to appropriate specialty care and coverage of clinical trials.
COMMUNITY SERVICE - A two-way communications program with social service agencies and treatment facilities, resource materials and support groups is provided by the chapters.
Supported entirely by public contributions, the Society has 58 chapters in 34 states and the District of Columbia.

Facts About Leukemia, Lymphoma and Myeloma
* Leukemia is a cancer of the blood-forming tissues and organs, mainly the bone marrow and spleen
* When leukemia occurs, millions of abnormal, useless white blood cells accumulate, preventing production of normal blood cells and platelets.
* Leukemia is the number one disease killer of children.
* Ten times as many adults as children are stricken. More than half of all cases occur in persons over 60.
* With best treatment, 73 percent of children with childhood leukemia will survive.
* Overall survival rates have doubled in the last 30 years.
* Lymphoma and myeloma are cancers related to leukemia since they involve the uncontrolled growth of similar cells.
* Hodgkin's disease is a form of lymphoma, and is considered to be one of the most curable forms of malignancy (more than 80%).
* Five year survival for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma is close to 53 percent.
* leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin's disease and myeloma will strike some 103,000 Americans each year and kill approximately 57,000.