Many blood cancer survivors remember the day they were diagnosed, and they never forget it. For Racheli Alkobey Peltier—Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS)— when that date comes around, it’s a chance to mark her progress.
Each year, Racheli marks important milestones in her experience with blood cancer—taking time to reflect, feel gratitude, and look ahead. These dates are her “cancerversaries.”
We asked Racheli to share how these cancerversaries came to be—and how she honors them. These are her words.
Every Year Counts: Celebrating My Healing from Hodgkin Lymphoma
At 21, my life took an unexpected turn when I was diagnosed with stage 3B Hodgkin lymphoma. Earlier that year, I moved 2,500 miles away from my family in Florida to Los Angeles, which was meant to mark the start of a new chapter. But instead, I found myself facing a 3-month “cold” that was actually blood cancer. Despite the initial shock, I made a conscious decision to view this day with optimism. It signified the start of my healing process, after not knowing what was wrong for so long.
Cancer is marked by a series of highs and lows, but each milestone provides an opportunity to celebrate renewal and strength. For me, celebrating “cancerversaries” has become a meaningful way to honor my diagnosis and embrace life with renewed hope and resilience—acknowledging the trek I’ve traveled to reach this moment.
The Diagnosis: May 19
When I was diagnosed with stage 3 Hodgkin lymphoma at 21, I chose to face the day with hope rather than despair. Despite the gravity of the news, I kept my plans to go bowling with friends. That evening, I took a Lemon Drop shot with a toast that would become my mantra: “Everything’s going to be OK.”
Each year on May 19, I commemorate this moment by bowling and taking that same Lemon Drop shot, reflecting on where I began and where I am heading. This day symbolizes the start of my healing.
The End of Treatment: November 12
November 12, 2015, the day I completed my final round of chemo, is a day I had been eagerly anticipating from the start of my treatment.
To celebrate, my friends and I began a tradition called “12 Quests for 12 Rounds of Chemo.” We split into teams and embark on a themed scavenger hunt, completing a task for each round of chemotherapy. This tradition is both fun and significant, serving as a reminder of my strength and resilience. It feels like a second birthday—a day when I could truly begin anew.
During the early years of Covid-19, these scavenger hunts were smaller and more intimate (some just with me and my four-person pod) and in 2022, my closest friends and I made our mark on the iconic Hollywood Boulevard, embracing the theme of Once Upon a Time in Hollywood.
In 2023, celebrating felt especially daunting due to recent sorrow and heartbreak my community and the world faced after October 7. Despite the heaviness, and after a lot of consideration, I chose to host a more intimate version of my annual scavenger hunt, reaffirming that even in tough times, finding joy and marking milestones is vital for healing and moving forward.
The Remission: December 31
New Year’s Eve holds special significance for me. On December 31, 2015, I was told I was in full remission.
While I don’t host a grand celebration, this day is a personal milestone. It represents a fresh start, aligning with the new year. I use this time to set intentions, reflect on my experiences, and express gratitude for the lessons and blessings that have shaped my life.
The Importance of Celebrating Milestones
Celebrating cancerversaries is not just about marking the passage of time; it’s about acknowledging the progress and challenges of the experience. Meeting new people who are unfamiliar with my past can sometimes bring old emotions to the surface and remind me of the struggles I’ve overcome. Sharing these moments with loved ones and creating celebrations helps bridge that gap, fostering understanding and support.
Turning Adversity into a Message
Every cancerversary is a testament to the strength and resilience that define our experience. By embracing these milestones and celebrating life, we reclaim our narrative and find power in our experiences.
My cancerversaries are a celebration of life, love, and the unwavering spirit that guides us through even the toughest times.
Let us continue to celebrate our triumphs and transform our experiences into messages of hope and resilience. Here’s to honoring life’s victories, both big and small, and facing our experiences with courage and positivity... and a little bit of fun.
Making Milestones Possible For More Patients
We want every patient to be able to honor important parts of their experience just like Racheli does—for years to come. Patients and their families deserve more time and full lives. And you can help give them that.
By donating to LLS’s mission, you’re supporting our work to extend blood cancer patients’ futures. We’re working on all of it: better treatments. Crucial support. Fairer healthcare. Help us do it all, so every patient can do more.
Survivorship Is About More Than Remission
Are you a blood cancer survivor, or know one? LLS has many resources for blood cancer survivors as they look ahead, including:
- Information Specialists, highly trained oncology nurses and social workers who can help with treatment-related, social, and financial challenges
- A Survivorship Workbook to help navigate questions after a diagnosis and/or remission
- Podcast episodes specifically about survivorship
- LLS Community, an online meeting place for patients, survivors, and caregivers to share experiences