Congressional Luncheon on New Approaches to Blood Cancer Research; Briefing June 15 in Washington D.C.

News Advisory:

WHO: Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation (MMRF) and Lymphoma Research Foundation (LRF) Spearhead Fifth Annual Blood Advocacy Days

WHAT: Congressional Luncheon Briefing on New Approaches to Blood Cancer Research

WHEN: Wednesday, June 15, from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m. EDT

WHERE: Russell Senate Office Building, Room 325

The MMRF and LRF, along with patients and families affected by lymphoma or multiple myeloma –- two of the most common blood cancers –- will call on lawmakers on June 15 to increase research and education funding for blood cancer research.

This year, Blood Cancer Advocacy Days will focus on three objectives:

-- Ask Congress to Strengthen the National Cancer Institute’s Blood Cancer Research Program

-- Ask Congress to Expand of Department of Defense Cancer Research Programs to Meet Needs of Veterans and Advance State of Blood Cancer Research

--Ask Congress to Support the Geraldine Ferraro Blood Cancer Education Program

The MMRF and LRF will hold a Congressional Luncheon Briefing to discuss new approaches to blood cancer research on June 15 featuring the following speakers:

-- Kenneth Anderson, M.D., director, Jerome Lipper Multiple Myeloma Center, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute

-- John Leonard, M.D., clinical director, New York-Weill Cornell Center for Lymphoma and Myeloma

-- Julian Adams, Ph.D., chief scientific officer, Infinity Pharmaceuticals

-- Todd Golub, M.D., director of the Cancer Program at Broad Institute

-- Louis M. Staudt, M.D., Ph.D., senior investigator, National Cancer Institute

-- Clifton Leaf , executive editor, Fortune Magazine, and blood cancer survivor (Moderator)

-- Blood Cancer Advocacy Days will also include advocacy training for patients, families, and friends affected by these diseases, and meetings with Members of Congress.

About Blood Cancer. Over 700,000 Americans are affected by blood cancer with 60,000 persons dying each year from these diseases.

Multiple myeloma, a cancer of the plasma cell, is an incurable but treatable disease. While a myeloma diagnosis can be overwhelming, it is important to remember that there are several promising, new therapies that are helping patients live longer, healthier lives. There are approximately 50,000 people in the United States living with multiple myeloma. Each year, an estimated 15,270 new cases of multiple myeloma are diagnosed and another 11,070 people die from the disease. Multiple myeloma is the second most prevalent blood cancer after non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. It represents approximately 1 percent of all cancers and 2 percent of all cancer deaths.

Lymphoma is the most common blood cancer—it affects nearly 500,000 Americans. Each year more than 63,000 people are diagnosed with some form of lymphoma and over 20,000 die from the disease. There are more than 30 subtypes of lymphoma, consisting of 5 types of Hodgkin’s lymphoma (also known as Hodgkin’s disease) and over 25 types of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Non Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NHL) is the most common cancer of the lymphatic system. The overall five- year survival rate is only 59 percent. Hodgkin’s lymphoma (HL) is a less common form of lymphoma. The overall five-year survival rate is 85 percent.

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To RSVP for the Blood Cancer Advocacy Days Congressional Luncheon Briefing, or to schedule interviews with MMRF and LRF spokespeople, contact Julie Kimbrough, 212-585-3501 , juliekimbrough@earthlink.net or Anne Quinn Young, 203-652-0212, quinnyounga@themmrf.org.

Contact Information

Julie Kimbrough

Media Contact

Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation

Contact via E-mail