Local Health System Leaders Speak Up for Blood Cancer Awareness
NEW ORLEANS – Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) Gulf Coast Region is drawing attention to Blood Cancer Awareness Month this September to combat the third leading cause of cancer deaths among Americans.
Dr Cori A. Morrison, pediatric hematology/oncology specialist at Children’s Hospital New Orleans, and Emily Pirch, vice president for cancer services at Ochsner Health, are lending their expertise and support as LLS Gulf Coast Board Members.
The world’s largest nonprofit dedicated to fighting blood cancers (leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma), LLS is at the forefront of the fight to cure cancer, dedicated to finding cures for the nearly 1.3 million people in the U.S. who are living with, or are in remission from, leukemia, lymphoma or myeloma and other blood cancers.
“Blood cancers have an outsized impact on the pediatric population, particularly leukemia. Add to that, Latinx children under 20 in the U.S. have the highest incidence of acute lymphocytic leukemia and acute myeloid leukemia, the two major leukemia subtypes,” CHNOLA’s Dr. Morrison said. “I’m giving my time and expertise to our Gulf Coast chapter because LLS is making a difference for all children and adults faced with these debilitating cancers.”
LLS has helped advance more than 85% of blood cancer treatments approved by the U.S. FDA, and they have invested more than $50 million to advance CAR T-Cell therapy since the 1990s.
“Someone in the U.S. dies from blood cancer every nine minutes, 156 deaths a day, or six each hour,” Ochsner’s Ms. Pirch said. “I committed to be part of the Gulf Coast Board because LLS has invested more than $1.2 billion in cancer research, contributing to nearly every advance in blood cancer research and treatment in decades. At Ochsner, we know this kind of national commitment can truly make an impactful difference on the research being done in oncology.”
While the effort is nationwide, our own LLS Gulf Coast Region is hard at work raising awareness in southeast Louisiana and across the Gulf Coast.
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About The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society
The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society® (LLS) is the world's largest voluntary health agency dedicated to fighting blood cancer. The LLS mission: Cure leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin's disease and myeloma, and improve the quality of life of patients and their families. LLS funds lifesaving blood cancer research around the world, provides free information and support services, and is the voice for all blood cancer patients seeking access to quality, affordable, coordinated care. Founded in 1949 and headquartered in Rye Brook, NY, LLS has chapters throughout the United States and Canada. For additional information visit lls.org/lls-newsnetwork. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.