OVERVIEW
This free activity consists of a lecture presentation, a learning assessment, and an evaluation form. The content of this virtual lecture is derived from a satellite symposium presented on October 14, 2009, in Boston, Massachusetts.

MEDIUM: Virtual Lecture
INTERNET RELEASE DATE: December 9, 2009
CE AVAILABLE UNTIL: December 9, 2010

Estimated time to complete this activity: 1.5 hours

---

TARGET AUDIENCE
This activity has been designed to meet the educational needs of primary care physicians, registered nurses, social workers and other healthcare professionals involved in the care of patients with blood cancers.

---

ACTIVITY PURPOSE
This activity is intended to assist healthcare professionals in recognizing the signs, symptoms, treatments and survivorship issues associated with blood cancers using representative case studies.

---

STATEMENT OF NEED
Blood cancers are projected to be responsible for more than 53,000 deaths in 2009.¹ Diagnosis of these conditions can be difficult, particularly in the early stages, because patients may be asymptomatic, and the signs and symptoms are nonspecific and generally related to common blood cytopenias. Treatment of these conditions is equally challenging, as malignancies and therapies alike are associated with significant short- and long-term side effects. Thus, healthcare professionals who treat patients with blood cancers must be mindful of traditional therapy targeted at achieving remission as well as supportive and follow-up care. This educational activity is designed to improve care and overall quality of life in patients with blood cancers.

¹ National Cancer Institute. Available at: http://seer.cancer.gov/csr/1975_2006/results_single/sect_01_table.01.pdf.
  Accessed August 24, 2009.

---

EDUCATIONAL OBJECTIVES
After completing this activity, the participant should be better able to:

• Recognize the distinct signs and symptoms associated with hematologic malignancies to improve patient outcomes through early diagnosis
• Select appropriate methods for diagnosis in patients with signs and symptoms of hematologic malignancies
• Identify the late effects associated with treatments for hematologic malignancies
• Describe follow-up tests used to screen for malignancy recurrence to improve long-term survival

---

METHOD OF PARTICIPATION
There are no fees for participating and receiving continuing education (CE) credit for this activity. During the period December 9, 2009, through December 9, 2010, participants must 1) read the learning objectives and faculty disclosures; 2) study the educational activity; 3) complete the learning assessment by recording the best answer to each question in the "Learning Assessment Answers" box on the evaluation form; 4) complete the evaluation form; and 5) mail or fax the evaluation form with the learning assessment answers to Postgraduate Institute for Medicine. You may also complete the learning assessment online at www.cmeuniversity.com. Click on "Find Post-Test/Evaluation by Course" on the navigation menu, and search by Project ID 6909 ES 29.

Participants must receive a score of at least 70% on the learning assessment and must complete and submit the evaluation form to successfully complete this activity. Participants who successfully complete the learning assessment and evaluation form via www.cmeuniversity.com will have a certificate of completion made available immediately. Participants who successfully complete this activity and submit the learning assessment and evaluation form via fax or mail will be issued a certificate of completion via US mail in 4 to 6 weeks.

---

PHYSICIAN CONTINUING EDUCATION

ACCREDITATION STATEMENT
This activity has been planned and implemented in accordance with the Essential Areas and policies of the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) through the joint sponsorship of Postgraduate Institute for Medicine (PIM) and Robert Michael Educational Institute LLC (RMEI). PIM is accredited by the ACCME to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

CREDIT DESIGNATION
PIM designates this educational activity for a maximum of 1.5 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Physicians should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

AAFP CREDIT
This activity has been reviewed and is acceptable for up to 1.5 prescribed credits by the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP).

---

NURSES AND SOCIAL WORKERS CONTINUING EDUCATION
Approval for nurses has been obtained by the National Office of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society under provider number CEP 5832 to award 1.5 continuing education contact hours through the California Board of Registered Nursing.

The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS), provider number 1105, is approved as a provider for social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) www.aswb.org Approved Continuing Education Program (ACE). Approval Period: 12/2008–12/2011. LLS maintains responsibility for the program. Social workers should contact their regulatory board to determine course approval. Social workers will receive 1.5 CE clinical clock hours.

Upon completion of this program and submission of the activity evaluation, a certificate of completion will be issued to you via e-mail or US mail within 30 days.

---

FACULTY
Barton A. Kamen, MD, PhD
Chief Medical Officer
The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society
White Plains, NY
Professor of Pediatrics and Pharmacology
The Cancer Institute of New Jersey
UMDNJ – Robert Wood Johnson Medical School
New Brunswick, NJ

Kevin C. Oeffinger, MD
Attending and Member
Director, Living Beyond Cancer
Departments of Pediatrics and Medicine
Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center
New York, NY

---

DISCLOSURE OF CONFLICTS OF INTEREST
Postgraduate Institute for Medicine (PIM) assesses conflict of interest with its instructors, planners, managers and other individuals who are in a position to control the content of continuing education (CE) activities. All relevant conflicts of interest that are identified are thoroughly vetted by PIM for fair balance, scientific objectivity of studies utilized in this activity, and patient care recommendations. PIM is committed to providing its learners with high-quality CE activities and related materials that promote improvements or quality in healthcare and not a specific proprietary business interest of a commercial interest.

The faculty reported the following financial relationships or relationships to products or devices they or their spouse/life partner have with commercial interests related to the content of this CE activity:

• Dr. Barton A. Kamen has no affiliations with commercial interests to disclose.
• Dr. Kevin C. Oeffinger has no affiliations with commercial interests to disclose.

The following planners and managers reported the following financial relationships:

Robert Michael Educational Institute LLC

• Sherri Kramer, MD, has no affiliations with commercial interests to disclose.
• Laura Altobelli, MS, has no affiliations with commercial interests to disclose.

Postgraduate Institute for Medicine

• Jan Hixon, RN, BSN, MS, has no affiliations with commercial interests to disclose.
• Linda Graham, RN, BSN, has no affiliations with commercial interests to disclose.
• Trace Hutchison, PharmD, has no affiliations with commercial interests to disclose.
• Julia Kirkwood, RN, BSN, has no affiliations with commercial interests to disclose.
• Jan Schultz, RN, MSN, CCMEP, has no affiliations with commercial interests to disclose.

---

DISCLOSURE OF UNLABELED USE
This educational activity may contain discussion of published and/or investigational uses of agents that are not indicated by the FDA. Postgraduate Institute for Medicine (PIM), Robert Michael Educational Institute LLC (RMEI), The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS), Cephalon Oncology and Celgene Corporation do not recommend the use of any agent outside of the labeled indications.

The opinions expressed in the educational activity are those of the faculty and do not necessarily represent the views of PIM, RMEI, LLS, Cephalon Oncology and Celgene Corporation. Please refer to the official prescribing information for each product for discussion of approved indications, contraindications and warnings.

---

DISCLAIMER
Participants have an implied responsibility to use the newly acquired information to enhance patient outcomes and their own professional development. The information presented in this activity is not meant to serve as a guideline for patient management. Any procedures, medications or other courses of diagnosis or treatment discussed or suggested in this activity should not be used by clinicians without evaluation of their patient’s conditions and possible contraindications on dangers in use, review of any applicable manufacturer’s product information and comparison with recommendations of other authorities.

---

FEE INFORMATION
There is no fee for this educational activity.

---

QUESTIONS AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE
For questions regarding the content of this activity, contact the accredited provider for this CE activity: jjones@pimed.com. For technical assistance, contact jungsen@rmcom.net.

---

SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS
Hardware/Software requirements include:
• Windows 95, 98se, ME, XP, NT 4.0, 2000   
  - Internet Explorer 4.0+
  - Netscape Navigator 6.2+
  - Mozilla Firefox 1.0+
• Macintosh 9.2, OS X 10.1+
  - Safari 1.1+
  - Netscape Navigator 6.2+
  - Internet Explorer 5.2+
  - Mozilla Firefox 1.0+
• Additional Requirements
  - Windows Media Player
  - Internal/external speakers
  - Broadband connection (DSL/cable) recommended

To see more educational programming available from The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society,
please visit www.LLS.org.

PIM Privacy PolicyRMEI Privacy Statement