More than 100 leukemia, lymphoma and myelodysplastic syndromes patients and their families attended the Leukemia Research Foundation’s Annual Town Hall Meeting Sunday, January 31 at Northwestern Memorial Hospital. The meeting featured a panel of hematologists/oncologists who answered any questions for three hours.

For the first time, the panel was moderated by a doctor - Martin Tallman, M.D. - an international expert in both acute and chronic leukemias from Northwestern’s Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center.

“Having a moderator who is also a doctor improved the pace and depth of the responses. Great change,” said Bob and Cheri Edwards of Arlington Heights, Ill.

The Town Hall Meeting panel of experts included Koen van Besien, M.D. from the University of Chicago Medical Center; Ammar Hayani, M.D. from Advocate Hope Children’s Hospital; Morris Kletzel, M.D. from Children’s Memorial Hospital; Chadi Nabhan, M.D. from Advocate Lutheran General Hospital; Patrick Stiff, M.D., ABIM, Director of the Cardinal Bernardin Cancer Center at Loyola University Medical Center; and Parameswaran Venugopal, M.D. from Rush University Medical Center.

The panel addressed dozens of questions form the audience, touching on everything from the benefits of clinical trials, to the latest in research for MDS, to long term outlooks for specific diagnoses of leukemia and lymphoma.

“I think the Town Hall Meeting is great. It gives patients a way to get other opinions regarding their conditions/treatment other than from their doctors,” said Patricia F. Brown of Evanston.

“It would be hard to improve on something as good as this,” said Leonard Astrowski of Tinley Park.

The next opportunity for patients comes in the form of a town hall meeting conducted entirely in Spanish. Town Hall Meeting in Spanish is scheduled for Saturday, February 6 in Chicago. This program is co-hosted with Gilda’s Club Chicago. Call Jeanette Albarrán at 773-296-8271 or email jeanettealbarran@gildasclubchicago.org for registration and information.

About The Leukemia Research Foundation (LRF)
The Leukemia Research Foundation, headquartered in Wilmette, Ill., is dedicated to funding research and providing support to people affected by blood cancers. The Foundation’s mission is to conquer leukemia, lymphoma, and myelodysplastic syndromes by funding research into their causes and cures, and to enrich the quality of life of those touched by these diseases. For more than 60 years, thousands of volunteers and 25 chapters have helped the Foundation raise more than $47 million to help fund research specifically targeting aspiring, eager, and innovative scientists and physicians around the world, provide patient financial assistance, and offer educational and emotional support for patients and their families.

Leukemia Research Foundation information is available at www.leukemia-research.org, or by calling 847-424-0600.