Disease States: Hematologic Cancers

//NEWS BRIEF

Creating Communities of Helpers

It’s a question that people frequently ask patients with cancer: ”What can I do to help?” The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) has decided to answer that question through collaboration with Lotsa Helping Hands, a group that uses the Internet to build communities of volunteer caregivers.

The society offers a page on its Website where family, friends, and colleagues can create a community of helpers for a particular patient. The idea is to make the main caregiver’s job more manageable by using a private online calendar to organize the delivery of meals, rides to appointments, and other daily tasks. “Lotsa Helping Hands is a wonderful resource. It is an important partnership for LLS because we are committed to helping families manage the disruption of their living needs when a loved one has blood cancer,” said Hildy Dillon, LLS senior vice president of patient services, in a press release.

Creating Communities of Helpers

//THE EDUCATED PATIENT™

Mastering the Basics of a Neutropenic Diet

For patients with lower-than-normal levels of neutrophils, a special diet may be necessary. The neutropenic diet is designed to help protect a patient from bacteria and harmful organisms sometimes found in food and drinks. Under the “Managing Your Cancer” tab on the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s Website, patients can access basic guidelines and tips for staying healthy during treatment. This diet in particular advises patients to avoid uncooked vegetables, rare or raw meat, eggs and fish, soft mold-ripened cheeses, and well water. It suggests consuming only thoroughly cooked meats, pasteurized dairy products, tap water, and vacuum-packed lunchmeats.

Neutropenic Diet

//CLINICAL TRIALS

Diagnostic Study of Patients With Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia or Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia

STUDY TYPE: Interventional

AGE/SEX REQUIREMENTS: ≥18 years (None)

SPONSOR: Cancer and Leukemia Group B, National Cancer Institute

CLINICALTRIALS.GOV INDENTIFIER: NCT00003861

PURPOSE: This study aims to use leukemia-specific markers in bone marrow specimens to evaluate the expression of novel genes or micro-RNAs implicated in disease pathogenesis and treatment response. The findings will be correlated with novel treatment approaches and other biological and clinical prognostic features. Investigators are seeking 450 trial participants over 5 years.

//ONLINE CME/CE

Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma Forum— Addressing Clinical Challenges in Community Practice

CREDITS: 0.75

FEES: None

EXPIRED: March 17, 2012

The goal of this CME activity is to identify key challenges when treating patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, follicular lymphoma, mantle cell lymphoma, or Waldenström macroglobulinemia in community practice. Participants also will learn the ways in which community practitioners can effectively apply the latest research data to optimize treatment of patients with these diseases.