According to The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society‘s Executive Director Patricia Thomson,
“Last week I had the opportunity to hear from an older gentleman who was told he had nine months to live after three rounds of chemotherapy for his chronic myeloid leukemia diagnosis proved to be unsuccessful. As he and his wife prepared to spend his last months crossing off items on his bucket list, he happened to hear on the morning news that a new ‘miracle drug’ called Gleevec was now available for the public. He contacted his doctor immediately and began taking the new pill daily. He started his treatment 11 years ago and today he is enjoying life cancer-free and is working items off his bucket list at his own pace.
“I am proud to say that Gleevec was developed by a blood cancer researcher, funded by The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS). Last year LLS invested $75 million in funding the best and brightest blood cancer researchers in the world. Early detection is rare for blood cancers and there are no measures that can be taken to prevent the onset of these diseases. A cure is the only answer.
“The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society is very active in the North Texas community and we invite you to get involved in one of our local events today. The Saint Valentine’s Day Luncheon & Fashion Show, chaired by Angela Choquette, Maggie Kipp and Paige Slates, is one of the largest fundraisers for the North Texas Chapter. More than 800 men and women will come together at the Morton H. Myerson Symphony Center on Tuesday, February 12th to honor cancer survivors and those who support LLS. Stanley Korshak’s Crawford Brock, winner of the 2013 Lynda Adleta Heart of Gold Award, put it best when he said, ‘Someday soon there will be a cure for blood cancers and I am proud to be part of that legacy.’
“Consider joining The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society in 2013 by joining us at the Saint Valentine’s Day Luncheon & Fashion Show or at another one of our events. (Please visit our website, www.lls.org/ntx , for a full list of ways to get involved with LLS.) With a new person diagnosed with a blood cancer every four minutes and a patient losing their battle every ten, the need is great. Join us as we create a world without blood cancers.”
-Patricia Thomson
*Photo provided by the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society