Ask around and you'll learn that leukemia is generally thought of as a childhood disease. A lot of people don't realize that many more adults than children develop leukemia and other blood cancers. What may be even more surprising to learn is how many people diagnosed with leukemia, Hodgkin lymphoma and non-Hodgkin lymphoma are young adults.

Yes, there's a population of young adults out there who have lives that include (alongside getting an education, dating, making career choices, getting married, having babies) chemo and radiation therapy, stem cell transplants, bone marrow biopsies and hair loss. A.K.A. life on the road to surviving cancer.

National Young Adult Cancer Awareness Week is raising awareness about the impact of cancer on young adults. Vital Options, a support and advocacy organization devoted to young adults with cancer, launched this annual event in April 2003. Since then, organizations like The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) have partnered with Vital Options to keep spreading the word.

If you are a young adult with a blood cancer, we encourage you to take advantage of our many online resources including:

• LLS Blood Cancer Discussion Boards - Connect with your peers for valuable input and support.
• RSS News Feeds and Podcasts - Get news and audio on a daily basis in your RSS reader.
• National Education Programs - Register online for free telephone education programs where you'll have the opportunity to ask questions of our guest speakers. We also have an extensive archive of past programs in this area of our website.
• Free Materials - Our materials range from information on the different blood cancers, to ways that you can cope with a blood cancer diagnosis. They are free to download or order.
• eNewsletters - Subscribe to any or all of our monthly eNewsletters containing valuable news and updates.
• Search for Cutting-Edge Research - Make sure you're exploring all of your treatment options by taking advantage of this online resource.
• Information Resource Center - Chat online or email an information specialist who can put you in touch with even more information and support and help you find out about cutting-edge research.

Want to get involved? Learn about our different events and ways to volunteer through our How to Help section on www.LLS.org.

We've talked about our financial aid programs here before, but it’s good to get a reminder every now and then – especially now that we’re all feeling the crunch a little more with the slowing economy.

First, a few items to keep in mind:

• Not all patients will qualify for financial assistance, but the surest way to find out is to contact us for eligibility information.

• We receive quite a few applications on a regular basis and process them in the order that they are received, so be assured that we are working very hard to process your application if you have already submitted one.

• If you are confused about something on the application, contact us and we’ll  explain.

Here is our list of financial aid programs for patients that you may be able to use:

• Co-Pay Assistance Program – This program offers financial support for eligible patients towards the cost of insurance co-payments and/or insurance premium costs for prescription drugs. If you have questions about this program call the Co-Pay Assistance Program at (877) 557-2672 or email copay@lls.org and a specialist will assist you.

• Patient Financial Aid Program – This program offers financial reimbursement for some medications, transportation and procedures. You can also contact your local chapter, and they will be able to assist you.

Here are a few other educational resources which you may find helpful as you try to figure out how best to manage your finances in relation to health care costs:

• Cancer Survivorship: Practical Tips for Managing Your Financial and Insurance Issues – Part 1 | Part 2 – These are .mp3 files, so you’ll need an audio player like Windows Media Player or Real Player – both free - on your computer to listen to them. You may also download the .pdf transcript of this program or access other survivorship-themed audio programs here.

• Financial Health Matters – You may download the free .pdf or go through our online order form to receive a printed copy in the mail. This booklet has many helpful financial tips when dealing with health care costs.

• Financial Support – You can find more helpful information about finances and health care issues in our Financial Support section on www.LLS.org.

As always, if you have any questions please feel free to contact our Information Resource Center by sending a message via our Contact Us form or call us at (800) 955-4572. Our specialists will be happy to assist you.

On April 29, the band Monty Are I performed at Davisville Middle School in Rhode Island as a reward to the students for raising $4,665.89 for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s Pennies for Patients program. This was $500 more than what they had raised the previous year, and were motivated to increase their fundraising efforts after hearing a talk given by Joyce Muir, mother to two of the band members, Ryan and Justin.

What Joyce told the school about was Ryan’s fight with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). After being diagnosed at 16 years of age, he underwent 2 ½ years of treatment. As he reflects on having cancer he says it was the hardest time of his life, yet it hasn’t been until more recently that he has been able to understand what he went through and the impact it has had on his life.

"Some things I wish I had taken more time to understand is that it’s ok to be sad and it’s ok to get angry cause this is an awful experience, but you need to take that energy and then turn it into something positive and don’t be afraid to express it to other people.”

Today Ryan is in remission, and he says that he hasn’t really shared this part of his life with his fans yet. He feels that now is the time to let people know what he has gone through so he can positively impact others going through similar experiences.

Watch Monty Are I's performance at Davisville Middle School on YouTube, and learn more about Monty Are I at their website, www.montyarei.com.

Learn more about Pennies for Patients, as well as other school programs on the School and Youth website.

Learn more about ALL by downloading these free resources (PDF) or ordering them through the Free Materials section of our website:

• Understanding Leukemia or download the Spanish-language version, La leucemia

• Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia: A Guide for Patients and Caregivers

• Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia or download the Spanish-language version, Leucemia linfocítica aguda

Can you relate to Ryan’s experience?

I’ve been spending a little time today reading the Patient Services Discussion Boards, specifically the Newly Diagnosed board. It’s heartbreaking to read some of these posts. A lot of these new cancer patients and their caregivers are scared, feel helpless, and alone. Participating in our online community allows them to find the immediate emotional support they need.

These people are also looking for resources – many of which The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) provides.

In just got the dx dkvpv looks for questions to ask her doctor:

“…my Dr. said we would sit down and talk. I'm very scared and numb. What should I expect, what should I ask?”

The LLS website has a page called, What to Ask After Diagnosis. It has a variety of printable question guides which can be of help during different conversations a cancer patient may have while sitting down with their oncologist.

In NH folicular lymphoma Me2RN looks for peer support:

“At times I feel set apart from others and would like to just talk about it with people who feel like I do or have the same experience. I have a great support group around me but they do not have cancer.”

LLS offers First Connection, which is a peer-to-peer support program. You can sign up to receive a call from a trained volunteer who has been through it, just like you. Both patients and caregivers can utilize this helpful program.

In New dx of CML-scared to death!! LauraB523 wants to know how to cope:

“So, does anyone have any advice or coping skills to pass along? I have some good days but also some bad. Just a lot to deal with right now!!”

Along with many other free materials, LLS offers the Coping support booklet (.pdf) which can either be downloaded or received by mail. It’s geared towards people living with leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma.

There are many other online resources available to people who have been newly diagnosed with one of the blood cancers. It’s not easy to find out that you or a loved one has cancer, but it can be easy to find the help and support you need on our website. Can’t find what you’re looking for? Give us a call or send us an email.