About The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society LLS is a national voluntary health agency dedicated to curing leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin's disease and myeloma and improving the quality of life of patients and their families. Our goal is to significantly accelerate cures for leukemia and related cancers, and be the recognized leader in the fight against leukemia and related cancers. The Society supports five major programs: research, patient financial aid and services, public and professional education and community services. Since its founding in 1949, the Society has allocated more than $300 million to patient support services and research, supporting individual medical investigators to continue to study and advance the knowledge of leukemia and related cancers and ultimately cure these diseases. About Leukemia Leukemia is a malignancy of the blood forming tissues - bone marrow, lymph nodes and spleen. It appears as uncontrolled multiplication of abnormal blood cells. When leukemia strikes, millions of abnormal and useless white blood cells accumulate in the tissues, preventing the production of normal cells. It is estimated that leukemia and its related cancers will strike over 100,000 Americans this year. Leukemia is the number one disease killer of children, yet it affects 10 times as many adults. The cause of leukemia remains unknown. However, the effectiveness of recently developed treatment methods and steady advances in research bring us closer every day to finding the cause of leukemia and related cancers and probable cures. Why should I support The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society? It is estimated that leukemia and its related cancers lymphoma, Hodgkin's disease and myeloma strike some 102,200 Americans each year and kill 60,340. These totals account for about 8 percent of new cases of, and deaths from, malignant diseases. Every week, there are 1,900 new cases of leukemia, lymphoma or myeloma diagnosed in this country. Every week, approximately 1,155 Americans die of leukemia, lymphoma or myeloma. The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society sponsored research has been the catalyst for effective treatments of Hodgkin's disease, lymphomas and other common kinds of cancers, including breast and lung cancer. Now, on the threshold of a new era, the hope is that with accelerated funding for research, all leukemias and related cancers will be curable early in the next century. The research is working. 25 years ago, only 5% of children diagnosed with leukemia survived. Today, 73% of children with leukemia and 76% of those with Hodgkin's disease will live thanks to the research funded by people involved in projects like Team In Training. For more information, check out www.leukemia.org.