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 September 19, 2008, in
San Diego, California.

MEDIUM: Virtual Lecture
INTERNET RELEASE DATE: November 19, 2008
CE AVAILABLE UNTIL: November 19, 2009

Continuing education credit is no longer available for this activity.

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TARGET AUDIENCE
This activity has been designed to meet the educational needs of primary care physicians and other healthcare professionals who are on the front line of patient care.

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ACTIVITY PURPOSE
This activity is intended to assist healthcare professionals in understanding how to recognize the signs and symptoms of a hematological malignancy.

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STATEMENT OF NEED
Abnormal blood counts can provide clues to an undiagnosed hematological malignancy. Many symptoms of blood cancers may be nonspecific, and signs such as anemia may be overlooked by patients and their physicians. Despite the lack of clear-cut signs or symptoms, such as bruising, stroke, bone pain or renal failure, the diagnosis of a blood cancer can be made by taking a careful patient history, performing a complete physical examination, obtaining a complete blood count with a peripheral smear and then obtaining a bone marrow aspirate. Because many blood cancers are curable and with some, such as acute myelogenous leukemia, earlier diagnosis may be crucial to therapeutic success, healthcare professionals should maintain a high level of clinical suspicion and be mindful of the urgency with which a diagnosis should be made and therapy initiated.

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

• Cite the distinct signs and symptoms associated with hematological malignancies
• Describe methods for diagnosing hematological malignancies
• Explain the importance of pancytopenia or other blood count abnormalities as they relate to the diagnosis of hematological malignancies

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METHOD OF PARTICIPATION
There are no fees for participating and receiving continuing education (CE) credit for this activity. During the period November 19, 2008, through November 19, 2009, participants must 1) read the learning objectives and faculty disclosures; 2) study the educational activity; 3) complete the post-test by recording the best answer to each question on the Learning Assessment pages; 4) complete the Evaluation form; and 5) mail, fax or electronically submit the Evaluation form to Postgraduate Institute for Medicine. (Registered nurses should submit to The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.)

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 this activity will be issued a statement of credit via e-mail or US mail within 4 to 6 weeks.

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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
Postgraduate Institute for Medicine 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.

INTERNATIONAL PHYSICIANS
International physicians completing this activity will receive a certificate documenting participation in an activity designated for AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™. International physicians should contact their respective licensure and certification bodies for information on use/conversion of AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™.

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NURSE PRACTITIONERS CONTINUING EDUCATION
Nurse practitioners should contact their respective licensure and certification bodies for information on use/conversion of AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™.

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

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FACULTY
Barton Kamen, MD, PhD
Barton Kamen, MD, PhD, is the Executive Vice President and Chief Medical Officer of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) as well as Professor of Pediatrics and Pharmacology at the Cancer Institute of New Jersey at Robert Wood Johnson Medical School. Dr. Kamen has been a recipient of a Scholar Award from LLS, a Damon Runyon Walter Winchell Fellowship, a Burroughs Wellcome Clinical Pharmacology Award, and an American Cancer Society Clinical Research Professorship. He has authored approximately 250 peer-reviewed articles and book chapters, and is the current Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology. His main laboratory interests are centered around folate and anti-folate metabolism, drug development, treatment-associated neurotoxicity and metronomic therapy for cancer.

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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.

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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. PIM, RMEI and Celgene 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 and Celgene. Please refer to the official prescribing information for each product for discussion of approved indications, contraindications and warnings.

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DISCLOSURE OF CONFLICTS OF INTEREST
Postgraduate Institute for Medicine (PIM) requires instructors, planners, managers and other individuals who are in a position to control the content of this activity to disclose any real or apparent conflict of interest they may have as related to the content of this activity. All identified conflicts of interest are thoroughly vetted by PIM for fair balance, scientific objectivity of studies mentioned in the materials or used as the basis for content, and appropriateness of patient care recommendations.

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 Kamen has no affiliations with commercial interests to disclose.

The planners and managers 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:

The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society

• Hildy Dillon, MPH, has no affiliations with commercial interests to disclose.

Robert Michael Educational Institute LLC

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

Postgraduate Institute for Medicine

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

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FEE INFORMATION
There is no fee for this educational activity.

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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.

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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

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