March 23, 2001

In This Issue:
Pain Pathways, Estrogen and Ovarian Cancer, Prostate Treatment, Watchful Waiting for Glioma, Infection and Leukemia, Assistance for Low-Income Patients, and Courage Awards

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THE LATEST NEWS

New Pathway Of Pain Discovered

Long-term Estrogen Use Connected To Increased Ovarian Cancer Risk

Cryoablation Comparable To Radiation Therapy For Prostate Cancer

Watchful Waiting May Suffice For Patients With Suspected Low-Grade Glioma

More Evidence - Infectious Cause Of Childhood Leukemia

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ASSISTANCE FOR LOW-INCOME NEEDING MEDS

Twenty-six states have pharmaceutical assistance programs for low income seniors or people with disabilities who do not qualify for Medicaid. The National Governors' Association recently published a brief description of the states' programs. See State Pharmaceutical Assistance Programs: http://www.nga.org/center/divisions/1,1188,T_CEN_HES^C_ISSUE_BRIEF^D_843,00.html

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COURAGE AWARDS

Continuing our coverage of the Courage Award winners, here's a snapshot of three others.

1. Mary Coffin: a teenager with inoperable brain cancer whom, on her own, has raised more than $15,000 for cancer research. See her complete bio at http://cancerpage.matria.com/CourageAwards/default.htm

2. Diane Nero-Gaines: a semi-quadriplegic breast cancer survivor who helps educate and reform incarcerated women.

3. Jennifer Andrade: a 20-year old from the Bronx who has been battling two types of cancer in three years, and still volunteers to help other patients.

Their stories are published by InTouch magazine and we will display complete bios on the cancerpage website and in future issues of this newsletter.

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ASK OUR RN

QUESTION: Is Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia the same as AML M3? I know for APL, ATRA is used.

Is APL is a subtype of AML M3 or they are the same thing.

ANSWER: Hello, yes APL is the same thing as AML M3. M3 is part of the FAB (French American British) classification system. ATRA is all trans retinoic acid and has been used with a great deal of success in treating patients who have APL. Good luck. ONC RN

For more information about the different classifications of Leukemia, visit the cancerpage.com section on Leukemia, then click on Your Illness page. See: http://www.cancerpage.matria.com/articles/default.asp?id=18&subarea=Your_Illness

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CLINICAL TRIALS

Combination Chemotherapy in Acute Myelogenous Leukemia

Purpose: A randomized trial to compare the effectiveness of combination chemotherapy with or without monoclonal antibody therapy in treating patients who have refractory or relapsed acute myelogenous leukemia. For more information, contact Nancy Wedel, Chair, 510-574-1550 at Protein Design Labs, Inc. You can also read the description on TrialMatch.com by clicking on View Trials, then scroll to Leukemia.

Just a reminder that our TrialMatch program can help you find a specific clinical trial that you are medically eligible for. By answering a series of questions, the program can determine if you meet the research criteria for participating in the clinical trial. Hundreds of cancer patients have found a relevant clinical trial through our TrialMatch program. Check it out at http://trialmatch.com and note that you can also ask our nurses a question related to the trials.

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