The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society (LLS), Patient Power and MDS Alliance have developed a partnership for the first annual AML (acute myeloid leukemia) Awareness Day, designed to increase awareness of the disease.
The day was honored on April 21 of this year. The purpose was to help caregivers as well as patients improve their understanding of AML.
Unfortunately, research for AML has been slow compared to other blood cancers, which experts attribute to lack of awareness. The typical treatment options are stem cell transplants and chemotherapy, which have not shown any research progress during the last 40 years.
“The AML patient journey is a difficult one,” Lee Greenberger, LLS chief scientific officer, said. “You can’t work when you are being treated, so patients often require long-term assistance and significant time off.”
The scientists hope to continue making improvements in AML preventions, diagnostics and treatments in the near future. This is crucial for the well-being and outcomes of AML patients, as many of the treatments are too harsh on patients’ bodies, especially if they are older or have poor health.
“Every improvement in the survival of AML patients is important -- even small ones,” Greenberger said. “We need new therapies and approaches that can better control this disease and eventually get rid of every AML cell in the body.”
