Wednesday, September 30, 2009

Leukemia Specialist Answers Questions at Town Hall

Nearly 2,000 Maryland residents will be diagnosed with a blood cancer this year, and new cases are on the rise.

To address the latest treatment advances and other important topics related to this disease, Stephen J. Noga, M.D., Ph.D., a LifeBridge Health cancer specialist, a group of additional health care professionals, patients and other community Baltimore area members are holding a town meeting. This free event is being held on Tuesday, October 6, at 6:30 p.m. at the Hotel Monaco Baltimore.

An overview of blood cancers will be discussed, with a focus on two common types of blood cancers – non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NHL) and chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL).

“As an oncologist practicing in Baltimore for many years, I have seen exciting treatment advances,” says Dr. Noga, director of Medical Oncology/Hematology at the Alvin & Lois Lapidus Cancer Institute programs at Sinai and Northwest hospitals. “I think a town hall is a wonderful way to share the latest information, as well as my knowledge, with the community to help improve patient care.”

This year in the United States, nearly 66,000 people, including 1,120 in Maryland, will be diagnosed with NHL, the fifth most common cancer among American men and women.

In addition, more than 15,000 people, including 640 in Maryland will be diagnosed with CLL – the most common adult leukemia – and about 640 Maryland residents will be diagnosed with leukemia.

Unfortunately, leukemia has been in the headlines in the past few weeks. Beyonce Knowles reduced her audience to tears after paying a touching tribute to a young girl with leukemia during her stage show in Sydney, Australia. Leukemia also took a toll when Mary Travers, of the folk singing group- Peter, Paul and Mary- died September 16.

The October 6 town meeting is being sponsored by Cephalon Oncology.

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