Going Dark

Sadly, the Upstate New York/ Vermont advocacy blog will be inactive effective July 1, 2014 as the patient access and education position is being eliminated within our chapter.

I wish to thank all of you for following the blog and the many of you who contributed greatly to our advocacy efforts.

The job is not done until we find a cure for blood cancer; keep fighting for cancer patients everywhere!

Cancer Advocates Hit Albany!

The time has come to give doctors more say in the treatments their cancer patients can receive.

Advocates from across New York State met in Albany May 19th to advance the Step Therapy Bill (S. 2711-A; A.5214-A).  The bill sets limits on when, how long and how often a patient can be asked to “fail first” on a treatment other than what their doctor prescribed.

We would love to have you join our team and help us advocate for cancer patients!

 

Back From Washington

LLS is back from Washington.  Our chapter met with eight legislative offices in total to advocate for bills making cancer treatments more accessible and affordable for cancer patients.

We thank our federal legislators for their time and hope that all will join us in support of The Medicare Part D Beneficiary Appeals Fairness Act and The Patients’ Access to Treatment Act.

Here are a couple of pictures from our visits, …  more to follow.

To Washington!

LLS believes cancer patients should have affordable access to their treatments and is going to Washington to ask our legislators to help make it happen.

Chapters from across the US will be making visits to many members of Congress and the Senate this Wednesday, May 7.

Have a computer and an e-mail address?  Great, then you can help.  See the tabs above for the bills we are supporting and for contacting your legislators.  All you have to do is send them an e-mail and ask them to support those federal bills!

What’s Out There for Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma Patients?

Dr. Joanne Monterroso of Fletcher Allen Health Care discussed Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma treatment updates with patients and oncology professionals in Colchester last week.

Calling All Advocates!

Did you know cancer patients cannot always get immediate access to their prescribed medications and treatments?

Do you think they should?  Do you want to do something about it?

Join LLS, our volunteers, cancer professionals and cancer patients/ survivors at NYS Mission Day May 19th at The Capitol in Albany.

To register: NYS Mission Day 2014.

 

Cancer, Explained

Cancer, cancer diagnosis, cancer treatment and cancer prevention.  Thank you to Dr. Zackon of New York Oncology Hematology for sharing his knowledge with us yesterday evening in Amsterdam.

Cancer 101!

We are getting ready for Dr. Zackon’s presentation on cancer diagnosis and treatment this Thursday evening.

There is still plenty of room if you want to join us at The Century Club in Amsterdam. RSVP to Michael, 518-438-3583, Michael.Grignon@lls.org

NYS Mission Day

Feel empowered! Feel impactful! Feel like you are making a difference!

Join us in Albany for New York State Mission Day!

Giving Back

We are looking forward to having several new blood cancer survivors join our First Connection volunteer team.

In a few weeks we will be in Plattsburgh to train survivors so that they may give back to newly diagnosed patients by sharing their journey, experience and knowledge of blood cancer treatment and survival.

We are always looking for new volunteers, …!