The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) is a global voluntary health organization dedicated to fighting blood cancers. LLS works to find cures, improve patient quality of life, accelerate research, provide patient support, and advocate for quality, affordable care.
Understanding the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society
The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society was established in 1949 as the de Villiers Foundation. In 2000, it changed its name from The Leukemia Society of America to The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society to reflect its commitment to all blood cancers, including leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin’s disease, and myeloma.
LLS aims to improve the quality of life for patients and their families while pursuing cures for blood cancers. As the world’s largest voluntary health agency dedicated to blood cancer, LLS funds global research and offers extensive information and support services.
How LLS Supports Patients and Advances Research
LLS provides direct assistance to patients and their families. This includes access to Blood Cancer Information Specialists, who offer personalized guidance through treatment, financial challenges, and social concerns, providing accurate disease information.
LLS offers financial assistance programs to help manage the economic burden of cancer. These include co-pay assistance, travel assistance, and one-time stipends for non-medical expenses. LLS also provides clinical trial navigation through registered nurses, who help patients and caregivers throughout the clinical trial process.
LLS funds groundbreaking research to advance the diagnosis and treatment of blood cancers. Since 1949, LLS has invested over $1.8 billion in blood cancer research. This investment has contributed to the development of therapies used today, including chemotherapy, bone and stem cell transplantation, targeted therapies, and immunotherapies.
LLS accelerates scientific discovery through its Therapy Acceleration Program (TAP), which partners with biotechnology companies and academic researchers to move promising therapies into clinical trials more quickly. Many cancer-fighting therapies approved by the FDA were first approved for blood cancer patients, now benefiting those with other cancers. For example, Gleevec, initially approved for chronic myeloid leukemia, is now used for certain rare forms of stomach and skin cancers.
Ways to Engage with the LLS Mission
Individuals can engage with the LLS mission through donations. Contributions can be made as one-time gifts, recurring donations, or through planned giving options like wills and annuities. These funds directly support LLS’s research, patient services, and advocacy initiatives.
Volunteering presents another opportunity for involvement, with roles ranging from office support and event assistance to patient outreach. LLS maintains a nationwide network of over 30,000 volunteers who advocate for blood cancer patients at state and federal levels. These efforts increase research funds and ensure patient access to treatments.
Individuals can participate in fundraising events like Light The Night and Team In Training, which raise awareness and financial support. LLS also encourages advocacy for policy changes that benefit blood cancer patients, ensuring access to quality and affordable care.