Let's Get Educated

I knew if I was going to run 39.3 miles to celebrate a milestone for myself, I could also benefit a great cause as well. In 2000, when I trained for my only other marathon, I ran each weekend with a group of runners who were participating in Team-In-Training and doing fundraising. That experience was inspiring, and while I am not big into asking others for donations, I knew my effort this year could go inspire others. You have all surpassed my expectations for giving, and the words of support have been most welcomed. So, in the spirit of this effort, I would like to dedicate this week’s blog entries (there will be multiple ones), to highlight LLS, TNT, Mark Bachman (honored hero), and others!

The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society is the world’s largest voluntary health organization dedicated to funding blood cancer research, education and patient services. They offer a variety of program and services in support of their mission: CURE LEUKEMIA, LYMPHOMA, HODGKINS DISEASE and MYELOMA, AND IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE OF PATIENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES. The Society is a non-profit organization that relies on the generosity of individual and corporate contributions to advance its mission.

Facts About Blood Related Cancers

- Leukemia, Lymphoma and Myeloma are cancers that originate in the bone marrow of lymphatic tissue as the result of an acquired genetic injury to the DNA of a single cell. The cell then becomes malignant and multiplies continuously. This abnormal accumulation interferes with the production of healthy blood cells
- An estimate 823,000 Americans are living with blood cancers.

Leukemia
- In the US, 218,000 people are living with or in remission from leukemia
Leukemia causes more deaths than any other cancer among children and young adults under the age of 20.
- The relative 5 year survival rate for patients with leukemia has more than tripled in the past 46 years.

Lymphoma
- There are 544,000 people today living with lymphoma – over 138,000 have or are in remission from Hodgkin lymphoma. The rest have or are in remission from non-Hodgkin lymphoma.
- Non-Hodgkin lymphoma is the 5th most common cancer in the US, and its age-adjusted incidence rose by nearly 84% from 1975 to 2004.
- The 5 year relative survival rate for patients with Hodgkin lymphoma rose from 73% in 1975 to 86% in 2002.
- The 5 year relative survival rate for non-Hodgkin lymphoma rose from 48% in 1975 to 64% in 2003.

Myeloma
- In 2007, 19,900 new cases of myeloma will be diagnosed in the US.
- Overall 5 year survival has shown significant improvement since the 1960s, but was still only 34% in 2003.

Please return to learn more about Mark Bachman in a few days!