Search Results

Eli

March 16, 2013. I will never forget the moment I first saw the bump. We went to the pediatrician that afternoon. Our doctor looked at Eli and said “Don’t worry. This is not cancer.” A month later we were in for a checkup and a doctor suggested that we should have Riley Hospital take a look. We got into Riley in May and they told us that we would need to do a MRI. I will never forget how we heard over and over “these things are rarely cancer.” After MRI’s and ultrasounds they decided to remove it. This was August -- six months after I had first brought it to their attention.

Amy

My story begins on Christmas Eve 2008.  My daughter was a 8th grader and was singing her first solo during Christmas Eve mass.  I was sick!

Larry

Larry Loose, a great big bear of a man with a penchant for classic cars, off road racing, dirt bikes and living large. This man, my husband of twenty five years, had worked 12-hour days for decades in hopes of being able to retire early, move to the desert and spend our later years as snowbirds in beautiful Arizona.

Jason

From an early age, Jason Wexler showed an interest in curing cancer and would even make "potions," according to his mother, Sherri. An extrovert like his father, Kevin, Jason has always liked making a difference for others and has great ideas to share.

When he turned sixteen, the sophomore at The Grauer School in Encinitas knew he wanted to do something to help give back. Jason learned about the "Students of the Year" program for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) and knew he had to get involved.

Kimberlee

On December 29, 2023, my life took an unexpected turn. My family and I were traveling to California for the holidays when, during takeoff back to Georgia, I felt a sudden pop in my chest as the cabin pressure changed. I was immediately struck by intense pain, unable to move or catch my breath. Determined to hold on until we landed, I braced myself through the agony.

Keana

Hello, my name is Keana. I am 26 years old, and I was born in Columbus Ohio. I was born with a rare heart condition called “hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.” It is a hereditary disease on my mother’s side. Many family members, including my mother, have passed away from the disease, and the other half received heart transplants, which is what led to me. I recently got my heart transplant in September 2021 and was admitted to the hospital for three months, one before and two after. After my heart transplant, I came in contact with COVID.

Lauren

My husband, Frank, was a 40-year-old, hard-working family man and the sole provider for me and our two children when his world was turned upside down by a routine blood test showing he had acute myeloid leukemia (AML). This was a nightmare for all. He had to be admitted to Memorial Sloan Kettering Hospital for five weeks where he received chemotherapy and ended up in the ICU with sepsis, heart failure, and organ damage. We were not sure if he was ever going to get out of there, but he became strong enough for his bone marrow transplant and had that in October.

Sherri

I have donated to The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) for many years. This year I wanted to do more in honor and loving memory of my dad, Frederick. 

Luis

I used to donate blood at least three times a year. I did it as a way of helping others and never realized it would one day lead to me being diagnosed with myelodysplastic syndrome. But that’s exactly what happened in 2006, when a case of anemia kept me from donating blood that year.

Kathie & Dave

Dave and I have been a part of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) since 1998. I can’t even remember how many Team In Training events we’ve done. We have both done at least one a year if not more since Michael, our son, was diagnosed.

This picture explains it all. Michael was 5 years old when he was diagnosed and of about 10 kids going through treatment with him at the time, I think only he and another are still here today. I know the statistics should be better but that’s the reality for us.

Nandini

Everything was picture perfect in my life. A beautiful family with two beautiful daughters and husband. And then, in March 2009, I was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia (AML).

I had been recovering from aplastic anemia since 2002. However, AA progressed into AML. A transplant was the best cure available and a kind unrelated donor was found who gave a new lease to my life. After a painful bone marrow transplant recovery, I am now in remission. My older daughter just went to college and my younger daughter is in fourth grade.

Keith

When the doctor calls you and says, "I need to speak to you as soon as possible," you know the news can't be good. I was diagnosed with a rare and aggressive form of leukemia, bastic plasmacytoid dendritic cell neoplasm (BPDCN). Most doctors have never even heard of it.

Christal

My brother was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) in September 1996 and passed away in April 1997, his senior year of high school and less than a month after turning 18. As a young person watching my brother suffer through his cancer diagnosis and subsequent death, it took away pieces of me that I will never get back. Not only me but my parents, his friends, our church, and strangers alike. Throughout the years, I have felt exhausted in grief as I denied my feelings, only to be hit by it in full force in unexpected moments.

Tim

I was diagnosed with follicular non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) in preparation for heart surgery. While my disease was stage 3, it was also slow-growing, and I went ahead and had open-heart surgery in January 2022 to repair a valve. Six months later, my disease had advanced, and I began four rounds of Rituxan® which did not work sufficiently. However, in that interim, I signed up for the Boston Marathon ― which goes by my house ― to run for Dana Farber where I am being treated.

Alexis

My grandma has been close to me for as long as I can remember. Holidays, birthdays, and summers — I always remember being with her and my grandpa. We took trips on cruises, visited Hawaii, and I had amazing chances to get closer to them. When my grandma was diagnosed with leukemia, my family and I knew we wanted to do something bigger. We joined The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s (LLS) Team In Training (TNT) to run the Walt Disney Marathon Weekend Dopey Challenge, and it was an amazing experience.

Arturo Pierre

I’m 61 years old. I was diagnosed with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) the first time at 51, unaware of any symptoms. I was told that my diagnosis at my age was unusual. After chemotherapy and remission, the disease returned during COVID while I was being treated orally. The second experience was much worse. I’m in clinical remission for the second time in 10 years. Besides CLL, I wrestle with numerous orthopedic issues. I live an active lifestyle and maintain a healthy diet, exercise regularly, and work full time.

Chemotherapy

If you're being treated for hairy cell leukemia, your first line of defense will likely be chemotherapy. During chemotherapy, you'll be given potent drugs that must be toxic enough to damage or kill leukemic cells. At the same time, they can take aim at normal cells and cause side effects. Yet, not everyone experiences side effects and people react differently.

The chemotherapy drug used to treat hairy cell leukemia is cladribine (Leustatin®). Cladribine is given in a vein (intravenously). You'll usually receive the treatment for seven consecutive days.

Clinical Trials

When it comes to finding the right treatment for your child's cancer, a clinical trial may be an option. Your child will have access to new or improved therapies under study and not yet on the market. Discuss with your child's doctor the possibility of participating in a clinical trial, where treatment is administered in a safe, closely monitored environment.

Click here to read more about clinical trials.

Signs and Symptoms

Many people are diagnosed with CLL even though they do not have any symptoms. The disease may be suspected because of abnormal results from blood tests that were ordered either as part of an annual physical or a medical examination for an unrelated condition. An unexplained elevated white blood cell (lymphocyte) count is the most common finding that leads a doctor to consider a CLL diagnosis.

Generally, CLL symptoms develop over time. As the disease progresses, a person may experience

Erika

I am a 36-year-old cancer survivor. In February 2014, I found a suspect lump and had become unusually tired. I was a career-driven single mother of a very active 10-year-old boy, so when I say unusually tired it was time to call the doctor. Within days I was thrown into the crazy and often times confusing world of hospital appointments and insurance company battles for various procedures and surgical biopsies. We became pros at the waiting game.

Cassie

Cassie Fetsch is a regular volunteer for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s (LLS) Minnesota chapter. When school is out, staff members can count on Cassie to be in the office folding letters, stuffing and labeling envelopes, counting Team In Training brochures, cleaning out drawers or putting together pizza boxes. Since Domino's sponsors LLS's Pennies for Patients program, they donate all the boxes to ship campaign supplies. This year, Cassie assembled boxes for more than 800 schools!

Lorelai

I was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) when I was 11. Throughout my entire cancer journey, I had a lot of people in my corner. But what I found most helpful was following The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s (LLS) social media platforms and reading the articles on their website. Through LLS, I felt like someone actually understood what I was going through. Recently, I have been one of the very lucky students chosen to receive the LLS Scholarship for Blood Cancer Survivors which will be the reason I am able to continue attending college.

Cary

Cary was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia in the fall of 2012. After spending more than 100 days in the hospital, undergoing intense chemo treatments, and blood transfusions Cary is now in remission. You can only imagine the struggle and heartache a cancer diagnoses was at only 33 years of age with a wife, 3 small boys, and a career.

Janel

Throughout my childhood, my grandmother instilled in me the importance of helping those in need and gave generously to various charities and organizations. Her unwavering dedication to serving others inspired me to continue her legacy and give back to my community.

Cooper

I am Cooper, and I am a leukemia survivor. I am 26 and creating businesses around the creativity space. I am a healer and author of multiple books. I was diagnosed with leukemia at the age of seven. I did treatment for 2½ years with chemotherapy. I have been in remission for 16 years. I am grateful to be here. I have donated around $100,000 to The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS). I have done Pennies for Patients (PFP), Student Of The Year (SOY), and been an Honored Hero for multiple events. My high school raised $10,000 in one week for PFP.