How far we've come

Just some quick facts to show how far the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society has come over the years:


Therapeutic Advances

Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia:
1987: Five-year survival was less than 55%.
2007: With the use of the targeted drug Gleevec®, five-year survival is 95%, with high quality of life.

Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma:
1987: Five-year survival was 52%.
2007: Targeted drugs such as Rituxan® have increased five-year survival to 63%, with dramatic improvements in patients’ quality of life.

Myeloma:

1987: Five-year survival was 12%.
2007: Five-year survival has nearly tripled with the use of targeted drugs such as Revlamid® and Velcade®, with major increases in patients’ quality of life.


Patient Services

Family Support:
1987: Groups available in 14 chapters, with 1,500 patients and family members served.
2007: Groups available in 68 chapters, with 9,500 patients and family members served.

Information Resource Center (IRC):

1987: Free, national call center for patients/caregivers not available.
2007: The IRC responded to 74,325 inquiries.

Financial Aid:
1987: Financial assistance was provided to 5,500 patients.
2007: Financial assistance was provided to 16,958 patients.

Advocacy
1987: The Society had no voice in Washington, DC.
2007: More than 20,000 Society advocates are working to increase federal research programs.

Campaigns
1988: Bruce Cleland ran the New York City Marathon with a small group of friends, raising $320,000.
2007: Team In Training has trained more than 340,000 participants who have raised more than $800 million.


Research Funding
1987: $6.4 million in research grants awarded, cumulative total: $50 million.
2007: $64.7 million in research grants awarded in fiscal year 2007, cumulative total: $550 million.