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Fall 2009
(Vol. 6,
No. 4) The LTFU LifeLinks newsletter is sent quarterly to people who have undergone treatment through Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center's transplant program. Dear friend of LTFU, In this issue, I would like to direct your attention to information on the current "swine flu" or H1N1 flu epidemic in our FAQ section. The United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has recommended that five groups should be first in line to receive the vaccine when limited quantities become available in October. Persons with chronic health conditions or compromised immune function are one of the five priority groups, and it includes anyone who is still taking immunosuppressive medications more than one year after transplantation. You can contact your health care provider to find out about the availability of this new vaccine in your area. In addition, let me take this opportunity to re-emphasize the importance of receiving the seasonal flu vaccine, which will be available earlier and in larger quantities. Best regards, Paul Martin, M.D. Director, Long-Term Follow-Up
Featured Readings
Staff Profile
Former Patient Profile
Frequently Asked Questions Brown Bag Discussion This group provides peer support and education to participants. All transplant and returning follow-up patients are welcome to attend and share their experiences. Participation can be in person or by conference call. A faculty member will join us one or two weeks a month to provide insight and education on various aspects of the transplant process. This group is co-facilitated by a clinical social worker and an LTFU nurse. Bring your lunch if pressed for time. Space is limited to 50 participants. When: Every Thursday, 12-1 p.m. Where: Seattle Cancer Care Alliance, 825 Eastlake Ave. E., Sixth Floor, Room 23 To participate in the discussion via conference call, dial 1-641-715-3300. At the prompt to enter a PIN number, enter 882679 followed by the # symbol. You will be charged a long-distance fee. If you need financial help, we can provide you with a phone card. Questions? Contact Long-Term Follow-Up at (206) 667-4415. Questions? If you have any medical or long-term follow-up questions, call (206) 667-4415. If you have comments or questions about the newsletter or would like to be added to or deleted from our mailing list, contact Kevin Bray at (206) 667-6256 or by e-mail at ltfunews@fhcrc.org. You are also welcome to subscribe to receive an electronic version of the newsletter via e-mail by visiting http://www.fhcrc.org/about/pubs/enews/ltfu-enews/index.html. Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, home of three Nobel laureates, is an independent, nonprofit research institution dedicated to the development and advancement of biomedical technology to eliminate cancer and other potentially fatal diseases. For information on Fred Hutchinson's privacy policy, go to: http://www.fhcrc.org/termsofuse_privacypolicy.html ISSN 1541-7177 Copyright 2009 Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center P.O. Box 19024 Seattle, WA 98109-1024 www.fhcrc.org |