September is National Blood Cancer Awareness Month

September is blood cancer awareness month. It is a month to bring awareness and understanding to this specific set of cancers. This is important to me–I had a blood cancer, and I want to make sure more people are able to use the past tense when referring to their cancer.

I was diagnosed with stage IV non-Hodgkin lymphoma in 1985. I was given a 30% chance of survival. Frightened and frantic, I researched all the best places. For me the choice was clear: Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston. I owe my life to the doctors, researchers, and nurses at Dana-Farber. My gratitude is boundless.

In the United States, someone is diagnosed with blood cancer every 3 minutes, and someone loses their fight with blood cancer every 9 minutes. This is unacceptable. We at Dana-Farber and the Jimmy Fund have devoted ourselves to conquering this disease. Nothing short of a survival rate ten out of ten is our aim.

The Jimmy Fund is on the front lines in the battle against cancer. I am honored to be the Chairman of this remarkable organization. The task of ending this disease will take the brightest scientific minds, the best caregivers, and an active, compassionate, and generous community. All of this, everything needed, can be found in the hallways of Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and the Jimmy Fund.

So, how can you help? You can give: money, blood, platelets. You can join the National Marrow Donor Registry. You can talk to your friends and family about the symptoms of blood cancer and urge them to schedule annual medical appointments. You can save lives like mine.

Make a difference this September in honor of blood cancer awareness month. Cancer is a miserable set of diseases and it is high time we got rid of them.

Larry Lucchino
Chairman of the Jimmy Fund