While this abstract presented at ASH 2021 (American Society of Hematology Annual Meeting and Exposition) was not specific to chronic lymphocytic leukemia/small lymphocytic lymphoma (CLL / SLL), it did show that where you live profoundly influences your survival odds with leukemia.
While it does answer why the mortality rate is so much worse in Mississippi compared to Florida as one example, it does demand that we examine and remedy these disparities. Overall health rankings in each state are clearly one factor that correlates well with survival odds.
CLL Society is committed to eliminating these disparities through our programs, such as Expert Access, providing free virtual consults with CLL / SLL experts for those without such access.
The original ASH abstract is Association between the Leukemia Mortality-to-Incidence Ratio and State Geographic Healthcare Disparities in the United States.
Here is my short video monologue on this research:
Here’s to a future where everyone has access to the best possible care for their blood cancer, regardless of where they live.
Stay strong. We are all in this together.
Brian Koffman MDCM (retired) MS Ed (he, him, his)
Co-Founder, Executive VP, and Chief Medical Officer
CLL Society, Inc.