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Diagnosis
An accurate diagnosis of the type of leukemia is important. The exact diagnosis helps the doctor estimate how the disease will progress and determine the appropriate treatment.
Diagnosing acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and the AML subtype usually involves a series of tests. Some of these tests may be repeated during and after therapy to measure the effects of treatment.
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.
Understanding Different Types of Treatments
Treatment options vary for the different types of blood cancer. Your choices depend on your specific diagnosis, age, cytogenetic analysis (an examination of the chromosomes in your marrow, blood and lymph node cells), overall health and other factors.
Your treatment plan might include:
Kenya
I was diagnosed with two blood cancers — multiple myeloma (MM) and chronic myelomonocytic leukemia (CMML).
Cancer entered my life at five years old when I lost my father to pancreatic cancer. Then again, when my oldest sister was diagnosed with breast cancer, she is now nine years cancer-free. Then again, when my mother was diagnosed with breast cancer. Sadly, we lost my mother in May 2019 to breast cancer
Elsie
In November 2013, after experiencing several severe nose bleeds, I was diagnosed with a rare type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma cancer called Waldenstrom’s Macroglobulinemia. It was in stage IV and I started chemotherapy treatments immediately.
Madeline
Being in a very close-knit family, we were devastated upon learning of our sister Madeline’s diagnosis of AML. There were 4 of us girls and all 3 of us wanted to do anything to help our sister survive. Our biggest challenge was staying positive and offering her and her family support. The 3 of us were tested and I was her perfect match. I was overjoyed to be able to do this for her. Although my other sisters felt let down that they weren’t, we were all constant support through her journey.
Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR) T-Cell Therapy
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Savanna
Savanna, age ten, was diagnosed with high risk Pre B Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia in May 2014. She was in and out of the hospital for 114 days – close to half of a year! She endured countless chemo treatments, stays in the Pediatric ICU, intensive total body irradiation, spinal taps, blood transfusions and much more. The doctors decided her best chance to beat her cancer was a full Bone Marrow Transplant. Her match was her brave 12-year-old brother, Asher.
NHL Staging
Once your doctor confirms an NHL diagnosis, he or she will determine the extent of your disease's progression by staging. Staging helps your doctor predict the disease's progression and develop a treatment plan.
Staging TestsImaging Tests
Your doctor conducts one or more imaging tests along with a physical exam, to evaluate:
Sherry
Last March, my husband Bruce went in for what was supposed to be a "simple" surgery. When the doctor opened him up, she found a mass the size of a honeydew melon (her description to me) wound around his intestines and colon. She essentially did cancer surgery on the spot and removed lymph nodes and the tumor.
George
My awareness of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) began years ago when a close family member was diagnosed with leukemia. In the wake of such devastating news, I felt compelled to lend a hand. I am honored to join the LLS family in their fight to cure blood cancers.
Lucille
I was diagnosed with chronic myelomonocytic leukemia (CMML) in October 2019, at the age of 57. After experiencing months of symptoms such as severe fatigue, bruising easily, and shortness of breath.
Kaidyn
Kaidyn was only six months old when he was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia (AML). About two months later, he received a bone marrow aspiration and was started on chemotherapy. Over the next ten months, Kaidyn was in and out of Children's Hospital of Oakland. It was there that he took his first steps, said his first words, and even flirted with every nurse in the oncology unit! Kaidyn is now a healthy three-year-old boy with an ear-to-ear grin who participates in his local Light The Night Walk each fall.
Shelley
Twenty years ago I was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). My husband, Remi and I were married and just moved to Virginia, where Remi was stationed in the Navy. In the short six weeks we lived there, I never felt 100% and I was at the doctor four times in six weeks. At my last appointment, I requested that they draw my blood. They told me I had mono, my counts were so low, they took me by ambulance to the nearest hospital.
Autologous Stem Cell Transplantation
In autologous stem cell transplantation, the procedure uses the patient’s own stem cells for the transplant. The stem cells are collected from the patient in advance and are frozen. After the patient undergoes high doses of chemotherapy, either with or without radiation therapy, the stem cells are then returned to the body. This type of transplant is often used to treat blood cancers such as Hodgkin lymphoma, non-Hodgkin lymphoma and myeloma.
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.
Diagnosis
An accurate diagnosis is one of the most important aspects of a person’s care. Obtaining a precise diagnosis will help the doctor
- Determine the MDS subtype
- Estimate how the disease will progress
- Determine the most appropriate treatment
Since MDS can be a difficult disease to diagnose, you may want to get a second medical opinion by an experienced hematopathologist before you begin treatment.
Taylor
Hello! I am Taylor, and most people know me for being a human biology premed student at the University of California San Diego. However, what most people don’t know is I was diagnosed with a rare blood cancer in March of this year. I have systemic mastocytosis (SM) which leads to lots of anaphylactic reactions and hospital visits. I spend lots of time getting tests because my cancer is rare and infusions at the cancer center. I have had several types of chemotherapy drugs and many biopsies.
Nathaniel
Hi! Nathaniel here, but you can call me Nate. I am an 18-year-old North Carolina Scholar, 2015 graduate of Franklinton High School who graduated with high honors. I am a future student of the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, majoring in mechanical engineering. I am a son, brother, grandson, nephew, cousin, boyfriend, friend, percussionist, musician, scholarship recipient, car and truck enthusiast, minority mentor, and an all around "Renaissance Man" with a philanthropist heart. I also have cancer
Joe
After being diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) in March of 2011 when I was only 10 years old, my entire life changed and was put on hold. I went through months of treatments to slow down the cancer, looked for the best possible hospitals in my area, and was able to get a bone marrow transplant in August 2011 from my brother who was a matched donor. I wasn't even close to stopping there. Once I was feeling better, I could do home instruction school from my house so I wouldn't fall behind, and some of my friends were allowed to visit me at home.
Nancy
I was diagnosed with multiple myeloma in 2008. For a year, I was in the “watch and wait” category with no treatment until the disease progressed. In April 2009 I progressed to “active disease” and began treatments followed by an autologous stem cell transplant in January 2010.
Nikolette
I was truly honored to be a recipient of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) Scholarship for Blood Cancer Survivors. After fighting two different types of cancer, both forms of lymphoma and leukemia, I was unsure what my collegiate education would look like. I had to medically withdraw from my freshman year of college at Penn State University in the fall of 2018 when I received my second diagnosis. My family and I were completely devastated, but I was able to successfully undergo a bone marrow transplant and have been showing no evidence of disease (NED) for 3½ years now!
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.