The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's Central Valley Region offers a wide range of free educational and support programs for patients, their families, caregivers and healthcare professionals. For more information about any of the following programs, please contact Bethanie Mills, MPH, Senior Manager, Patient & Community Outreach at 559.490.6939 or bethanie.mills@lls.org.
Get Support!
Patti Robinson Kaufmann First Connection Program
If you've recently been diagnosed with a blood cancer, you may find it helpful to speak with someone who's been through treatment and learned how to manage the same disease. The Patti Robinson Kaufmann First Connection Program is a peer-to-peer program that links newly diagnosed patients and their families with trained volunteers who have experienced blood cancer firsthand and can understand your experience. Trained volunteer survivors offer caring support and information by sharing their special perspective on the recovery process. For more information, call us at 559-435-1482.
LLS Community
Join a community of people who understand what you’re going through.
The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s (LLS) Community is an online community of people living with or supporting someone with blood cancer. LLS Community is a place for you to get connected and share your voice to drive change.
How can LLS Community help?
GET SUPPORT - Connect with others who have been through it. LLS Community is a place to talk with other people affected by blood cancers.
GET INFORMED - Get access to valuable information, education, and resources available to support you. The information on LLS community is accurate, up-to-date, and from a trusted source.
MAKE AN IMPACT - Too often, traditional research has excluded your voice, the voice that matters most. LLS Community relies on your experiences and insights to drive program development and research studies that address the needs and real-world challenges of patients living with blood cancer.
LLS Community is about participation. Our job is to translate the community’s voice into powerful, real-world research. By being a part of LLS Community, you contribute to:
- a vibrant sharing of information
- the discovery of trends and insights about blood cancer and the cancer experience
- research that will help improve care and help find cures
LLS Community was created in memory of Michael Garil, generously supported by his parents, Bernard, National Board member, and his wife, Ethel.
Please visit https://communityview.lls.org to learn more or join.
Family Support Groups
Open communication is critical for coping with the feelings that arise during illness. Family Support Groups feature sessions led by local healthcare professionals where you can share your concerns, fears, problems and experiences in a comfortable and caring setting. For more information, call us at 559-435-1482. For a listing of local support groups and to register, please click here.
CLL-Specific Patient Support Groups
Please click here for support groups sponsored by the CLL Society.
We know what you are going through. Let's chat with each other.
Our live, weekly online chats provide a friendly forum to share experiences and chat with others about anything from the initial phase of diagnosis to treatment and survivorship. Each chat is moderated by an oncology social worker. For the disease-specific chats, dates and times, please see Online Chats.
The Trish Greene Back to School Program for Children with Cancer
Returning to school after cancer treatment can be a tough adjustment for young survivors. The Trish Greene Back to School Program for Children with Cancer helps children and youth cope with life after treatment and teaches parents, classmates, teachers and healthcare professionals how to deal with the issues surrounding childhood cancer. Program videos and materials are available for students from preschool to high school. For more information, call us at 559-435-1482.
Honored Hero Program
Our honored heroes provide inspiration and support for the LLS fundraising programs and are symbols of strength for others dealing with challenges in their lives. An honored hero is anyone who is being treated for, or is a survivor of, leukemia, lymphoma or myeloma. You can participate on several levels, including sharing your story, creating artwork, writing letters or attending fundraising events. For more information, call us at 559-435-1482.
Financial Support
All Patient Financial Assistance Programs
Co-Pay Assistance Program
Dealing with cancer is hard enough without having to worry about the financial burden. The Co-Pay Assistance Program helps you pay your insurance premiums and meet co-pay obligations. We'll also help you find additional sources of financial help. For more information, see Co-Pay Assistance.
Susan Lang Pay-It-Forward Patient Travel Assistance Program
The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's (LLS) Susan Lang Pay-It-Forward Patient Travel Assistance program is available to blood cancer patients, with significant financial need, who may qualify to receive financial assistance for approved expenses which include: ground transportation (gas, tolls, car rental, taxi, bus, train, ambulance services, etc.), air travel, and lodging related expenses.
Click here for more information or to apply.
The LLS Patient Travel Assistance Program is provided and managed by The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society and is supported through funding from Stater Bros. Charities for use within the Southern California chapters. All inquiries regarding the Patient Travel Assistance Program should be directed to The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.
Information and Referral
Information Specialists
Speak one-on-one with an Information Specialist who can assist you through cancer treatment, financial and social challenges and give accurate, up-to-date disease, treatment and support information. Our Information Specialists are master's level oncology social workers, nurses and health educators.
Please call 1-800-955-4572 or email infocenter@lls.org.
Healthcare Professionals—Patient Referral
If you are a provider and would like to refer a patient for any of the services listed above, please complete the Patient Referral Form.
Spanish Patient Referral Form