Search Results

Kacy

I am on this adventure to help others and challenge myself! I do not have a personal story or relationship with The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS), but I am honored to be nominated as a Visionary and know my involvement will help change lives. I also want to share this experience with my daughter and teach her the power of action. I am excited to see where this goes, and the sky is the limit!

Psychological and Cognitive Effects

Most childhood survivors of cancer are psychologically healthy. However, some studies indicate that a small number of childhood leukemia or lymphoma survivors were more likely than healthy peers to report changes in mood, feelings or behavior, including depression or posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Talk to your child’s healthcare team if you notice any changes in your child’s mood or behavior, especially if these changes begin to interfere with your child’s daily life.

Jacqueline

After a year of misdiagnoses, I was diagnosed with stage 3 Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) on Valentine's Day 2007 when I was 22 years old. I had to take medical leave from my senior year of college to move home with my parents to undergo treatment in Albany, New York. After seven months of chemo, I was in remission and have been since!

Zoe

My name is Zoe. I am 23 years old, and I am currently on my way to remission from primary mediastinal non-Hodgkin lymphoma (PMBL). It was always my dream to be a young mom, and when I finally got pregnant, I could not have been happier. However, I got to 32 weeks pregnant, and I was severely out of breath. I went to the hospital which led me to finding out I had lymphoma. They found a 12 cm. mass in my chest. My whole life came crumbling down at that very moment. I had no symptoms of my cancer whatsoever, and doctors thought I had a 1% chance of having cancer.

Christian

I'm Christian, a 20-year-old patient currently fighting a rare type of lymphoma with no cure. It's called subcutaneous panniculitis-like T-cell lymphoma. I was diagnosed on January 27, 2020, after a year of many tests and hospital stays. I pushed myself to get through high school and thank God and with a lot of hard work, I finished and graduated with my class, even while on a chemo-like treatment.

I never quit finished at the top of my classes and a perseverance award. I'm currently on a medical clinical trial treatment at City of Hope.

David

I am a proud, 52-year-old stage 4 Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) survivor now living in Los Angeles again (my long-time home). I was living in Cleveland to help with some family matters for a couple of years. I found a great new job in Los Angeles, and the very day I accepted the new job, I received my diagnosis (August 25, 2022). That put my life on hold.

Andrew

My son, Andrew, was diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) in January 2022. He had been very tired for months, and we had a frustrating few months while our primary care physician (PCP) missed his diagnosis and chalked it up to being a busy teen and perhaps needing a sleep study. When he was finally diagnosed, he was stage 4. He underwent six months of intense chemotherapy. Mid-treatment scans showed a complete response, and we were excited and relieved. His post-treatment PET scan, however, showed recurrence.

Kay and David LaFrance

As an 18-year breast cancer survivor, Kay was just starting to enjoy retirement in 2018 when she was diagnosed with mantle cell lymphoma. Even though she had fought cancer before, she was stricken with despair and disbelief and felt terrified of the road ahead of her. She had to travel to a different city to receive her specialized treatment, which was outside of her insurance network, so much of the costs came out of her own pocket. After a long, hard fight, she is now in remission, but lives with the everyday fear of her cancer coming back.

Elyssa

My daughter, Elyssa donated her hair for children with cancer only months before she herself was diagnosed with Hodgkins lymphoma. Upon her diagnosis, she had the rest of her hair put in ponytails and had it cut to her scalp so the rest could be donated.

Being diagnosed in her first year of college at University of Connecticut, she immediately went to the disabilities office and applied so she could continue with the semester.

Heather

Heather Banks draws her inspiration from her good friend, who has been fighting non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma for the past 10 years and her college best friend who is a survivor. She is motivated by her friends’ strength, determination, and positivity. In times of feeling helpless, she channels that energy and puts it into her sewing machine.  

Jessica

My name is Jessi, and I am a stage 4B Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) survivor. My journey to diagnosis was a long and winding road, filled with misdiagnoses until January 2016 when my battle truly began. That year was the toughest of my life, enduring the rigors of chemo and radiation. But it was also the year I decided to document my journey through my blog, Lymphoma Barbie, not just as a personal outlet but as a beacon of hope for others navigating the murky waters of cancer.

Terry

My life has been an interesting journey. In April 2019, I lost my wife of 20 years, and in August 2020, I lost my older brother to leukemia. My wife was 50, and my brother was 64. After several months of excruciating pain in my abdomen, I was finally diagnosed with non-Hodgkin B-cell lymphoma (B-NHL) in May 2021. I was 58. Upon entering the hospital in June for my first round of chemo, I was diagnosed with acute renal failure. After several days of treatment, I finally started my chemotherapy. I was lucky, or so I thought, no radiation for me.

Gabe

Just after I turned 12 years old, I was diagnosed with blood cancer. LLS supported me and my family as I endured chemotherapy treatment to be cancer free and beat Burkitts lymphoma. Now 16, I am inspired everyday to work hard in school to achieve my goal of becoming an oncologist to help kids, like me, beat blood cancer. Thank you LLS!

FDA Approves New Targeted Treatment for CLL/SLL

Clinical Trials

Taking part in a clinical trial may be a good treatment choice for people with chronic myelomonocytic leukemia (CMML). Clinical trials are under way to help improve treatment, extend survival and improve the quality of life for CMML patients. Today's standard treatments for cancer are based on earlier clinical trials. The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society continues to invest funds in CMML research.

Clinical Trials

Taking part in a clinical trial may be a treatment choice for some hairy cell leukemia patients. Clinical trials are under way to develop treatments that increase the remission rate of hairy cell leukemia or cure the disease. Today's standard treatments for cancer are based on earlier clinical trials. The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society continues to invest funds in hairy cell leukemia research.

Clinical Trials

Taking part in a clinical trial may be the best treatment choice for some myeloma patients. Clinical trials are under way to develop treatments that increase the remission rate of myeloma or cure the disease. Today's standard treatments for cancer are based on earlier clinical trials. The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) continues to invest funds in myeloma research.

Chaneta Juliet

Hi, my name is Chaneta, I like to go by Juliet. This past year has been an interesting one, to say the least. I’m a singer-songwriter who wrote and released an album in October 2017. I thought the year was going to be an amazing one–promoting and performing–unfortunately, I performed one time and I began to literally unravel. In December 2017, I caught the flu. Normal stuff, not too bad right? Well, about three weeks in, it got worse. It turned into walking pneumonia. Chest X-rays revealed a blood clot lodged in my right-side lung.

Emily

Summer 2019 I was feeling great and cancer was the last thing on my mind. I had just run a half marathon and was planning to do a few more destination races. Shortly after the half marathon, I started getting awful knee pain. It was excruciating but I never thought much of it, assuming it was just an injury. After making an appointment at a sports medicine facility an MRI revealed there was a good size tumor in my left knee. This doctor told me it is most likely a giant cell tumor which is benign. From there he referred me to an orthopedic specialist down in Boston.

Claudia

I was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) at the age of 30 after experiencing severe symptoms (cough, shortness of breath). I’m currently under treatment in Italy, my home country, and only have one round of chemo left. This journey has been difficult but has also taught me so much about myself, my strength, and the courage I didn’t think I had.

Acosta

In 1992 my son was diagnosed with leukemia at the age of 3 and after 3 yrs of chemotherapy he’s finally cured.

In 2009 I was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma stage 4. I underwent 3 years of chemotherapy and today I’m in remission!

As mother and son survivors, we have been walking and part taking in as many events as we can, he’s my inspiration! We will walk again this year together once again!

Kristen

I’d like to share my daughter’s story. Her name is Kristen, and she is 10 years in remission now after being treated for Hodgkin lymphoma (HL). December 2024 will be 11 years. We have been attending Light The Night (LTN) for the last eight years and bring friends and family each time. It is a great event that offers support for all patients and family members.

Kristen

I am a mom of four, married for 22 years, and was recently diagnosed with a very rare leukemia/lymphoma. I am a licensed speech-language pathologist, health coach, and have my own podcast. I began treatment in January of this year and will follow treatment with a bone marrow transplant. I am an encourager, and my desire is to use this diagnosis to bring hope. I know this journey is not about me! It’s about bringing hope to the hopeless and love to the lonely.

Dorette

I was first told I had non-hodgkin's lymphoma at the age of 20. I had no idea what that was, I just knew it was a form of cancer and that there was a possibility that I may not survive.

My first reaction was shock, then I was in denial, and then I felt scared. I came to an acceptance that I may not live but I have to at least fight trying.

I started my treatments of chemotherapy and radiation. I'm now proud to say it's been 26 years since. I survived! I beat Cancer!

Matt

On February 2nd, 2019 my youngest daughter, Harper, was diagnosed with leukemia. Three and a half years later as I'm writing this I have a lump in my throat and tears in my eyes. Harper and our family are fortunate. She has great insurance, access to world class care, treatment options that are highly effective, and an amazing support network. That said she, and all cancer patients, must fight for their lives. I'll never forget spending the evening before her birthday in the emergency room with severe bone pain (a common side effect from her treatment).