Search Results
Jaden
When I was nominated to be a Student Visionary of the Year, I had no idea how it would impact my life. I was allowed to join a groundbreaking philanthropic leadership development program for high school students. Throughout my courageous seven-week journey, I had a goal of creating a world without blood cancers. It was bigger than winning; it was about making a real impact on the world around me. I learned business marketing skills, used effective communication tools, and met with fellow change-makers in my local area. By the end of the campaign, I felt like a new person.
Lisa
My name is Lisa, I am 50 years old. On March 5, 2012, my life forever changed. I went from being Lisa, wife to John, mother to Tristan (now 14), and stepmother to John (now 35) to Lisa, acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patient.
Fernando
I am a 26-year-old cancer survivor and am about to begin my first year of law school.
Rachel
My name is Rachel. My tribal affiliation is full-blood Chickasaw/Creek/Seminole. I am 19 years old and will be entering my second year at the University of Oklahoma in Norman, Oklahoma. I attended Little Axe Schools from Kindergarten to my senior year of high school. Little Axe is a rural community school outside of Norman, Oklahoma. My parents are both full-blood Natives, and I have an older brother (25) and a younger brother (16). My older brother, Caleb, is a state trooper for the State of Oklahoma. My younger brother, Andrew, will be starting the 10th grade at Little Axe High School.
James
My symptoms began in May 2017. I was having shortness of breath while climbing stairs and jogging up even the smallest of inclines. I chalked my windedness to age; I was fifty-seven. And I told myself that I was tired after teaching a hectic school year.
Side Effects
Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) treatment can sometimes produce side effects. Most patients can manage their side effects without stopping therapy.
Before you start treatment, talk with your doctor about potential side effects. Drugs and other therapies can prevent or manage many side effects. Many treatment side effects go away or become less noticeable over time.
Shelley
Shelley was diagnosed with B-cell lymphoma in September of 2010 after finding a lump behind her ear. Testing showed she was in stage 3 and had a tumor in her large intestine. Her doctors went before the tumor board, where several other medical experts reviewed her options, to determine whether she should have surgery or chemotherapy. Approximately two weeks later she ended up having emergency open colon surgery and surgeons found another tumor blocking her small intestine.
Katie
Katie is a beautiful young girl who was diagnosed with T-cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia on January 24, 2015. Her cancer is particularly aggressive and presented with subtle signs such as lethargy, loss of appetite, and just a general change in personality. Her family took her to the ER just to find that she had masses in her lungs, liver and spleen.
Kelly
This is a photo of my best friend and I -- my Grandma Smiley and I. Grandma Smiley was first diagnosed with Llukemia in 2000. Until just recently she was still fighting, 15 years later.
My Grandma Smiley is the toughest person I know. I spent countless weekends with her, getting spoiled with her kindness. I'll never forget how she would always take me to Taco Bell for dinner, and we would watch TV while we ate - two things my parents would never let me do. And waking up at Grandma Smiley's always meant waking up to the best homemade waffles you'll ever have.
Bradley
I was diagnosed with mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) on February 13, 2017. I went to MD Anderson since I was already living in Houston, Texas. I was a pastor and counselor for 24 years. I was able to use my counseling skills with other patients as I was going through my inpatient treatment. I introduced patients to The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) and AFLAC, as well as provided a listening ear. My life was not without troubles. My brother took his life the same day as my diagnosis. After my first relapse, my wife of 24 years passed from stomach cancer in May 2019.
Miguel
Miguel was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin lymphoma in 2017. He was an active, healthy man all his life so this came as a total shock. We didn't know what to expect or what the outcome would be and we were both beyond devastated.
As being inquisitive is my nature, I gathered all the information I could and became extremely proactive in my husband's care and my determination to get him healed from this disease. Giving up was NOT an option for either of us.
Michele
Bald is beautiful. Words and looks can be truly powerful. Positivity can change one’s opinion and most important of all, people. Surround yourself with people that make you cry that you’re laughing so hard, that make you smile for no reason, and leave your heart whole.
Abby
In 2015, our identical twin daughters, Kenedi and Kendal, were diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia at three months old. After a brutal six months of living in isolation with them in one room at the hospital, the twins were released off treatment and in remission. We enjoyed 12 months of at home as a family of five, we were devastated to learn Kendal relapsed. She underwent two more rounds of intense chemo as well as a bone marrow transplant that ultimately failed, Kendal died in our arms in September 2017. One week later, Kenedi celebrated two years in remission.
Ryan
I am a 12 year survivor of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and was heavily involved with LLS when I was a patient going through treatment. I was a part of the Honored Hero program during elementary and middle school and would go speak and tell my story to schools in the Cincinnati Tri-State area with my mother.
Ryan
I am a cancer and bone marrow transplant survivor. In June 2013, at the end of my eighth grade, I was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia (AML). On top of that, it was the worst subtype of AML and my outlook was considered very grim.
Dane
I was diagnosed with stage 3 diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) in the summer before my senior year of high school in 2020. It was a tough adjustment dealing with the treatment and the aftereffects of treatment while going into my final year of high school. A relatively carefree life was upturned in an instant, and I was presented with new challenges of balancing my new condition with the social and educational challenges that the final year of high school posed.
Grace
I went to a simple doctor's appointment on October 27, and from that day on, my life flipped upside down. I was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) in October of 2021 right before Halloween. I planned to take a gap year after my high school graduation that year, but now I didn’t have a choice. At the beginning of treatment, everything was going well. Although this was all new to me and my mom, who was staying in the hospital with me where I lived for 41 days, I was doing well. I had hope. I had a few setbacks during my stay which caused me to be there longer.
Lo
I was diagnosed with stage 3 Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) in February 2022. I endured six months of chemotherapy and relied on my girlfriend to be my caregiver. I faced many setbacks including remaining neutropenic for the majority of my treatment. This meant staying home 24/7 despite going to the hospital and spending a lot of time online.
Dianne
When I was a little girl, I knew I wanted to be a nurse so I could help people. I did become a registered nurse, predominately in critical care settings. So, when you receive a disease diagnosis, you treat the problem…right? Not necessarily I have learned.
I was recently diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL). I felt as if I was tumbling down a dark, hot hole. “Not curable, treatable, lifelong”. This is “watch and wait” protocol diagnosis…an overwhelming concept…”watch and worry”, I was told, was another concept.
Tina
Today I am CELEBRATING!! AHHHHH, SO BLESSED!!! It’s been 20 years since my leukemia diagnosis! I am celebrating because of so many reasons!
Timothy
I am an awardee of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s (LLS) Scholarship for Blood Cancer Survivors. I currently hold an associate’s degree in science and am pursuing my bachelor's degree in biology at California State University, San Bernardino, (CSUSB). I am very grateful to be granted this scholarship to help pay for my tuition. In fact, this is the first scholarship I have ever been awarded during my education. These funds are a big stress reliever as it has provided me with the ability to avoid taking out a loan for school and given me peace of mind.
Blaine Davis
Everything happens for a reason, even cancer. I am thrilled to say I just walked out of the hospital doors at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center after receiving the news that I have achieved a complete and total REMISSION. Leukemia pushed me to death’s door more than once, and it taught me more than I could ever dream of knowing about myself and life in general.
Douglas
My story begins almost 24 years ago in 1996, when I was diagnosed with cancer, chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). Back then, there was no cure for CLL except for a bone marrow transplant (BMT), but that procedure only had a survival rate of 50%, not very attractive odds. My prognosis was I had anywhere from six to 15 years without a BMT.
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).
Nick
My former student, Nick K. was a previous honoree of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS). Diagnosed with a PNET brain tumor at age 4 and enduring two bouts of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) as a result in the years to follow, Nick was obviously a fighter!