Search Results

Christina

As a Greek Latina indie author, I found it empowering to share my fight with lymphoma through social media and with my current writing. Many have told me that it’s inspiring, and I hope that leads to more attention and support for those fighting blood cancers like lymphoma.

Hollis

I was diagnosed with lymphoma in January and it has been an uncertain journey since then. I’m still unsure of what lymphoma means to me. Because I haven’t been able to answer this question, I have been reticent to share my diagnosis with others. Am I a cancer “victim?” Does cancer define me? Should I be advocating for Lymphoma care and awareness this September? I’m far from the first person to grapple with a cancer diagnosis, but this month I am compelled to finally share my Lymphoma diagnosis.

Erica

Erica was diagnosed with potentially fatal Stage 4 Hodgkin Lymphoma on March 28, 2013. Her journey to survive her battle with cancer was very trying but after overcoming her obstacles, Erica is very passionate about inspiring people to have the d’zire to survive any challenges that they may face in their lives. Erica’s fight to survive lymphoma had its highs and its lows, however, she didn’t give up even when at times her battle seemed like it wasn’t getting any easier.

Max

My son Max was diagnosed with B-cell lymphoma in May 2017, just 10 days before his 19th birthday. He discovered a lump under his chin a few months before, and in April he noticed it had grown. After we took him to get it checked out and learned the devastating news, we were in complete shock. He had no other signs of anything else being wrong.

Kenneth

On August 24, 2017, I was diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma (HL). It turns out, after much back-and-forth and a second cervical excision, that I actually had diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), a type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL).  And for good measure, kidney cancer as well. Why not two primaries, right?

Financial and Legal

The many responsibilities of caring for someone often leads to job conflicts. Work is a financial necessity and a major source of personal satisfaction, but for many caregivers, it is often difficult to balance the twin responsibilities of caregiving and working. Each caregiver’s working conditions are different. Talk to your supervisor and look in the employee handbook or other human resources publications to learn about your company’s policy on caregivers.

Felicita

At age 38, I was a wife and mom of three active boys. I worked as a preschool teacher. My days were spent surrounded by children, even when I was not working. In the fall of 2018, I began feeling really tired and I was suffering from chronic back pain and abdominal pain. I also was losing a great deal of weight. Then one evening while stretching, I felt a large lump on the left side of my abdomen. I panicked and made an appointment with my primary care physician.

Lorna

I was diagnosed with Stage 4 NH large B-Cell primary hepatic lymphoma in April, 2013. I was told by my doctor that this was a very rare form of lymphoma with less than 200 cases in the US. I had surgery to remove 90% of the right lobe of my liver as the tumor was very large at 16cm (initially I was diagnosed with liver cancer until they removed the tumor and the pathology revealed that it was NH lymphoma).

Lisa

I lost my big brother Vincent J. Di Cristo to two forms of cancer on February 14, 2014. He apparently had both high grade B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma as well as Burkitt lymphoma. I’m very confused as to how he could have had two different types of cancer because as far as I know, he was always in good health.

Lisa

I am a 26-year survivor of 4B Hodgkin's lymphoma, and a 21-year survivor of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.

I was 41 years old when I was first diagnosed, and I had three young children back then. Treatment was tough, but my husband was by my side every step of the way and it made a big difference.

My hero is my dad. He was diagnosed with Hodgkin's lymphoma in 1961 and battled the disease until 1969. He was 38, and I was only 14. Back then, they didn't have the drug regimens they have today, but they were working on getting it right.

Joy

My mother, Joy, was diagnosed in 2015 with follicular lymphoma (FL) in her stomach. She went into remission after chemo treatment. Six months later, it came back, this time more aggressive and on the outside of her organs. They did CHOP chemo and then a bone marrow transplant. She went into remission for a second time. Eight months later, she wasn't feeling spectacular, so we took her back to the doctor. She was diagnosed with large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). The mass was in her uterus and had grown so fast and massive that it blasted through her bladder.

Victor

Our father Victor was diagnosed in 1998 at the age of 30 with Burkitt non-Hodgkin lymphoma (BL). He was living in Los Angeles, California, at the time and had just gotten engaged to my mother, Debra. He began not feeling well and was diagnosed with a small mass in his stomach. He was told it was non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL). He contacted The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS), and in coordination with MD Anderson, he went to Texas, and a protocol was set in motion to fight this disease.

Sahara

In August 2021, I was diagnosed with stage IV Hodgkin lymphoma (HL). I am now cancer-free. The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) helped me tremendously throughout my process. I had the privilege of raising money for LLS through an Instagram campaign by sharing my story online.

Nicole

In the summer of 2016, I wasn't feeling like my usual energetic self and felt tired all the time. Initially, I attributed my tiredness to my busy life as a wife and mother with a full-time job outside the home. Some of my other symptoms were weight loss, night sweats, and a persistent feeling that something was always stuck in my throat.

Amber

I was diagnosed with stage 3 Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) right before my 27th birthday. I had just finished my Master’s degree and was engaged to get married the same year. I was a special education teacher and wasn’t sure what to do with the news. 

Tim

On March 10, 2015 I reached another milestone and turned 60 years young. I have been blessed with good health and the ability to swim, bike, and run. For over a decade I have been involved with The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) as a board member and participant in more than a dozen fundraising triathlons/marathons for Team In Training events all over the world. My efforts will continue until cures for blood-related cancers are realized.

Keith

Hi! My name is Keith. I’m currently 37 years old. I was diagnosed on November 6, 2015, with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). My wife, Tesia, was proudly serving in our finest Navy at the Pentagon when I received the news. She came home, and I had to deliver the news to her. It was rough; it was scary; it was a blur. I felt like I was on autopilot.

Laniya

I was truly blessed to be introduced to The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society by workers from Duquesne Light Company as well as my daughter, Ebony Jennings who works as a customer service representative for Duquesne Light Company in Pittsburgh PA. First, I must boast about my granddaughter, Laniya S. White, because she’s a TRUE fighter and never allowed lymphoma to define her.

Nutrition

Food provides valuable nutrients for cancer patients. Eating well during cancer treatment helps to speed recovery, ease side effects, and keep the treatment plan running smoothly. 

Matt

Meet Matt. Hodgkin Lymphoma Survivor. Goalkeeper of major league soccer's Columbus Crew. After donating blood when he was 17 years old, Matt learned he had Stage 4 Hodgkin lymphoma. While all of his friends were going off to college, Matt was going to chemotherapy. But thankfully, by September, 2007 Matt was cancer free. Today, Matt is doing all he can to help others with blood cancer.

Jeff

Meet Jeff. Follicular Lymphoma Survivor. During an annual physical, Jeff noticed a lump under his arm, and after a biopsy it was discovered that he had follicular lymphoma. Jeff learned that LLS was doing research in the area of his illness and also received important disease information from LLS. Jeff's wife talks about the innovative treatments that LLS is funding and how, as advancements take place, longevity for Jeff becomes more and more of a reality.

Trish

After being diagnosed with indolent Follicular non-Hodgkins lymphoma (NHL) in 1999, I set off on a course of “Watch and Wait” for two years. This was followed by an idiotype vaccine trial and immunotherapy resulting in some clinical success, but with short-lived remissions.

Steven

I have a rare blood cancer. It is Waldenstrom macroglobulinemia (WM), a type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL), but some doctors say it has the same characteristics as POEMS syndrome.

I have very painful neuropathy, and it affects my legs and feet to the point that some days I cannot walk.

I have a spinal cord stimulator with the battery implanted in my back.

I am thankful to The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) for my grants and all the other assistance, especially through this COVID pandemic.

Melanie

I beat stage 4 lymphoma last year after six months of aggressive chemotherapy. Honestly, I wasn't given much information from my centers, but The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) reached out to me to inform me about all the aid and grants they offer to help those going through cancer. Their representative stayed on the phone with me for over 40 minutes and was one of the most helpful people. When you're going through cancer with very little education, EVERYONE helps. 

Debbie

My only child was my heart and soul!  He was a son to be proud of in so many ways.  Kind, gentle, and caring was only the tip of the iceberg to his character.  He had lots of friends and was always ready to help when called.  He had just finished his freshman year in college when he was diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma.  It changed our world.