My Blood My health Issue 3

My Blood My Health A Heal Canada Signature Program

"Bridging Health with Knowledge and Advocacy"

September: blood cancer awareness month Does AI deliver on its promises?

Health disparities across racial/ethnic communities: Focus on the Latino community

September 2024 Issue #3

Index

My Blood My Health

Table of Contents Welcome

03

CACHEducation registration period

04

September: Blood Cancer Awareness Month

05

MPN Awareness Day

11

Health disparities across racial/ethnic communities: Focus on the Latino community

13

Does AI deliver on its promises?

17

Clinical Trials and Patients Surveys

21

Alliances and collaborations

24

Resources

31

Partners

34

My Blood, My Health Team

35

References

36

Visit My blood, My Health.ca or Healcanada.org to download this current issue

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Welcome to My Blood, My Health Digital Magazine Welcome to the third issue of My Blood My Health digital magazine.

This September edition is dedicated to Blood Cancer Awareness Month.

With this magazine, we aim to pursue Heal Canada's mission to empower patients to access better and equitable services across Canada and the world. We're deeply grateful to our readers for their continued interest and support.

Your engagement drives us to bring insightful and valuable content to encourage patient-centricity in healthcare.

If you haven't already, we encourage you to subscribe and stay connected with My Blood, My Health digital magazine for future issues, where we'll continue to explore topics that matter to you and the healthcare community.

Thank you for participating in our journey, and welcome to this enlightening issue!

From your dedicated team

Cheryl Petruk, MBA B.Mgt. CEO & Founder of Heal Canada

Brigitte Leonard, Ph.D Chief Scientific Officer My Blood, My Health Director Heal Canada is a registered Not For Profit Organization in Canada. healcanada.org Disclaimer: The Patient Advocacy Digital Magazine provides general information and resources to promote patient empowerment and awareness. The content is not a substitute for professional medical advice or treatment.

Always consult with qualified healthcare professionals for personalized guidance regarding your specific medical condition or situation.

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Patient Advocacy Training Level One Courses Starting September 2024!

Register now! www.cacheducation.org contact: Info@CACHEducation.org

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The Importance of Blood Cancer Awareness Month

by Cheryl Petruk, MBA B.Mgt.

Blood Cancer Awareness Month, observed every September, is critical in increasing public knowledge and understanding of blood cancers, including Leukemia, Lymphoma, Myeloproliferative Neoplasms and Myeloma. These cancers, often called hematologic cancers, affect the blood, bone marrow, and lymphatic system, disrupting the body's ability to produce and regulate blood cells. With millions of people worldwide affected by these conditions, the need for awareness,

In this context, the My Blood My Health program emerges as a vital initiative to improve the lives of individuals living with blood cancers. By providing education, resources, and a platform for patient advocacy, My Blood My Health helps bridge the gap between patients and the healthcare system, ensuring that those affected by blood cancers receive the care and support they need. This article explores the significance of Blood Cancer Awareness Month and delves into the My Blood My Health program's pivotal role in this important cause.

Blood Cancers: A Silent Threat Blood cancers often go unnoticed until they have progressed to more advanced stages, making early detection and awareness crucial. These cancers are the fourth most common cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide, yet they receive significantly less attention than other forms of cancer, such as breast or lung cancer. The four main types of blood cancers are:

Leukemia

A cancer of the blood-forming tissues, including the bone marrow and the lymphatic system; leukemia leads to the production of abnormal white blood cells, which crowd out healthy cells.

Lymphoma

This type of cancer affects the lymphatic system, which is part of the immune system. It involves the uncontrolled growth of lymphocytes, a type of white blood cell that can spread throughout the body.

Myeloproliferative Neoplasms

These are a group of blood cancers originating in the bone marrow, where the production of blood cells becomes uncontrolled. MPNs lead to the overproduction of one or more types of blood cells causing a range of complications, including blood clots, bleeding, and progression to more aggressive forms of cancer, such as acute leukemia.

Myeloma

Myeloma is a cancer of plasma cells, a type of white blood cell that produces antibodies. It disrupts the production of normal blood cells and weakens the bones.

Each of these cancers presents unique challenges in terms of diagnosis and treatment.

Blood Cancer Awareness Month highlights these challenges, encourages early detection, supports research, and promotes better patient outcomes.

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The Role of Awareness in Early Detection Awareness is the first step toward combating blood cancers. Many people are unaware of the symptoms associated with these cancers, which can often be mistaken for less severe conditions. Symptoms such as fatigue, unexplained weight loss, night sweats, and frequent infections are common across all three types of blood cancer. Unfortunately, these symptoms are often dismissed or misdiagnosed, leading to delays in diagnosis and treatment.

Blood Cancer Awareness Month aims to change this by educating the public about the signs and symptoms of blood cancers, emphasizing the importance of seeking medical attention if these symptoms persist. Early detection is crucial, significantly improving treatment outcomes and survival rates. When blood cancers are diagnosed earlier, patients have more treatment options, and the chances of successful treatment are higher.

The Impact of Blood Cancer on Patients and Families

A blood cancer diagnosis can be devastating, not only for the patient but also for their families. The physical, emotional, and financial toll of the disease is immense. Patients often face prolonged and intensive treatments, including chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and stem cell transplants. These treatments can lead to significant side effects, impacting the patient's quality of life.

Moreover, the emotional burden of living with a chronic and potentially life-threatening illness can be overwhelming. Patients may experience anxiety, depression, and a sense of isolation.

Families, too, are affected as they navigate the challenges of caregiving and coping with the uncertainty of the future.

Blood Cancer Awareness Month recognizes the impact of blood cancers on patients and their families. It underscores the importance of medical and emotional support systems in helping individuals cope with the disease.

Patient Advocacy: Giving a Voice to the Voiceless One of the core missions of the My Blood My Health program is to advocate for the rights and needs of blood cancer patients. Many patients feel overwhelmed by the complexity of the healthcare system, struggling to navigate their diagnosis, treatment options, and the associated financial burdens. The program provides a voice for these patients, ensuring that their concerns are heard and addressed by healthcare providers and policymakers.

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The Vital Role of the My Blood My Health Program The My Blood My Health program stands out as a beacon of hope and support for patients and their families in blood cancer care. Designed to empower those affected by blood cancers, it offers a comprehensive approach to patient advocacy, education, and support.

Patient advocacy also involves raising awareness of blood cancer patients’ unique challenges. By highlighting these issues, the My Blood My Health program helps to drive policy changes and improvements in care that benefit all patients.

This includes advocating for better access to cutting-edge treatments, funding for research, and developing new therapies.

Education: Empowering Patients and Caregivers Knowledge is power, especially when managing a complex illness like blood cancer. The My Blood My Health program strongly emphasizes education, providing patients and their caregivers with the information they need to make informed decisions about their care. This includes resources on understanding the disease, treatment options, side effect management, and the importance of regular monitoring.

The program also offers educational materials tailored to different stages of the disease, from diagnosis to treatment and survivorship. By empowering patients with knowledge, My Blood My Health helps them take an active role in their care, leading to better outcomes and a higher quality of life.

Support: Building a Community of Care Living with blood cancer can be a lonely and isolating experience. The My Blood My Health program recognizes the importance of community and support in helping patients cope with the emotional and psychological challenges of the disease.

The program offers various support services, including counselling, support groups, and peer mentoring, to help patients and their families connect with others who understand what they are going through.

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These support services provide a safe space for patients to share their experiences, ask questions, and receive emotional support.

They also offer practical advice on managing the day-to-day challenges of living with blood cancer, such as dealing with side effects, maintaining a healthy lifestyle, and navigating the healthcare system.

Research and Innovation: Advancing the Fight Against Blood Cancer

The My Blood My Health program is unwavering in its commitment to advancing research in blood cancer. It focuses on providing support and education and collaborates with leading researchers and institutions to promote innovative studies that enhance blood cancer diagnosis, treatment, and understanding.

Future initiatives from the My Blood My Health program will include supporting research initiatives. This will help drive the development of new therapies and treatment options to improve patient outcomes. This includes research into targeted therapies, immunotherapies, and personalized medicine approaches that offer hope for more effective and less toxic treatments.

The program also advocates for including patient-reported outcomes in research, ensuring that the patient’s perspective is considered when developing new treatments. This patient-centered approach to research helps to ensure that new therapies not only extend life but also improve the quality of life for those living with blood cancer.

The Power of Community Engagement One of the critical strengths of Blood Cancer Awareness Month and the My Blood My Health program is their ability to mobilize communities. By engaging patients, families, healthcare providers, and the general public, these initiatives create a robust network of support and advocacy that can drive meaningful change.

Community engagement is essential for raising awareness about blood cancers and the importance of early detection. It also helps to build a sense of solidarity among those affected by the disease, fostering a supportive environment where patients and their families can find the resources and encouragement they need to navigate their journey with blood cancer.

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Events such as walks, fundraisers, and educational seminars held during Blood Cancer Awareness Month provide opportunities for communities to unite and show their support for those affected by blood cancers.

These types of events raise funds for research and patient support services and help reduce the stigma associated with the disease, encouraging open conversations and understanding.

The Importance of Continued Advocacy and Awareness While Blood Cancer Awareness Month is an important time to raise awareness and promote the work of initiatives like the My Blood, My Health program, the need for advocacy and support does not end in September. Blood cancers are complex, chronic conditions that require ongoing attention and resources.

Continued advocacy is essential for ensuring that blood cancer patients have access to the best possible care and treatment options. This includes advocating for policies that support research funding, access to innovative therapies, and equitable care for all patients, regardless of their socioeconomic status or geographic location.

Awareness campaigns must also continue throughout the year to ensure that the public remains informed about the signs and symptoms of blood cancers. Early detection saves lives, and ongoing education efforts are crucial for encouraging individuals to seek medical attention when they experience potential symptoms of blood cancer.

Conclusion Blood Cancer Awareness Month is a time to reflect on the impact of blood cancers and the importance of supporting those affected by these diseases. It's also a time to celebrate the significant role of programs like My Blood My Health, which provides essential resources, support, and advocacy for blood cancer patients and their families, inspiring hope and making a real difference.

The My Blood My Health program is more than just a support service; it is a lifeline for many individuals navigating the complexities of blood cancer. By offering education, advocacy, support, and a commitment to research, the program helps to improve the lives of those affected by blood cancers. It contributes to the ongoing fight against these diseases.

As we observe Blood Cancer Awareness Month, let us remember the importance of continued awareness, advocacy, and support for blood cancer patients. Together, we can make a difference in the lives of those affected by blood cancers and work towards a future where these diseases are no longer a silent threat.

The end

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Share your experience on MPN Awareness Day !

Canadian MPN Network Patient Advocacy and Education Group

Providing MPN Patients Support and Education

Info@canadianmpnnetwork.ca

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Improving lives of MPNs patients The Global MPN Scientific Foundation (GMPNSF) is a charitable non-profit organization dedicated to advancing research and management of MPNs. Our ultimate goal is to raise awareness, facilitate collaboration, and improve the lives of people affected by MPNs. Our Mission At Global MPN Scientific Foundation, we understand the challenges and gaps in the current management of MPN, such as: Lack of awareness and education among patients, physicians, and scientists Limited access to specialized testing and care Variability in diagnostic criteria and treatment guidelines Insufficient data on the natural history and outcomes of MPN Limited availability of effective therapies and clinical trials

That's why we are committed to providing a source of professionally backed information, building and facilitating an MPN community, and advocating for patients affected by this rare group of blood cancers. Global MPN Scientific Foundation is run by volunteers comprising MPN patients and healthcare professionals who share this vision.

On our platform, you will find a wide range of unbiased and medically backed information, including leaflets, newsletters, and forums where you can meet and hear about the latest MPN research. You will also learn about our investment in research and support for clinical trials. Moreover, you will discover how we are developing links with MPN groups worldwide to become more visible in advocating for MPN patients.

We invite you to join us in our mission to improve the lives of people living with MPN. Whether you are a patient, a physician, or a pharma representative, you will find valuable resources and opportunities to connect with others who share your interest in MPN. Together, we can make a difference! www.gmpnsf.org.

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Health disparities across racial/ethnic communities: Focus on the Latino community

by Brigitte Leonard, Ph.D. In the past decade, several research initiatives worldwide have uncovered cancer health disparities across racial/ethnic communities*. These initiatives increased awareness about this issue, sparking a mobilization to narrow the gap in outcomes by implementing relevant strategies with the ultimate goal of eventually eradicating them.

*In this paper, we use the socially constructed terms' race/ethnicity' defined by the USA Office of Management and Budget, generally used in medical literature [1].

When patients' lives are on the line, scientific progress is the Tortoise in La Fontaine's Fables. It's not fast enough.

Why does it take so much time? Research must transition from single-dimensional models to comprehensive multi-factorial analysis. This type of initiative takes more time initially. Still, it can provide more information, paint a more accurate picture, and implement more effective strategies.

The shift to comprehensive research frameworks necessitates the development of high-cost research infrastructures. Researchers need: 1. Multi-center collaborations to secure a large number of participants from different races/ethnicities For rare cancers, international multi-center collaborations are mandatory to secure enough participants 2. Long following periods A minimum of five years for aggressive cancers A minimum of ten years for indolent cancers 3. Biobank of biospecimens: Bone marrow, blood, and stool samples. The sky is the limit!

4. Biospecimens combined with individual information: Socioeconomic and healthcare access Sociocultural situation Environmental and working exposition Origin and familial historic Individual behaviours: nutrition, physical activity level, and recreative substance consumption.

These infrastructures, which must support ethical and confidential patient recruitment, specimen banking, baseline laboratory and clinical assessment, and long-term follow-up, require significant funding and resource allocation for their development and maintenance.

Finally, thanks to the collective awakening, this societal project benefits now from more funding, awareness and resource allocation. This mobilization also promotes international collaborations, which are crucial for the medical community to overcome the current research limitations and foster a global approach to the issue.

This paper will honour some of these initiatives by summarizing their findings regarding the Latino community in two types of blood cancer: Acute Myeloid Leukaemia (AML) Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia (ALL)

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Acute Myeloid Leukaemia (AML) In the USA, the frequency of AML is lower in the Hispanic/Latino (H/L) population versus the Non-Hispanic White (NHW) population. However, H/L patients tend to be diagnosed younger than NHW patients. Also, H/L patients have a higher frequency of favourable biological subtypes than NHW patients. Sadly, the favourable biological subtypes observed in H/L don't translate to improved outcomes. The mortality rate observed in H/L patients is higher compared to NHW patients.

Better access to health services can improve the poorer outcome. In addition to access to healthcare services, younger patients tend to be less compliant with their medications, which impacts their outcomes. Age might be one element influencing the poorer outcomes in this patient population. Improving access and addressing compliance of younger patients could provide better results.

Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia (ALL) ALL is the most common cancer in children, accounting for ~30% of all pediatric cancers (3). In line with the frequency observed in Latin American countries, children of Latin American origin in the USA have the highest risk of ALL than for NHWs. Similarly, the incidence of adult ALL is the highest in the H/L community (4). Moreover, ALL frequency has been increasing in the past decades in the USA and is rising faster in H/L than in other racial/ethnic groups (5).

Sadly, the ALL outcomes in the H/L community are also generally poorer for both childhood and adults compared with NHWs (6,7). Exposure to tobacco smoke, pesticides, paint and other organic pollutants has shown a modest positive association with childhood ALL in H/L and other racial/ethnic groups (8-12).

This dark picture can most likely be explained by a higher frequency of the high-risk Philadelphia chromosome (Ph)-like subtype and the increased Native American (NA) genetic ancestry in H/L patients (13-15). Dr Sohag's team has studied mortality data of 2428 children and adults with ALL from Continental Hispanics and Caribbean Hispanic communities (16). The selection of these two communities allows the assessment of the impact of NA genetic ancestry. Continental Hispanics have a high proportion of NA ancestry versus Caribbean Hispanics. The study demonstrated that Hispanics had higher mortality rates than other racial and ethnic groups; Continental Hispanics had significantly higher mortality rates than Caribbean Hispanics.

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Despite significant progress in our understanding of factors that contribute to racial/ethnic disparities in cancer frequency, tumour biology and outcomes, disparities still exist, and multidisciplinary efforts are needed to improve the situation. Federal initiatives have promoted the accrual of diverse populations in research studies and clinical trials in the USA to address this disparity.

Take Action Participating in research projects, clinical trials, and patient surveys can help your community achieve a brighter future. See page 22 for available surveys. Every effort counts.

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Does AI deliver on its promises?

by Brigitte Leonard, Ph.D. According to the theory, artificial intelligence and machine learning can improve blood cancer diagnosis in several ways. However, do we have concrete evidence to support this? What are the real gains for patients?

Early Detection In theory, AI-powered tools can analyze blood samples to detect disease markers at an early stage, even before symptoms appear, potentially facilitating early intervention and improving patient outcomes.

A concrete example: Dr Liu’s team assessed the capacity of a machine learning program called the LightGBM model to assist in the earlier diagnosis of AL amyloidosis. AL amyloidosis is a rare disease in which multiple organs are affected by the overproduction of a protein in the blood: immunoglobulin-free light chains. Several effective treatments are available. However, because of the atypical clinical presentation, diagnostic delays significantly impact life expectancy, ranging from 5 to 73 months.

The analysis included 49 patients diagnosed between 2013 and 2021: 49 with AL amyloidosis and 198 non-AL amyloidosis patients. Twelve features from medical records were analyzed to develop the model, demonstrating its capacity to identify patients with AL amyloidosis [1].

Accurate Diagnosis In theory, AI models can accurately analyze complex blood or bone marrow sample patterns, increasing diagnosis accuracy and, by default, improving patient outcomes.

A concrete example: Overlapping clinical, molecular, and bone marrow characteristics pose challenges in rare cancer diagnosis, especially if these cancers have. The perfect example is the discrimination between two forms of myeloproliferative neoplasia (MPN): pre-fibrotic myelofibrosis (pre-PMF) and essential thrombocytopenia (ET). Accurate diagnosis is imperative between these two rare blood cancers because life expectancy diverges significantly between pre-PMF and ET from 12 to 22 years, respectively. Also, the treatment approaches are different. Because they are both rare cancers, only academic centers can develop the expertise to discriminate one from another easily.

Dr. Srisuwananukorn’s team worked on an AI algorithm that analyzed a bank of 200 patients’ digital images taken between 2007 and 2023. The team succeeded in developing an algorithm that rapidly, accurately, and inexpensively distinguishes pre-PMF from ET patients. In this case, AI can assist pathologists in routine practice, helping patients access the most up-to-date MPN expertise in their community.[2]

Diagnosis Efficacy In theory, because AI can process large amounts of data quickly, it could reduce the time needed for diagnosis and improve patient care.

A concrete example: Flow cytometry is an essential technique for routine diagnostics of blood cancer.

Unfortunately, a decreasing number of skilled operators must cope with increasing case volumes. The current methods are also observer-dependent and produce variable results.

Dr. Miermans’s team worked on a machine learning (ML) program that analyzed over 100,000 flow cytometry cases from multiple centers. These cases were assessed using different methods and included 47% non-cancer samples. The ML model allowed an excellent performance with a false positive rate of ≈1.5% and a false negative rate of 2-6%.

These results demonstrated that ML models can offer decision support and automated reporting for screening and classifying blood cancers from flow cytometry in a real-world routine setting [3].

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Continuous Learning In theory, AI systems can continuously learn and improve from new data, leading to a steady and ongoing advancement in diagnosis accuracy, instilling confidence in the system's capabilities.

The ML model, over time, expert agreement revealed that the quality of the diagnostic recommendations has been stable and consistently more than 90% across various metrics.

The last four most recent recorded months have shown 100% specificity [3].

The future is maybe bright after all !

The end

Join Us KYB invites individuals, healthcare professionals, community leaders, and organizations to join this mission. Together, we can work towards reducing health disparities and improving outcomes for individuals with blood disorders in the African/Caribbean community.

Whether through donating blood, volunteering, or simply spreading the word, every contribution helps create a healthier future.

For more information on how you can get involved, send an email to knowyourblood2024@gmail.com or follow us on social media: Instagram: @Knowyourblood; TikTok: know.your.blood Together, we can make a difference

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mybloodmyhealth.ca

monsangmasante.ca encouraging Canadians to get their blood checked yearly

My Blood My health is a awareness campaign encouraging Canadian's to look after their blood health at their yearly check up.

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Clinical Trials and Surveys

Have your voice heard!

Visit the My Blood My Health website and participate in our Various Surveys mybloodmyhealth.ca

monsangmasante.ca Quality of life Survey Transfusion Dependency survey Page 22

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Alliances and Collabborations

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www.cllcanada.org Page 27

Created in 2017, the Acute Leukemia Advocates Network (ALAN) is an independent global network of patient organizations dedicated to changing the outcomes of patients with acute leukemia by strengthening patient advocacy in that area. Our role at ALAN is to support our members in supporting patients and their families, raise awareness of leukemia, and conduct work that is best done internationally, like generating data and evidence. All our activities are patient-led, collaborative, and evidence-based.

Who are we?

In March 2024, the network counts 56 member organizations from 52 countries and is governed by a steering committee. All steering committee members are leaders of national patient organizations focusing on leukemia and blood cancers from different regions to ensure global representation.

How do we work?

At ALAN, we are convinced that: A strong collaboration between contributors of a multi-stakeholder project will likely generate benefits for all parties involved.

Patients' and patient advocates' perspectives are unique. Therefore, they should be considered specialist knowledge complementary to other experts, academia, and industry.

So, we collaborate on various projects with the pharmaceutical industry, other patient organizations, medical societies, researchers, clinicians, and other experts.

What do we do?

1- Capacity Building: 2- Raising awareness 3- Evidence-based advocacy

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My blood, My Health and Pat ADV Hub in the USA have embarked on a collaborative journey, aiming to revolutionize the realm of patient advocacy across North America. This pioneering partnership brings together two influential organizations from neighboring countries, combining their extensive expertise and resources.

The objective is to expand and enhance the access to critical information for patient advocates, ensuring that individuals across the continent receive the best possible support and guidance in their healthcare journeys.

By bridging the gap between Canadian and American healthcare advocacy, this alliance promises to foster a more informed, empowered, and connected community of patient advocates, significantly contributing to the improvement of healthcare experiences for countless individuals.

email: patadvhub@gmail.com

www.patadvhub.org

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Resources

Care partners Are you a care partner for a patient?

Visit our website for resources that can assist you in helping your patient with a better quality of life living with their diagnosis, and find resources that can assist you as a care partner.

Visit www.healcanada.org

Patient Advocacy Groups Visit our website at www.healcanada.org for resources needed to help your advocacy group grow and assist your community

Stakeholder Resources Visit our website at www.healcanada.org for resources needed to help you in working with advocacy groups

Join My blood, My Health's Patient Advisory Council Be part of the My blood, My Health Resource Advisory Council.

Provide ongoing feedback on issues relevant to Patient Advocacy in Canada. We are looking for Patients, Care-partners, and General Advocates Send you information to: Admin@healcanada.org or visit our website and fill out our application form and find out more details about time commitment required.

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Join our Resource List Patient Advocacy Organization Registry Have your Patient Advocacy Organization listed with My blood, My Health, so that Patients & their Carepartners can find you!

Send your coordinates to: admin@healcanada.org & we will add you to our Patient Advocacy Registry

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Partners

My Blood, My Health Team Brigitte Leonard, Ph.D Brigitte Léonard is the Chief Scientific Officer at My blood, My Health, a registered not-for-profit organization advocating equitable access to quality healthcare across Canada. She had the privilege of working in Pharma for over 20 years, contributing to bringing lifechanging treatments to patients with the highest ethical standards.

Now, she wants to share her knowledge and utilize her scientific, strategic, and communication skills to help the patients’ community.

She obtained her Ph.D. in Biomedical Sciences from Université de Montréal in 2003. Her doctoral research was conducted under the supervision of Dr. Denis-Claude Roy at Guy-Bernier, MaisonneuveRosemont Hospital Research Center. She developed a quantitative diagnostic assay in non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and evaluated the relevance of this marker in the patient's outcome.

Cheryl Petruk, MBA B.Mgt. Cheryl A. Petruk is a multifaceted professional whose career spans across patient advocacy, business, and post-secondary education, showcasing her dedication to making a significant impact in each of these areas.

Cheryl's transition into patient advocacy was driven by a passion from her family circumstances and a deep commitment to ensuring patients' rights and access to care. Cheryl has worked tirelessly to bridge the gap between the healthcare system, patients, and pharma stakeholders, ensuring that patients' voices are heard and their needs are met. Her work involves collaborating with Stakeholders and Patient Advocacy Organizations, lobbying for patient centricity, and providing patient support and guidance.

Cheryl's empathetic approach and dedication to advocacy have made her a respected figure in this field, admired by patients, healthcare professionals, and fellow advocates.

Cheryl also leads and is the lead faculty member at CACHEducation, Patient Advocacy Training.

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References Article: Health disparities across racial/ethnic communities: Focus on the Latino community 1-Alvidrez J, et al. The National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities Research Framework. Am. J. Public Health. 2019;109:S16–S20.

2- Zavala VA., et al., Cancer health disparities in racial/ethnic minorities in the United States, Br J Cancer. 2021 Jan 19; 124(2): 315–332.

3- Linet MS, et al. Cancer surveillance series: recent trends in childhood cancer incidence and mortality in the United States. J. Natl Cancer Inst. 1999;91:1051–1058.

4- Pullarkat ST, et al. High lifetime incidence of adult acute lymphoblastic leukemia among Hispanics in California. Cancer Epidemiol. Biomark. Prev. 2009;18:611–615.

5- Barrington-Trimis JL, Cockburn M, Metayer C, Gauderman WJ, Wiemels J, McKean-Cowdin R. Rising rates of acute lymphoblastic leukemia in Hispanic children: trends in incidence from 1992 to 2011. Blood. 2015;125:3033–3034.

6- Kadan-Lottick NS, et al. Survival variability by race and ethnicity in childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia. JAMA. 2003;290:2008–2014.

7- Pulte D, et al. Recent trends in survival of adult patients with acute leukemia: overall improvements, but persistent and partly increasing disparity in survival of patients from minority groups. Haematologica. 2013;98:222–229.

8- Bailey HD, et al. Home pesticide exposures and risk of childhood leukemia: findings from the childhood leukemia international consortium. Int. J. Cancer. 2015;137:2644–2663.

9- Ward MH, et al. Residential levels of polybrominated diphenyl ethers and risk of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia in California. Environ. Health Perspect. 2014;122:1110–1116.

10- Hyland C, et al. Maternal residential pesticide use and risk of childhood leukemia in Costa Rica. Int. J. Cancer. 2018;143:1295–1304.

11- Bailey HD, et al. Home paint exposures and risk of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia: findings from the Childhood Leukemia International Consortium. Cancer Causes Control.

2015;26:1257–1270.

12- Metayer C, et al. Tobacco smoke exposure and the risk of childhood acute lymphoblastic and myeloid leukemias by cytogenetic subtype. Cancer Epidemiol. Biomark. Prev. 2013;22:1600– 1611.

13- Jain N, et al. Ph-like acute lymphoblastic leukemia: a high-risk subtype in adults. Blood.

2017;129:572–581.

14- Harvey RC, et al. Rearrangement of CRLF2 is associated with mutation of JAK kinases, alteration of IKZF1, Hispanic/Latino ethnicity, and a poor outcome in pediatric B-progenitor acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Blood. 2010;115:5312–5321.

15- Perez-Andreu V, et al. Inherited GATA3 variants are associated with Ph-like childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia and risk of relapse. Nat. Genet. 2013;45:1494–1498.

16- Shoag JM, et al.Acute lymphoblastic leukemia mortality in Hispanic Americans Leuk Lymphoma. 2020 Nov;61(11):2674-2681.

Article: Does AI deliver on its promises?

1- Liu Y.,et al.; ASH 2023, Abstract 2038 2-Srisuwananukorn A.,et al.; ASH 2023, Abstract 901 3- Miermans K., ASH 2023, Abstract 3661

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