Search Results
Jamaal
Jamaal Simmons had non-Hodgkins lymphoma (NHL). He was such a brave person. He worked at Publix supermarket and he went to Clark Atlanta University. He was about to graduate from college when he passed away.
It is now 14 years since he's been gone. But I still donate and collect donations and I've been doing this for many years. I will keep on doing it to help fight this blood cancer.
- Jamaal's mom, Sharon Williams.
Rhonda
This is my second time participating in the Light The Night as a cancer survivor. I have had blood cancer twice.
In 2012 I was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma. After being in remission for almost 7 years on December 17, 2018 I was diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia. I had a bone marrow transplant in March and I am in remission.
I must say I’m grateful that team NCA (National Christian Academy’s school cheerleaders) would do Light The Night in my honor.
Suzanne
My mother was diagnosed with multiple myeloma (MM) in February 1987. She passed away in December 1997. I was diagnosed with MM in February 2017. My diagnosis was not only a surprise but daunting because I was my mother’s caregiver and experienced what she faced battling this disease. I’m currently undergoing treatment with the bispecific drug Teclistamab with success. The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) has provided me with educational and financial assistance, so I greatly appreciate this organization.
Sherri
I lost my dad to leukemia 20 years ago, fundraising all year in his honor for the year he knew about his diagnosis but didn’t tell anyone. We also lost his mom (grandma) to leukemia in 2002 and my mother-in-law in 2007 to leukemia. I proudly support The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) and try to donate every year, but this year, I hope to donate a big chunk to help current patients and their families.
Mona
I was 13 years old when I was diagnosed with stage 4 Hodgkin lymphoma (HL). That was in 1997, and I can now proudly say I’ve been cancer-free for 21 years! But being a 21-year cancer survivor comes with a lifelong diagnosis and long-term effects. But no matter the fight, I’m thankful each day for the opportunity to say I’m a “survivor.” And I do my absolute best to thrive each day and continue the fight for those who have left us too soon.
Dr. Adams
Jerry M. Adams, Ph.D., leads an LLS Specialized Center of Research grant.
His team is investigating apoptosis, the nature process of cell death. When apoptosis goes wrong it can lead to proliferation of cancer cells. It cells fail to die when they are supposed to they can develop into leukemia, lymphoma or multiple myeloma, and become more resistant to treatment. To improve treatment, the team is studying new drugs, used either alone or in combination with other therapies, to flip on the cell death switch.
David
I walked into urgent care with a cough, they took an X-ray and discovered a mass in my chest that was 18x14x13 cm. I was hospitalized that same day and then was officially diagnosed with stage 3 mediastinal B-cell lymphoma (PMBCL). This occurred in 2018 just days after my 23rd birthday and only seven months after I moved to New York City.
I decided to run the NYC marathon this year with Team In Training (TNT) because 2023 marks five years of being cancer-free!
Yolanda
As many people were afraid to go to the doctor I was propelled to have a colonoscopy due to the death of Chadwick Bozeman. That decision changed my life. In December 2020, I was diagnosed with Stage 4 Mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) is a type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma at age 44. Here I was amid a pandemic, just celebrating Christmas and ringing in the New Year as a newly diagnosed cancer patient. Like many people diagnosed with cancer, my first thought was, “I’m going to die.” I thought I’d die before seeing my daughter grow up.
Deborah
I am a 54-year-old mother of two, the owner of a small business, Park Hill Yoga and have been married for 22 years. Being diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma in December 2015 came as the biggest surprise of my life.
Alec
I am a caregiver and girlfriend to Alec Bishop. A strong and courageous man that has been fighting primary mediastinal B-cell lymphoma for over a year and a half. He was diagnosed in August 2017 with a softball-sized tumor pressing on his superior Vena Cava. He went through 6 cycles of R-CHOP chemotherapy only to relapse with a new tumor a month after his last cycle of chemo.
Jeannine
I got started with The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society (LLS) when our good friend, Tim Mauro, ran for Man of the Year and my husband, Larry, was his “campaign manager.” Tim’s father-in law, Bob, was battling non Hodgkin lymphoma. Watching them battle with him and seeing everything they did to help was such an inspiration, and seeing how many people were bonded together, raising money to find a cure, was amazing.
Kyle
In April 2019, Kyle, a 17-year-old football star at Glenn Hills High School in Hephzibah, Georgia, noticed a large lump on his throat while taking a shower. After a trip to the hospital and several tests, he was diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma and began intense treatment right away.
Corey
Rewind to 2012, I was 35 years old, married and father of three. I was IBEW electrical lineman for a utility company and climbed poles all day (as seen in this photo). I noticed I had a severe stomach pain on my right side and was extremely fatigued. I went to the doctor for a checkup and got the all ok. We contributed the stomach pain to my climbing belt and the fatigue to working extreme amounts of overtime and being on callouts 24/7.
Olivia
I'm officially nine months in remission and just celebrated my first birthday (27!) since finishing chemotherapy treatment. In January 2022, I was diagnosed with stage IVB Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) after taking almost nine months to officially be diagnosed. Unfortunately, delayed diagnoses are often the frustrating truth for many adolescent and young adult cancer patients. However, during those nine months, I learned invaluable lessons on how to advocate for myself and persevere until I had answers.
AnnaKate
In my junior year of college, I felt so sick that I would sleep through online classes, throwing up every couple of days. I thought I was just stressed and not sleeping enough at night. However, a month later, a relentless cough took over. It was nonstop ― cough after cough and nap after nap.
Erica
I was diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) on April 14th, 2023, but had been suffering with symptoms for at least a year prior. I’m only 28, have no kids, and have been living on my own with my two dogs. At some point, my lymph nodes started swelling up, which is not out of the ordinary because they would swell up when I would get sick since I had been in high school, except they continued to get bigger and bigger. Cancer does not run in my family, so I was not concerned until I went to my regular doctor, and he asked me if Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) ran in my family.
Sarah
My name is Sarah and I am a six-year Hodgkin’s lymphoma survivor. I’m extremely honored to not only be in attendance today but to also share my story. My world came crashing down July 2013. Like so many other patients, I had been diagnosed with frequent upper respiratory infections, asthma, bronchitis, pneumonia, and pleurisy prior to my diagnosis. I just so happened to discover a “swollen” area on my left collar bone one morning at work. It didn’t hurt, and it was kind of soft. It caught me off guard, so I made an appointment with my PCP.
Trish
I was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma in March 2001. It had eaten my C7 vertebrae and traveled to my spleen so it was determined that it was stage IV. After having surgery to place a donor bone in my neck, six months of chemo, a stem cell transplant and last but not least 35 rounds of radiation, I am so happy to say that I have been cancer free for 14 years!
I am actively involved with Light The Night walk/fundraising because we have to find a way to eradicate this horrible disease!
Signs and Symptoms
A person who has signs or symptoms that suggest the possibility of non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) is usually referred to a blood cancer specialist called a hematologist-oncologist. The doctor will order additional tests and a tissue biopsy to make a diagnosis. The signs and symptoms of NHL are also associated with a number of other, less serious diseases.
The most common early sign of NHL is painless swelling of one or more lymph node(s).
Other Financial Assistance
LLS is part of the Cancer Financial Assistance Coalition (C-FAC), which helps cancer patients manage their financial challenges by:
- Helping members communicate and collaborate
- Educating patients and providers about resources and links to other organizations that provide information about C-FAC's resources
- Advocating for cancer patients regarding the financial burdens of cancer care
Diagnosis
Having the correct diagnosis is important for getting the right treatment. Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) may be difficult to diagnosis. You may want to get a second medical opinion by an experienced hematopathologist before you begin treatment. A hematopathologist is a specialist who studies blood and bone marrow cells and other tissues to help diagnose diseases of the blood, bone marrow and lymph system.
Jae
I’m a musician from Missouri named Jashon Hockaday (Jae Alxndr). I’ve been making music in the fore and background for a while now. My life changed when i was diagnosed with primary non-Hodgkin lymphoma of the mandible.
As a new musician my heart was broken as I couldn’t create the same. As time as progressed, I’ve turned more into an advocate and looking to share awareness and help people like myself, who didn’t have the infrastructure to give back.
I still make music and give back. And I am still a patient myself.