The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society and Avella Specialty Pharmacy to Present Free Event on Oral Chemotherapy Drugs

The Arizona Chapter of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society and Avella Specialty Pharmacy announce they will present a day of discussion about the latest advancements, trends and management of oral chemotherapy medications. The free event will take place on Feb. 9, from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., at SkySong, the ASU Scottsdale Innovation Center, 1475 N. Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale.

Local hematology/oncology community members will provide in-depth presentations on oral chemotherapy drugs including current trends, compliance and medication management. The event will feature two breakout sessions - one for nurses wherein they can earn complimentary CE credits and the other track for cancer patients and their families - as well as a town hall-style session featuring several local experts.

"More than 35 percent of the 400 cancer drugs in the pipeline are oral chemotherapy drugs. They clearly are the wave of the future," stated John Musil, PharmD, founder and chief executive officer of Avella. "However, with so many breakthroughs, it's difficult for patients to stay on top of all of them. Our partnership with The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society aligns with our mission of optimizing patient health by educating healthcare professionals and patients on these advancements. Our hope is to provide similar discussions throughout the year as there is a growing need for this type of education."

Health care professionals will learn about current oral chemotherapy drug trends, compliance and best practices on how to provide adequate patient surveillance and support. Eric Sredzinski, PharmD, AAHIVE, Pharmacy Program Director, ADAP at Avella will lead this session. Continuing education credit will be provided to nurses.

The patient breakout session will focus on the importance of adhering to oral chemotherapy drug treatment regimens, overcoming challenges of medication management and tips on successfully completing a medication schedule. This session will be led by Jodi Pelusi, PhD, FNP, AOCNP, Arizona Oncology - US Oncology.

Attendees will receive a free lunch. The event will conclude with a town hall question and answer session for all attendees. Panelists will include:

-- Jeffrey Schriber, MD, FRCP, Cancer Transplant Institute

-- Denice Gibson, RN, MSN, CRNI, AOCNS, Cancer Transplant Institute at Virginia G Piper Cancer Center

-- Andrea Montoya, Certified Physician Assistant, Celgene

-- Jodi Pelusi, PhD, FNP, AOCNP, Arizona Oncology - US Oncology

-- Roxanne Parker, RN, MSN, CPN, Arizona Oncology - US Oncology

-- Eric Sredzinski, Pharm.D., AAHIVE - Avella Specialty Pharmacy

Attendees must register for the event. To register, go to www.facebook.com/llsaz/events . Contact Devon Cramer at 602-567-7588 or devon.cramer@lls.org for additional information.

About The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society

The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) is the world's largest voluntary health agency dedicated to blood cancer. The LLS mission: Cure leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin's disease and myeloma, and improve the quality of life of patients and their families. LLS funds lifesaving blood cancer research around the world and provides free information and support services.

LLS has had a presence in Arizona since 1963, raising funds through a variety of statewide events and campaigns. To learn more, visit www.LLS.org/az or call 800-568-1372.

About Avella Specialty Pharmacy

Headquartered in Phoenix, Arizona, Avella Specialty Pharmacy (formerly operating as The Apothecary Shops, Inc.) is a National Accredited Specialty Pharmacy, providing individualized care and support to patients since 1996. Avella's clinical pharmacists and staff members are experts in managing complex disease states and providing compassionate care. The company offers a nationwide distribution service to complement its retail locations. Avella reached 1,064th on Inc. magazine's list of the 5,000 fastest-growing private companies in the country, up more than 500 places from 2011. In addition, The Arizona Corporate Excellence Awards has named Avella Specialty Pharmacy as the fastest-growing private company based in the state. For more information, please visit Avella.com.