LLS Staff at MD Anderson Cancer Center

 

Texas Gulf Coast LLS staff outside the research facility at
The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center

September 15 was "World Lymphoma Awareness Day" and the Texas Gulf Coast chapter of LLS was privileged to spend this special day touring one of the research facilities at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center.

 

This was a wonderful opportunity for the staff to get to witness first hand some of the exciting developments in research our organization is helping to fund. The site visit began with a tour through the labs of Dr. Larry Kwak, head of the department of lymphoma/myeloma and Dr. Robert Orlowski of lymphoma/myeloma. Researchers in the labs talked to us about some of the incredible advances in therapies they continue to work on, including cell therapy, vaccines and targeted antibodies.

 

Our next stop was a visit with the director of the Lymphoma Tissue bank, Dr. Sattva Neelapu. He and his head researcher took us into the labs where they store tumor tissue and study tumor progression. Part of the lab includes a room filled with large freezers where the tissue is stored at -180 degrees.

 

Following lunch, Dr. Dean Lee of the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences talked to us about the cutting edge research he's doing inserting NK cells into a patient on chemotherapy. NK cells (natural killer cells) are one of the specialized white blood cells of our immune system and they can recognize and kill many types of cancer, including AML. Recently the FDA and review board at MD Anderson approved the first in-human study to test whether these NK cells can be safely delivered in combination with chemo. This clinical study is happening now and we are honored that the LLS has given a grant to Dr. Lee for this remarkable study. If successful, the approach could apply to many other types of cancer. There are already other clinical trials under development to test NK cells.

 

It was a great thrill to visit the famous MD Anderson Cancer Center and we feel grateful to be here in Houston where this incredible research is happening in our own back yard.

 

Researcher at the Lymphoma Tissue bank
showing us the freezers filled with tissue from
biopsies. The freezers are kept at -180 degrees.

LLS staff at the tissue bank with the lab's director, Dr. Sattva Neelapu

Staff with Dr. Dean Lee, M.D., PHD- faculty Graduate School
of Biomedical Sciences

 

Mission Moment Monday: Peyton's Story

Eleven-year-old Peyton Busch is a smart, athletic 5th grader who loves football and basketball and playing outside with his brother Braden.

On September 11, 2006, at the age of 3, he was diagnosed with leukemia. His mom, Carrie, had noticed many red spots on his arms and legs as wells as a lot of bruising and she just did not feel right about it. So, Peyton's pediatrician did blood work. Once the blood work came back, the pediatrician said he thought Peyton probably had leukemia and that they needed to leave immediately, pack a bag, and head straight to Texas Children's Hospital.

"My mind did this... Leukemia = Cancer = Death," Carrie said, "I had no idea this was a blood cancer. I had no idea what the statistics were for survival. I had no idea what it meant that he was considered high risk. I went home crying with him and packed our bags."

Peyton's dad was on a plane coming home and had no idea all of this was happening until he landed and found out his wife and son were at the hospital where his little boy was already having blood and platelet transfusions.

"In the beginning the treatments were horrible," Carrie said, "For the first year and a half, I had to hold Peyton down to get his port accessed. He would kick and scream and hit me and cry and ask why I was letting them do this to him." He cried when they took the dressings off his port when he finished chemo. He spit the oral medicines at his mom saying they tasted "yucky" so she tried hiding them in his food. Finally, the nurses taught him how to swallow pills so they could get the medicines in without a fight.

In January 2010, after four years of chemotherapy, Peyton was done! His port was removed one week following his seventh birthday. Today, he doesn't really talk much about his cancer journey. He just lives a normal young boy's life. He has minor issues with his heart from the damage done by treatments, but fortunately, he is cancer free and now only has to return to TCH once a year!

Carrie has gone on to participate in many events with TNT. She runs, swims, bikes and raises thousands of dollars to fund a cure for leukemia so that someday young mothers won't have to endure the painful experience of having a child with cancer. "I felt when I became a mother I finally had a purpose in my life- to raise and protect my children to the best of my ability," she said, "When Peyton was diagnosed, I lost the ability to protect him. I had no control over what the outcome was to be or how the treatment was to go. I had to turn it over to God and let Him take care of Peyton."

"I was just there to delegate the obnoxious pill schedule and to stay on top of his treatment schedule. And try to make things as normal as I could for Peyton, Braden, and myself. That was really hard."

There are many young parents every day who discover the same horrible fact Carrie did, that their child has cancer.  "I would tell someone whose child has been diagnosed that it is going to be a long hard road, but that there is so much good that comes out of something so bad. I have met other great families through our journey that truly understand my fears and concerns and emotions. I have my TNT family."

Carrie's continued support of the mission of the LLS through TNT is phenomenal. She proudly wears her son's name on her race jersey and continues to fight not only for Peyton, but for other men, women and children with blood cancer. "I want this disease to go away," she said, "I never want another family to hear those words: 'your child has leukemia'. I think the world needs to know how little funding goes to childhood cancer research. There needs to be more so they can find a cure and better treatment methods for little ones."

Nations Tri Weekend in D.C.

Our Nations Tri TNT triathletes spent the past weekend in Washington D.C. biking and running to beat blood cancer. They would have done a little swimming for the cause, but a storm came through the night before causing a little nastiness to be stirred up in the Potomac.

 

But our fearless purple warriors did not let this spoil their enthusiasm for ending blood cancer. Our local team raised over $38,000. And our Team Andy Strong Tri group was the top fundraising team at the event. Participants from many states attended the event and raised more than $500,000 to wipe out blood cancer.

 

Go TEAM!!!

 



Is Your State Represented?

So far, 8 great states are represented on our Winter Season roster. Participants are coming in from Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Illinois, Massachusetts, Michigan, and Pennsylvania. And of course, loads of Texans will be here.

It will be fun having so many out of state guests at our Inspiration Dinner and race on January 18. We can't wait to see y'all!

National Blood Cancer Awareness Month

September is National Blood Cancer Awareness Month.

• Every 3 minutes someone is diagnosed with a blood cancer.
• 1.1 million Americans are living with (or are in remission from) a blood cancer.
• Blood cancers are the most common of childhood cancers.
• Almost 150,000 Americans will be diagnosed with blood cancer this year.

The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society is working harder than ever to fund cures for these diseases and to make sure that patients have access to the treatments they need. During Blood Cancer Awareness Month, please consider helping us on our mission to raise $300,000 in 30 days!

Since we began in 1949, we have invested more than $1 billion in our mission to cure leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin Disease and myeloma and to improve the quality of life of patients and their families.

Thank you Texas Gulf Coast TNT participants for your part in this great mission.

Go TEAM.

Meet the Doctor: Naveen Pemmaraju

Receiving the news you have cancer is one of the most frightening things a person can hear. And when that happens, you want to go somewhere you know you'll receive the best treatments and see a physician who is an expert in your exact malignancy.

We are fortunate here in the Texas Gulf Coast chapter of the LLS that we get to meet and interact with some of the greatest cancer doctors on the planet in the Texas Medical Center, those who are leading the way to bringing us to the end of blood cancer.

Meet Dr. Pemmaraju:

Naveen Pemmaraju, M.D. is an assistant professor in the Department of Leukemia at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. His energy and enthusiasm are evident as he works tirelessly to kill the cancer in his patients and continue studying causes and better treatment options so that future generations will not have to suffer through acute leukemia.

Dr. Pemmaraju grew up in Hot Springs, Arkansas. He went to college at Tulane in New Orleans before returning to his home state to attend University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences. He did his residency at Johns Hopkins in Baltimore and finally in  2008, he came to MD Anderson in Houston for his fellowship in hematology and oncology.

"I knew I wanted to be a hematologist/oncologist since I was in late high school/early college," he said, "it was a calling for me to seek leukemia." He learned much from his dad who is a pathologist as well as several mentors at Johns Hopkins and MD Anderson. Their passion for the eradication of these diseases represented how he wanted to approach patients and research.

"I really love engaging in patient-oriented clinical investigation and clinical research," he said, "I focus my time on research: patients with AML, MPNs and a rare hematologic malignancy known as Blastic Plasmacytoid Dendritic cell neoplasm. I'm also very interested in research involving adolescent and young adults with myeloid malignancies."

Curing blood cancers is at the top of the list of Dr. Pemmaraju's priorities. "A lot of people don't realize there are as of yet no standard therapies available for a lot of my patients," he said, "there are just no widely available approved therapies for these subgroups and there is urgent need. I see patients every day that need access to these kinds of therapies." About his fellow physicians, he says, "we come to work every day not only to take care of patients, but to find therapies and cures for our patients."

And in recent years, he has seen quite a few breakthroughs. For example, in his area of work, the pioneering of Ruxolitinib, the first approved JAK inhibitor in treatment of higher risk Myelofibrosis was led by his group with Dr. Verstovsek and Dr. Kantarjian. "I have observed the benefits of this drug in the clinic myself and this is very satisfying when previously these lovely patients didn't have any therapies available." He is also excited about the development of targeted therapies which target cancer cells while leaving normal, healthy cells unharmed.

"I think oncology is a special way of life with many rough days for the patient and the provider," he said, "It's not just a career. For me it's a way of life, a calling, a permanent state of being. I laugh with my patients, I cry sometimes with them, I hold hands, I have learned how to deliver bad news to a patient with a room full of relatives, and I have had days of pure joy shared with my patients' smiles at bedside on the day we find out about a remission." He sees many postives and negatives every day. "My goal is to be there, in the moment with my patient through every step of their cancer journey."

One of the ways he deals with the challenges of this calling is through writing about his patient encounters and experiences. He has even had the chance to publish some of his poems and essays. "It's a great way for me to communicate my unique thoughts and experiences at life's most harrowing situations of health, death and dying that I'm witness to on a daily basis."

And Dr. Pemmaraju says he could never fulfill his calling as an oncologist without the support of his wife Aditi. "Without her, my dedication to my patients and my research would be impossible," he said, "She is my sounding board, my comfort zone, my partner, my best friend. She keeps me sailing through uncertain waters of what I do day in and day out." He says that she and his two young children keep him grounded and balanced so he can get up each day and treat his patients.

We are incredibly grateful to Dr. Pemmaraju and all of the amazing blood cancer doctors for their dedication to wiping out these diseases. Someday, thanks to their efforts, there will be no more blood cancer. They truly are making someday today.

Mission Moment Monday: Barry's Story

Barry at the 2009 Light The Night Walk at Market Street

"Welcome to MD Anderson Cancer Center" was the sign Barry Blanton noticed that April day in 2003. It wasn't welcoming him as a visitor there to see a friend with cancer. It was welcoming him as a patient with a cancer that he was told was "treatable, but not curable".

Barry was a healthy, strong man in his 40s when he discovered he had stage four follicular non-Hodgkin lymphoma. The cancer had spread to his bone marrow and he had to endure six months of chemotherapy to kill it. Fortunately the treatments did not make him extremely sick and by January 2004, he finished chemo.

Throughout his cancer journey, Barry's faith was strong. "I knew, and still know, that God has a plan for my life and for my having gone through this challenging time," Barry said, "It was a huge faith opportunity for my life."

His own battle against blood cancer was a challenge, but not as difficult as that of seeing his father endure it. Just 2 1/2 years after Barry finished treatments, his dad was diagnosed with myelodysplastic syndrome, a blood disorder that later becomes leukemia. His dad's disease quickly advanced and became acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) and after trying three different regimens, they were told there was nothing more they could do. His dad, Don Blanton, died after only 10 months.

Barry, his wife Fran, his mom Barbara, as well as many of their friends and family have taken their grief and painful experiences fighting blood cancer and used them for good. Their Light the Night team, The Blanton Bunch, has been part of Montgomery County, Texas LTN walk since it began 10 years ago. They have raised over $115,000 and this year their goal is to raise another $22,000.

The Blantons continue to fight the good fight with the hope that someday these diseases will come to an end. Barry says he doesn't want his children or grandchildren or anyone else to ever have to hear they have a disease that is treatable, but not curable. "I am determined to help find a cure for blood cancers," he said.



If you would like to donate to The Blanton Bunch click here: http://pages.lightthenight.org/txg/Woodland14/blantonbunch

If you would like to form a team for Light the Night, click here: http://www.lightthenight.org/register/