My Fundraising Page

Denise Tilton is a registered nurse and the Director of Clinical Affairs at GTC Biotherapeutics a biotechnology company. She enjoys reading, exercising, golfing, skiing and boating in the summers along with spending time with family in New Hampshire.

In March 2009 my daughter Kristen was diagnosed with Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia after months of intensive chemotherapy treatment and another year of medication, she is now in remission!

What is Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia?

Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia (APL) was first characterized in 1957. During the 1950’s through 1970s APL had a 100% mortality rate and there was no effective treatment. No one knew how the cancer formed. With continued research and much success great strides have been made in understanding APL and how it affects people diagnosed with this disease. While it is still unknown as to what causes APL it is known what happens in the body which allows for successful treatment methods and there is now a 90 percent cure rate for people who are diagnosed with this form of leukemia.

APL is a cancer of the blood and bone marrow. It is a genetic mutation in the DNA of leukemia cells where there is a translocation, or switch, between chromosomes 15 and 17. This means that a part of chromosome 15 breaks off, and is exchanged with part of chromosome 17. The mutation leads to the production of a protein that causes blood cell development to get “stuck” at the promyelocytic stage, when white blood cells are very young and immature. Promyelocytic leukemia cells can be compared to human teenagers. They look a bit like adults, but they can’t get jobs, pay the bills, drive a car, or do the daily functions of fully mature humans. likewise, promyelocytic blood cells are too underdeveloped to perform the roles of fully mature white blood cells in the body.

Signs and symptoms of APL are the result of cancer cells “crowding out” the bone marrow and interfering with the production of normal, healthy red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets. This causes patients to have low energy and tired all the time, feeling short of breath when doing regular activities, pale skin, unexplained fevers, increased healing time of cuts and bruises, achy bones or joints, difficulty “fighting off” infections. In addition patients with APL will often have severe bleeding problems such as bruising, nosebleeds or blood in the urine. Most APL patients are treated initially with all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA), a specialized form of vitamin A. ATRA therapy is unique in that it actually forces the promyelocytic leukemia cells to mature, a bit like how graduating college forces the teenagers in our comparison into the adult role (well, at least sometimes). While ATRA can get an APL patient into remission by pushing all the leukemia cells into maturity, it cannot cure the source of the leukemia. As a result, long-term outcomes for treatment improve when physicians add some standard chemotherapy.

To learn more about Tilton Ski Team and Kristen's story click on the other team members links below!

Kristen Tilton can tell you all about Her Story

Matt Jablonski can tell you about the 2011 LTN walk and How You Can Help Now!

Katie Tilton will tell you about the 'What's in the Tilton Ski Team Name'!

Mike Tilton can tell you abour our 2011 Fundraising Plan

Denise Tilton can tell you more about Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia

Light the Night Walk 2011

Light The Night Walk is The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's evening walk and fundraising event. It is the nation's night to pay tribute and bring hope to thousands of people battling blood cancers and to commemorate loved ones lost.

The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) funds lifesaving research that has contributed to major advances in the treatment of blood cancers and treatments for other types of cancer, such as chemotherapy and stem cell transplants. New targeted therapies that kill cancer cells without harming normal tissue are providing drugs and procedures that are improving quality of life.

In fact, in 2009 alone, LLS researchers were conducting more than 90 clinical trials, a critical step in the development of new treatments and cures that will help patients live better, longer lives.

• A donation of $25 provides patients and their loved ones with FREE booklets that contain up-to-date information on their disease and help them make informed decisions about their treatment options.

• A donation of $50 makes possible a Family Support group with a trained facilitator where comfort can be found and experiences can be shared among patients and family member.

• A donation of $100 helps supply laboratory researchers with supplies and materials critical to carrying out their search for cures.

• A donation of $1,000 makes possible one- on-one conversations with health care specialists who provide patients with information about their disease, treatment options, and helps prepare them with questions for their health care team.

Please make a donation to support my participation in the Light The Night Walk and help save lives. Be sure to check my Web site frequently to see my progress, and thanks for your support!