Search Results

Jan

After returning from a diving trip to Cyprus in November 2021, I started having headaches and sweating at night. Just two weeks later, I was diagnosed with acute leukemia and was immediately hospitalized. Two days later, I had my first round of chemotherapy as my case was pretty serious. Chemotherapy became a big part of my everyday life for the next three months.

After one week with no chemo, I started getting my life back, just partially. I made it thanks to amazing doctors, nurses, inner strength, positivity, and healthy food. Yoga breathing helped a lot too.

Molly

I did this Facebook challenge in memory of my father. He died of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) just after being diagnosed three months prior. He died on my wedding anniversary. I took care of him until the end. I am a nurse, and it made it much easier to care for him. He meant the world to me. 

He loved doing anything outside. Fishing and hunting were his favorites. He was a hall-of-fame bowler, loved to golf, and enjoyed cooking on the grill. His laugh was contagious. I miss him so much every day. 

Thomas

I was declared to be in remission from acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) on Sept 1, 2015. To celebrate one year of remission, I biked from Waukesha, WI to Port Washington, WI, a total of 104 miles round trip.

This photo is from the deck of Smith Brothers in Port Washington, the half way point of the ride. I was joined by one of my caregivers, Maria, of St. Luke's for the first 25 miles of the ride. After the initial round of chemo in 2015, I couldn't even bike 2 miles.

Dr. Carroll

William Carroll, M.D., is the leader of a five-year LLS Specialized Center of Research (SCOR) grant.

Janie

My name is Janie, and I was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) almost one year ago at 37 years old. I am married with two children and am so happy to be alive today. My story is unique, as is everyone’s; however, mine is special because my sister ended up being my 10/10 identical match, and she saved my life via transplant. I was transplanted on Aug 10, 2024, and so lucky to be home for Thanksgiving. I made it mandatory that we take family photos as family is and always has been so important to me. The photo I am sending you is of me and my sister (my donor).

Making Treatment Decisions

Adults living with blood cancer must make decisions about treatment, family, work or school and finances. If your child has been diagnosed, you must make similar decisions for your son or daughter.

You'll need to choose:

Board of Trustees - New Jersey

Work, School & Finances

Some people continue to work or attend school through cancer treatment, but others are not able to do so. Talk to your healthcare team to know what to expect from treatment so you can make the decision that is best for you.

Hospice

Hospice embodies a philosophy that delivers compassionate care to people, including children, who are approaching the end of their lives and provides emotional and physical support to them and their loved ones. Hospice offers medical care that focuses on maintaining and improving quality of life for someone whose disease or condition is unlikely to be cured. An interdisciplinary hospice team provides medical care, pain control and emotional and spiritual support that is tailored to the individual needs of each patient and his or her family.

Debbie

Lila

It’s January 11th, 2017, well past midnight, probably around 3 am. I am on the side of a mountain in Africa, 1000 miles away from home, in pitch black out, -20º with the winds, and I can barely feel my fingers. All I can see is the headlamp spot of light shining on the trail.

I think to myself, “Well, Lila, maybe this was not your best idea!” I look up and call my teammate in front of me, my best friend Dawn, and say, “Dawn, I am sorry I talked you into this.” She just looks at me, gives a knowing smile, then turns back to the path in front of us!

Gabriele

For approximately a year leading up to my diagnosis, I began experiencing various symptoms and was generally feeling unwell. About 3 months prior to diagnosis, my joint and bone pain started impacting my daily life heavily. I was struggling to lift my arms and walk normally. Of the many symptoms, the most extreme were breathing problems, extreme fatigue, headaches, and even passing out. I was admitted to Roswell Park Cancer Institute in April 2022 extremely neutropenic and anemic. At 26 years old I was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and began chemotherapy immediately.

Wendy

I am a 3-time Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) survivor. I underwent two stem cell transplants. The first transplant was my own stem cells, the second transplant was a donor transplant. My baby sister was my donor (she was a 6/6 match); I was very lucky. I underwent three years of radiation and chemotherapy and have been in remission now 12 years. Since then, I have gotten involved with The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS). I first started by creating a fashion show to raise money for LLS.

Jeremy

Lucy was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) when she was 32-weeks pregnant with our son Watson. She underwent two rounds of chemo while our son was inside her. After giving birth to our healthy, 4 lb., premature baby, she immediately went back to treatment with more rounds of chemo and a bone marrow transplant. After the transplant, she had to stay in 100 days of isolation where she could only see our newborn son through a glass window and wasn’t able to touch him due to her weakened immune system.

Armaan

In January 2014, Armaan celebrated his 5th birthday.  He was tested for anemia a few days later at the urging of his pediatrician as he looked a little pale.  Our world was rocked several hours later when the pediatrician called to notify us that Armaan had leukemia.

Armaan was immediately admitted into Lucile Packard Children's Hospital in Stanford where he had a PICC line inserted into his arm and started his first round of chemotherapy.  He is now in remission although he faces two more years of treatment to help ensure he doesn't relapse.

Thomas

I was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) on February 17, 2015 and, subsequently, spent 56 nights inpatient at St. Luke's Hospital in Milwaukee being treated by a truly wonderful nursing team on the 12th floor. On July 28, to celebrate my final four-day inpatient chemotherapy treatment session, I biked 19.5 miles from our home in Brookfield, WI to St. Luke's. I felt so good to overcome the bite of ALL and continue to do one of the things I love to do ... Biking.

Thomas

I was originally diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) in November 2008. I went through one induction chemo and four rounds of consolidation chemo and then I was considered cancer free.

In February 2017, my worst fears were confirmed when I was diagnosed with AML for the second time. This time, it took two induction treatments of chemo to be declared in remission. I was then given a month off and went back to the hospital for more chemo and a bone marrow transplant. The last chemo nearly cost me my life. My kidneys and liver were shutting down.

Miranda

A little over a year ago, I finished a treatment that saved my life and gave me purpose. In October 2016, I was diagnosed with stage IV of Hodgkin lymphoma and was fortunate enough to receive medical care that allowed me to conquer my cancer journey.

Team In Training Participant

I joined Team In Training (TNT) in 2012, when I decided I wanted to train and run my first half marathon. Some of my friends had told me about their success with the program, and while I didn't have a personal connection to The Leukemia & Lymphoma  (LLS), it was obviously a worthy cause and I felt I could handle the fundraising aspect.

I loved the experience; the training cycle, the coaches, the teammates, and even the fundraising. And they got me across that first finish line.

Nathan

Nathan is a young, T-cell lymphoma (TCL) survivor. He just rang the “end of treatment bell” a couple of months ago. His dad, Andy, is a member of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s (LLS) Minnesota/North Dakota/South Dakota board and a major donor to The LLS Children’s Initiative through their family foundation’s fundraising.

Freia

Freia was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) at the age of 8. She and her family had just landed in Denmark for a family vacation when her parents noticed something wasn't right. After several trips to the hospital, they drove to Sweden where Freia’s grandparents live. It was there that her family heard those awful words, “Freia has cancer.” 

Victor

Our father Victor was diagnosed in 1998 at the age of 30 with Burkitt non-Hodgkin lymphoma (BL). He was living in Los Angeles, California, at the time and had just gotten engaged to my mother, Debra. He began not feeling well and was diagnosed with a small mass in his stomach. He was told it was non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL). He contacted The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS), and in coordination with MD Anderson, he went to Texas, and a protocol was set in motion to fight this disease.

Melody

In November 2021, at just 24, Melody was diagnosed with stage 2 Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) after experiencing severe symptoms like profuse sweating, significant weight loss, and intense itching for the previous six months. After two biopsies and CT and PET scans, a tumor the size of a baseball growing quietly was discovered in her chest. She started treatment at City of Hope, enduring eight rounds of chemotherapy and six rounds of an immunotherapy trial. Her final treatment was on June 1, 2022, and she has been in remission for two years.

Michael

My Dad, Jay, was a distance bike rider and completed many amazing rides. On June 1, 2002, Dad did America’s Most Beautiful Bike Ride (AMBBR). He always said this was the most beautiful ride and his favorite. Dad later contracted leukemia, and after fighting the good fight, he went home to Heaven in July 2013. He is still missed by many. Even though my Dad was one of my best friends, we did not ride together. I had other passions then. After Dad passed, I started cycling, and it is now my passion. I contacted some of Dad's riding friends and got a list of some of his rides.

Hudson

Hudson entered the world on March 31, 2017. This is the day my heart left my own chest and was beating outside of my body. My whole world was immediately consumed by this little, perfect bundle of cuteness. As far as cancer risk goes, he didn’t really have any. He had a healthy infancy and toddlerhood, barely needing a Band-Aid. This is the case for so many children. In November of 2018, Hudson became a big brother to Violet. I can remember being in the studio for Violet’s newborn photos when the photographer had Hudson lay beside Violet.