The Portuguese Association Against Leukemia (APCL) was founded in January 2002 as a result of the initiative of a group of patients who survived hematological-oncological pathologies (leukemias, lymphomas) and a group of doctors from the Portuguese Institute of Oncology Francisco Gentil (IPOFG) in Lisbon who treated them.

The main motivation of the APCL Founders stemmed from their understanding of the importance of raising awareness and mobilizing civil society in support of all those who daily fight against the devastating disease that is hematological neoplasms.

APCL’s mission is to contribute, at a national level, to increasing the effectiveness of the treatment of leukemias and other related hematological neoplasms, such as lymphomas, multiple myeloma, myelodysplastic and myeloproliferative syndromes, supporting the families and patients most in need.

Main objectives:

• Promoting the advancement of scientific knowledge about the nature, evolution, prevention, and treatment of these diseases, supporting scientific research with a scholarship program and investing in advanced training for healthcare professionals;
• Financial and other support that can improve the quality of life for hematological-oncological patients and their families;
• Increasing health literacy for hematological-oncological patients and their caregivers;
• A shelter in Lisbon for patients who are forced to leave their areas of residence to access more specific treatments or a bone marrow transplant.