Search Results
Shayne
Shayne was diagnosed with T-cell Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia in May 2005 when he was just 18 months old. He endured 42 months of chemotherapy, multiple blood transfusions and several surgeries before achieving remission. Today, Shayne is 10 years old, in the fourth grade and a honor roll student. He is doing great and remains in remission. Shayne loves school and plays basketball and baseball. He also participates in track and field, where he throws both the shot put and javelin.
Graysen
Graysen was born in March 2017. She was born the day before my birthday and we often say that she was the greatest birthday present ever. She was such an easy-going baby - happy, curious, and sweet with a magnetic personality. She was seemingly healthy, happy and 21 months old when we shockingly learned she had leukemia in November 2018. It was a diagnosis we never saw coming and one we were forced to simultaneously digest, navigate and hit head on.
Imatinib mesylate
Generic name Imatinib mesylate Pronunciation i-MAT-i-nib MES-i-late Brand name(s), other common name(s) Gleevec® Drug type Tyrosine kinase inhibitor How the drug is given By mouth Indications and UsageImatinib mesylate is FDA approved to treat
Joseph
On May 1, 2021, my son Joseph was diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma (HL), and so our journey began. We were blessed with so much love and support throughout his treatment that we decided to raise money for those less fortunate. We joined The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) and Light The Night (LNT) and raised over $17,000. We had over 100 family and friends walking with us, and it was an amazing experience that we will continue to do. Joseph and I are so proud to be part of this organization. Written by family member.
Richard
I’m a two-time acute myeloid leukemia (AML) survivor. I was diagnosed in 2018 and completed the 7/3 induction and consolidation then relapsed in 2020 and had a full myeloablative bone marrow transplant on May 4th, 2021, at Penn Med in Philadelphia.
I completed a solo, cross-country road trip the last week of December 2021, (seven months post-transplant) to Colorado and Rocky Mountain National Park.
I just returned from exploring and photographing Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming and Capitol Reef National Park in Utah (February 2022).
Brauer
Being a recipient of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s (LLS) Scholarship for Blood Cancer Survivors is allowing me to continue my education and pursue the life cancer tried to take away from me. I was diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) my freshman year of high school, and one of my biggest fears while in treatment was if I was going to be able to attend college still. I had been dreaming of attending Clemson University and having all the college experiences. I am grateful for the opportunities LLS has given me and the chance to not just survive but thrive after cancer.
Loriana
In January 2014, award-winning health and fitness journalist, Loriana Hernandez-Aldama was shocked to learn that she had acute myeloid leukemia (AML). She received the diagnosis from her fertility doctor, who she had seen just days before to do a precautionary blood test for an embryo transfer. Instead of planning for a new baby, Loriana had to begin treatment for cancer.
Shortly after her diagnosis, Loriana said goodbye to her two-year-old son and boarded a plane to another state to begin chemotherapy.
Michael
I am a Acute Myeloid Leukemia survivor. I was diagnosed on memorial day of 2018 and thats where my story began. I failed to reach remission on induction chemotherapy but the next round of chemo I received called FLAGIDA put me in remission.
I then was transferred to duke for a stem cell transplant. My first transplant was unsuccessful and my mother stepped in to donate her cells. This second transplant put me in remission and now I'm back doing what I love which is CrossFit and Olympic weightlifting. I also am coaching at my local crossfit gym.
Kiersten
When I was 38 weeks pregnant, I found a lump on my neck. Doctors couldn't test anything until after my son was born.
In February of 2015, my happy and healthy baby boy, Elliot was born. Just one month later, I was diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma. I started chemotherapy in April and after 12 rounds, there was no trace of cancer found in my body.
Now I'm ready to enjoy raising my first child without going through chemotherapy while giving back to The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society!
Grace
In 2008, my three year old daughter, Grace, was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) at her three year old doctor (check up) appointment. Grace was categorized as a high-risk case of ALL and underwent two full treatment regimens of chemotherapy spanning over two full years. Grace is now 16 and living a full, energetic life. She has been deemed cured and in the past year was released from her regular oncology checkups. I’ll be participating in her honor.
Written by a family member
Diagnosis
Diagnosing hairy cell leukemia usually involves a series of tests, including blood tests and bone marrow tests.
D'Nya
D'Nya was six years old when she was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). That day in 2009 was the scariest moment of our lives.
Ethan
Ethan was a typical 3-year-old boy before his diagnosis of B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Being a typical boy, he would have occasional bruises on his arms or legs from rough playing with his brother. Approximately one month before Ethan's diagnosis, he was noted to have more bruising than normal on his extremities. Two weeks prior, he was also noted to have a limp. He did incur a fall while walking his bicycle around this time, so the symptom was brushed off. However, he continued to have increased bruising, now appearing on his trunk.
Jonathan
I had been feeling very tired and dealing with massive headaches for about a month. Friends and family started to notice my pale skin and that all I wanted to do was sleep, and I felt cold all the time. That’s not like me, and everybody knows that I don’t usually carry sweaters when it’s cold because I love the cold weather. But during this time, I felt very, very cold.
Anubha
I experienced extreme nausea and slight shortness of breath for a week prior to being diagnosed with acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL), clots in my lungs (PE), kidneys, and a valve of the heart on April 16, 2022.
I underwent intense treatment (induction phase) for 28 days and the consolidation phase for six months at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Jersey. My leukemia was treated with non-chemo drugs, ATRA and arsenic trioxide. With due thanks to the oncology team and nursing staff at RWJ, I am currently in remission.
Jania
In November 2018, I was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia (AML). It's a type of cancer of the blood and bone marrow that progresses very rapidly. When I was initially diagnosed, I believed my life was over. As a seventeen-year-old high school student attending school from a homeless shelter, going to bed hungry most nights, I considered dropping out to help my mother with my younger sister and brother. I couldn't fathom the financial burdens that would follow with medical treatment. I felt like the more I attempted to correct things, the worse they became.
Delena
I was diagnosed with acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL) at the age of two in 1981. I was sent to Riley Hospital for Children for assessment and to create a treatment plan. At the time of my diagnosis, my mom was a single mother of two young daughters. My father passed away from Ewing sarcoma in April 1979. I was eight months old, and my sister was four when he passed.
Refractory and Relapsed Childhood AML
Refractory AML: Some patients have residual leukemia cells in their bone marrow even after they receive intensive treatment for AML. In these cases, the disease is referred to as “refractory” (or “refractory AML”). Less than 15 percent of children have refractory AML.
Side Effects
Cancer therapy for chronic myelomonocytic leukemia (CMML) can sometimes produce side effects. For most patients, treatment side effects are temporary and go away once therapy ends. For other patients, side effects can be more severe, sometimes requiring hospitalization. Some patients never have any side effects.
Before you undergo treatment, talk with your doctor about potential side effects. Drugs and other therapies can prevent or manage many side effects.
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.
Tim
It was December 2006. I was 28 years old, and I discovered some purple bruises on my leg. I had never seen anything like these on my body before, so I went to my primary care physician. He took some bloodwork, then called me to say I needed to go to the hospital at once. My parents’ friend drove me and my parents to the hospital, and I ended up staying at the hospital for four days.
Amanda
Amanda was a Woman of the Year candidate this past spring, raising over $186,000 for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS).
She is a multiple myeloma (MM) survivor and just received the newly approved for MM, CAR-T cell treatment, 5 days before the fundraising campaign finale.
LLS first met Amanda when she was pushed through the front doors of the office in her local region, in a wheelchair.
Matthew
Matthew was diagnosed with Burkitt's Lymphoma and Leukemia in November 2008 at just two years old. After long and difficult chemotherapy treatments, Matthew achieved remission. He is now part of The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia survivorship program. Matthew finds time for his hobbies like making crafts and running make-believe restaurants and stores. He also stays busy playing baseball, swimming, and basketball. Matthew also enjoys looking for treasure in his backyard. When he grows up, Matthew wants to be a teacher or a restaurant owner because he loves people.