Community Lecture to Address ‘Acute Leukemia, 2016 and Beyond’

NORTHAMPTON — Community members are invited to attend the next Massachusetts General Cancer Center at Cooley Dickinson Hospital lecture, “Acute Leukemia, 2016 and Beyond,” with Dr. Karen Kuhn Ballen, clinical director of the Center for Leukemia at the Mass General Cancer Center, on Thursday, May 19 from 7 to 8 p.m. in the Dakin Conference Room at Cooley Dickinson Hospital.

Acute leukemias are some of the most aggressive cancers and can be rapidly fatal without treatment. In this talk, Ballen will review new drugs and treatments for adults with acute myeloid leukemia and acute lymphoid leukemia. She will also discuss the progress that researchers are making toward a cure. Dr. Sean Mullally, medical director of the Mass General Cancer Center at Cooley Dickinson Hospital, will introduce Ballen.

The physicians will discuss the partnership between the Mass General Hospital Cancer Center in Boston and the Mass General Cancer Center at Cooley Dickinson Hospital, as well as how the collaboration between the two organizations benefits local patients.

Ballen’s career has focused on the care of patients with leukemia and patients undergoing bone-marrow or stem-cell transplants. She has a particular interest in patients who do not have a matched donor and may be interested in transplants using umbilical cord blood.

The lecture is free and open to all. To register, visit cooley-dickinson.org/classes or call (888) 554-4234. Seating is limited, and registration is required.