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The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society Unveils National Education Program For Elderly Cancer Patients

Posted on: Monday, 8 August 2005, 09:00 CDT

WHITE PLAINS, N.Y., Aug. 8 /PRNewswire/ -- The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society has announced the launch of a national education program to provide older blood cancer patients, their families and caregivers the tools they need to get the best possible care.

The program, "Breaking Through the Age Barrier: Getting the Best Cancer Treatment," will be offered at all of the Society's 64 chapters in the United States, beginning in July and running through next summer. It has been successfully tested earlier this year in six chapters.

"Older patients may need special attention when it comes to cancer treatment," says Robin Kornhaber, the Society's Senior Vice President of Patient Services. "But the concept of being too old for cancer treatment is outdated." More than half of all cancers occur in people older than 65 years and studies show they appear to benefit from treatment to the same extent as younger individuals.

The workshops are designed to familiarize older blood cancer patients, as well as their caregivers, spouses and adult children, with treatment options and to help them communicate more effectively with their healthcare professionals. The program will introduce the Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment (CGA), a checklist to help oncologists evaluate an individual's physical and emotional capacity to undergo and tolerate cancer treatment and its side effects.

A growing body of research shows that older cancer patients often suffer needlessly, receiving less aggressive treatment or getting passed over for tests of new medicines.

"Age alone should not determine a patient's treatment options," said Lodovico Balducci, M.D., program leader of the Senior Adult Oncology Program at the H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute in Tampa. "One 75-year-old can be perfectly healthy with no other illnesses and be very independent and capable, while another may be struggling with other ailments and be completely dependent."

"The program was excellent and informative," said a patient who participated in one of the pilots. "I feel lucky to be able to participate with such a caring group."

Coinciding with its program for older adults, the Society has published a new toolkit for older adults and their caregivers which includes pamphlets on choosing a healthcare team, a caregivers guide, understanding treatment options and clinical trials, and financial matters.

"Breaking Through the Age Barrier: Getting the Best Cancer Treatment," is funded by a generous grant from Amgen Oncology.

About The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society

The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society(R), headquartered in White Plains, NY, with 66 chapters in the United States and Canada, is the world's largest voluntary health organization dedicated to funding blood cancer research and providing education and patient services. The Society's mission: Cure leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin's disease and myeloma, and improve the quality of life of patients and their families. Since its founding in 1949, the Society has invested more than $424 million in research specifically targeting leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma. Last year alone, the Society made more than 2.4 million contacts with patients, caregivers and healthcare professionals.

For more information about blood cancer, visit http://www.lls.org/ or call the Society's Information Resource Center (IRC), a call center staffed by master's level social workers, nurses and health educators who provide information, support and resources to patients and their families and caregivers. IRC information specialists are available at (800) 955-4572, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET.

Leukemia & Lymphoma Society

CONTACT: Beth Kaplan of Porter Novelli for The Leukemia & LymphomaSociety, +1-212-601-8443

Web site: http://www.lls.org/

Source: PRNewswire

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