Search Results
Bruce
I was diagnosed with mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) in August 2019 at age 64. It was an accidental find while scanning for a kidney stone. I was late stage 3 at diagnosis with no prior symptoms. I had 4 rounds of treatment finishing at the end of 2019 and followed with an autologous stem cell transplant at the University of Virginia on February 24, 2020.
Joseph
On May 1, 2021, my son Joseph was diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma (HL), and so our journey began. We were blessed with so much love and support throughout his treatment that we decided to raise money for those less fortunate. We joined The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) and Light The Night (LNT) and raised over $17,000. We had over 100 family and friends walking with us, and it was an amazing experience that we will continue to do. Joseph and I are so proud to be part of this organization. Written by family member.
Brauer
Being a recipient of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s (LLS) Scholarship for Blood Cancer Survivors is allowing me to continue my education and pursue the life cancer tried to take away from me. I was diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) my freshman year of high school, and one of my biggest fears while in treatment was if I was going to be able to attend college still. I had been dreaming of attending Clemson University and having all the college experiences. I am grateful for the opportunities LLS has given me and the chance to not just survive but thrive after cancer.
Kiersten
When I was 38 weeks pregnant, I found a lump on my neck. Doctors couldn't test anything until after my son was born.
In February of 2015, my happy and healthy baby boy, Elliot was born. Just one month later, I was diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma. I started chemotherapy in April and after 12 rounds, there was no trace of cancer found in my body.
Now I'm ready to enjoy raising my first child without going through chemotherapy while giving back to The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society!
Saly & Merna
We began volunteering with The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s (LLS) annual Light The Night (LTN) event in high school. Our hearts were touched by the courage and stories of empowerment present at the event, so we came back the following year, and then the year after that, and so on. Even through COVID, we were supporters of the event and the individuals and families there. We volunteer every year and support LLS as we learn more about friends who are wrestling with and have been impacted by leukemia and lymphoma, always praying for healing and restoration.
Gil
I was sitting alone in a stark, clean examination room on September 16, 2021, at the Dana Farber Cancer Institute (DFCI) in Brookline, Massachusetts when my oncologist walked in. I called my spouse and son on my cell phone so they could hear the results.
Kelly
In January 2020, I was a 21-year-old full-time pre-medical student diagnosed with Stage 2E Nodular Sclerosis Classical Hodgkin lymphoma, about three weeks after getting engaged to the love of my life and primary caregiver, Alex. We put our entire lives on hold to begin this battle, but we had a huge support network that cheered us on with the slogan, "Let's Get Excited." I was treated for my cancer at Mercy Hospital in Springfield, Missouri, where Dr. Jessica Snider & Dr. Kimberly Creach successfully cured my cancer.
Grace
Meet Grace. Hodgkin Lymphoma Survivor. In April 2013, Grace was rushed to the hospital where she had a CT scan which showed she had two masses in her chest. The biopsy results confirmed that Grace had Hodgkin lymphoma. In July 2013, after five rounds of chemotherapy Grace went into remission. Grace has returned back to school and is getting back into the swing of things. Grace is a girly girl. Rather than playing sports she is more interested in fashion. Grace loves her boas and tiaras; in fact, she is a little fashionista.
Melanie
In 2017 I was first diagnosed with Hodgkins lymphoma, I had a 6 months treatment and got into remission, after 2 years the doctors told me that I had a relapse and now Im half way in my treatment at Rady Children's Hospital in San Diego.
I'm very excited because after my stem cell transplant i will be able to continue my medical assistant program and then start nursing school! My boyfriend is also a lymphoma survivor and we have been supporting each other in this journey.
I'm a 20 year old women with a lot of goals in life and I cannot wait to make them come true!
Howard
Twelve years ago, I found out I had stage 4 grey zone lymphoma (GZL), a hybrid lymphoma that only about 10 people have had and only about three people have survived. Getting this news as a 28-year-old man just getting started in life was like having the weight of the world on my shoulders, and I didn’t even know how to deal with it. Luckily, I found a lymphoma specialist, Dr. Andre Goy of Memorial Sloan Kettering, who was bringing his expertise to Hackensack Meridian Health in New Jersey. I feel like there was some divine intervention here.
Terry
At age 69, I was diagnosed with stage IIIA nodal marginal zone lymphoma (NMZL) following a neck lymph node biopsy, PET scan, and a bone marrow biopsy. It’s a rare form of non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL). I had enlarged lymph nodes in my neck, axilla bilaterally, and groin bilaterally. However, the bone marrow biopsy showed no lymph node enlargement. I began infusion therapy of bendamustine and rituximab the third week of December and every fourth Thursday and Friday forward for eight months. The PET scan on August 1, 2016, showed marked improvement with very small, rarely scattered lymphocytes.
Diane
My journey with The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society (LLS) started in 2015 when my spouse was diagnosed with orbital lymphoma. I have been working in the oncology field for the past 20 years. Hearing the words my spouse has cancer was scary. After meeting with the oncologist he did not need treatments watch and wait approach was great news. Proudly he got to the 5 year benchmark and he is well. Then 2019 I started to have all abdominal issues. Pain, pressure in abdomen as well in my back. We did multiple scans all negative.
Tak Wah Mak, Ph.D.
A Leading Scientist Studying Precision Medicine Approaches for Leukemia and Lymphoma
Dr. Tak Wah Mak is one of the world’s most cited and accomplished scientists. After earning his PhD, Mak was recruited by the Ontario Cancer Institute (now Princess Margaret Cancer Centre) in Toronto, Canada for a postdoctoral fellowship.
Sarah
In August of 2014, after a routine medical procedure, doctors suspected that Sarah may have a lymphoma type cancer. Soon thereafter, with her husband by her side, doctors confirmed that Sarah indeed had cancer, stage 2 Hodgkin lymphoma.
Josh
Josh, 55, underwent multiple treatments for lymphoma, but continued to relapse. A little more than year ago, he was treated with CAR-T immunotherapy at UCLA (Kite Pharma’s clinical trial Zuma 1 supported by LLS). And within a few weeks he had a complete response to the treatment. On September 12, 2017, scans showed that he remains cancer-free 15 months later.
In 2010, Josh, age 49 at the time, was with his wife on their honeymoon when he noticed a bean-sized lump on the back of his neck.
Daphne
I was diagnosed with stage 4 Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) in July 2022 after two years of being sick. I underwent 12 rounds of A+AVD chemotherapy for six months. It was a difficult journey, but I had an amazing oncology team who let me be actively involved in my treatment. I was born disabled and have had a lot of experiences in hospitals. So, I thought I would be prepared for this journey. I was wrong. I was only 24 years old when I got diagnosed and felt like I had my whole life ahead of me. As an advocate for environmental issues, I was used to traveling and working non-stop.
Bryan (Hennessy)
My name is Bryan, but most know me by my stage name Hennessy Williams. I was diagnosed with stage 4 non-Hodgkin Burkitt lymphoma (BL) on July 1st, 2005. I was 20 years old. It was the hardest battle I ever faced, I am lucky to be here, I am lucky to be alive. I am alive because I had a tremendous amount of support from my family and friends, not everyone is blessed with this option.
Alacia
My darkest day, May 1, 2022. Alacia, my daughter, is a strong-willed, beautiful young woman. She had just turned 23 years of age and began experiencing small symptoms that I, her mother and a nurse of 24 years, chalked up to nothing. She was itching ― it was winter, and your skin was dry. She was short of breath ― you are recovering from COVID and have post-COVID funk. She started to vomit and get sick with right upper quadrant pain ― probably just your gallbladder and having gallbladder attacks that need to be checked out.
Virginia
Last August I was diagnosed with stage 2A Hodgkin lymphoma (HL). I was going into my senior year, but instead of going to my first day of school, I had to go to my first day of chemotherapy. In October, after two full cycles of chemo, I got to ring my cancer-free bell and begin my recovery process. Today, I am in the process of growing back all my red hair and training to play Division One soccer at George Mason University in the fall.
Kate
In April 2023, I went to the doctor for an MRI for what I thought was a torn meniscus in my left knee. Unfortunately, that MRI showed that there was a growth on my left femur. After two full months of testing, surgery, and some more testing, I was officially diagnosed with primary lymphoma of the bone (PLB). This type of lymphoma is pretty rare, so I immediately turned to The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) for resources and guidance on how to navigate the scariest time of my life. The next month of my life was a whirlwind.
Michael
On January 3, 2020, I was diagnosed with Burkitt’s lymphoma(BL)with brain metastasis, and kidney and liver failure. During my four rounds of chemo, I had gone septic three different times, acquired nerve damage, and lost the ability to walk. After going into remission on August 6, 2020, I was tasked with relearning to walk. From April 2020 to January 2021. I was wheelchair-bound. Now as of Christmas 2021, I am walking on my own and in complete remission. The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS)gave my family so much help during my journey.
Lena
In 2018, I had what I thought was a urinary tract infection (UTI). It ended up being a tumor in my bladder the size of a lime. It turned out to be diffuse large B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma (DLBCL). I ended up doing six rounds of R-CHOP chemo with Neulasta® and a month of radiation afterward. I am grateful to be alive but do have lingering side effects with chemo brain/memory loss, neuropathy in my hands and right arm, loss of taste for certain foods/drinks, and weight gain from prednisone.
Tina
As a lymphoma survivor, I want to take a moment to share my personal journey, as well as tell you all how The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society (LLS) was with me every step of the way.
It all started in March 2018. We had been living in the UK with our two young daughters, and life was good! I had been feeling tired and had this hollow sound behind my ear. I saw doctors in both the UK and the U.S. who assured me it was most likely just my body trying to get over a sinus infection.
NHL Subtypes
More than 60 specific NHL subtypes have been identified and assigned names by the World Health Organization (WHO). NHL subtypes are categorized by the characteristics of the lymphoma cells, including their appearance, the presence of proteins on the surface of the cells and their genetic features. It's important to know your subtype since it plays a large part in determining the type of treatment you'll receive. A hematopathologist, a doctor who specializes in the diagnosis of blood disorders and blood cancers, should review your biopsy specimens.
A. Timothy Lunsford-Stevens JD
In 1970, I was playing baseball in high school as a freshman, playing second base. A bully made a hit and ran from first to second base, tackling me. I got into a fight with him because of the pain I was feeling in my left hand. After the fight, I needed to go to the hospital. In setting my broken hand, they also did a blood test. The results showed why my hand was so fragile; I had acute myeloid leukemia (AML). I had chemotherapy but no radiation or other treatment. I lived in Georgia and went to MD Anderson in Houston for chemotherapy.