On October 29, as part of the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's ongoing Lymphoma Education Series, the LLS is offering another FREE telephone education program.

In order to participate, you need only to register. These are free, 90 minute programs hosted by blood cancer experts and followed by Q&A sessions in which you can ask questions. You don't need to go anywhere to participate, you don't need to pay anything, you just need to call in at the proper time.

Program: Managing Myeloma: An Expert's Update

About: Learn about signs, symptoms, emerging treatment options, how treatments are selected for patients, and clinical trials for myeloma.

When: October 29, 2009 at 12 noon (eastern time)

Hosted by:
Kenneth C. Anderson, MD
Kraft Family Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School
Chief, Division of Hematologic Neoplasia
Director, Lebow Institute for Myeloma Therapeutics and Jerome Lipper Multiple Myeloma Center
Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
Boston, MA

Click HERE for the program's main information page, and to access the registration page.

I recently learned about a friend's husband who, at age 42, was diagnosed with stage IV diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). She's been keeping an intelligent, faith-and-family based blog ever since, the Schoening Cancer Journey, detailing each step in her husband's treatment (as of this writing, he's finished R-CHOP chemo and is about to begin radiation), as well as all the ups, downs, highs, and lows in cancer and life in general that come with it.

I think both patients and caregivers can benefit from her warmly written entries.

Smith's son, Elijah, who turned 5 Dec. 6, was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia -- a cancer of the white blood cells -- a few days before the Steelers played the New York Giants Oct. 26. The disease has an 80 percent survival rate, the doctors told Smith and his wife, Jaimie. They are encouraged about Elijah because he has responded well to once-a-week chemotherapy treatments and his follow-up blood tests have been good.

You wouldn't know he had leukemia if you talked to him," said Smith. "He's a cheerful, happy boy. If he wasn't bald you probably wouldn't even know he's in chemo."

Elijah had to have blood transfusions four, five, maybe even six times," Smith said. "There's such a shortage of blood. I don't think people understand the difference they can make in people's lives by donating. I didn't understand. But you're talking about saving someone's life."

Smith is asking people to donate blood as well as text LLS and donate $5 to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.

I get tired of the same seven colors of folders and notebooks. By the time I have bought all three of my girls back to school notebooks, I am so tired of flowers, Miley Cyrus and primary colors I could scream. That’s part of why I love Carolina Pad – they have always offered great customer service and awesome designs, but now I’m even a bigger fan than before.

When Jacqueline Savage McFee (www.jackiemcfee.com), signature designer for Carolina Pad (www.carolinapad.com) – the industry leader in trendy school, office and organizational fashion products, got the devastating news that her two-year-old cousin, Kendall Sierens, was diagnosed with leukemia, it brought things into perspective for her. It also created a spark. The Kendall Kollection – a collection of colorful high-end school supplies inspired by the artist’s young cousin – was born in 2008 and has been raising funds and awareness for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. The partnership between Jackie McFee, Carolina Pad and The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society continues for 2009 with fresh new designs. This wildly successful collection is available at major national retailers including Wal-Mart, K-Mart and Office Max, as well as grocery and drug store chains.

Kendall is now almost six-years old and in remission, but the battle continues for thousands of other children just like her. We look forward to another year of helping The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society in its effort to find cures and better therapies for patients with leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma.

The chief resource in this category is the Social Security Handbook, 13th edition. On the Web at http://www.ssa.gov/OP_Home/ handbook/ssa-hbk.htm. Other, more specific SSA bulletins include:

Social Security: What You Need To Know When You Get Disability Benefits (6/96; Pub. No. 05-10153)

Social Security Disability Programs (5/96; Pub. No. 05-10057)

A Guide to Social Security and SSI Disability Benefits for People with HIV Infection (6/95; Pub. No. 05-10020)

How We Decide If You Are Still Disabled (4/96; Pub. No. 05-10053)

How Social Security Can Help with Vocational Rehabilitation (9/94; Pub. No. 05-10050)

Working While Disabled: How We Can Help (1/96; Pub. No. 05-10095)

Red Book on Work Incentives for People with Disabilities (8/95; Pub. No. 64-030)