Search Results
Miriam
I was extremely fatigued. I suspected that I had leukemia since I knew a lot about cancer. I saw my primary care doctor and described how bad I felt and my suspicion. He immediately ran blood tests and then referred me to a hematologist oncologist.
Flavio
On November 8, 2023, our world changed forever when my husband Flavio was diagnosed with B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL). What began as a normal recovery from Achilles tendon surgery quickly spiraled into something far more serious. It started with comments about how pale his skin had become, a sign we now realize was the first red flag. I also noticed unusual bruising on his back, but it was dismissed by the surgeon. After several more concerning moments where Flavio was left weak and exhausted from even simple tasks, we decided to get routine bloodwork done.
Lynn
My wife, Lynn Lancour, spent endless time and resources organizing a bicycle trip from San Diego to St. Augustine, approximately 3,000 miles, to raise funds and awareness for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS).
Stefani
I was experiencing a really bad sore throat for at least a month. It would come and go. No meds or steroid shots about the fourth week helped. I attended a breast cancer event at my family’s restaurant. I was feeling bad, literally in tears and in lots of pain. My mother took me to the nearest hospital immediately after. On October 10, 2021, my life as a newly single mom changed forever. I was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia (AML). I was devastated. My kids can’t live without me. We immediately went straight into intense chemo and attacked this beast.
Chris
Chris is a retired Army colonel. He graduated from Temple University and set into life at home with his family when he was diagnosed with a hernia. In the process of preparing for healing, he was told the hernia was no longer his challenge as he had a rare form of leukemia. The battle was on long after the battlefield, and as a chemist, he knew like any soldier does that tomorrow is not promised. But courage, teamwork, a battle plan, family love, and a foundation built on research and millions of man-and-woman-hours showed that the light at the end of the tunnel was a bright shining star.
Kamal
Most Capital Region 16-year-olds are well into the routine of the school year by now. But Kamal Havercombe hasn’t started his junior year at Albany High School. He hasn’t set foot in a classroom yet. Instead, he has been in and out of the hospital getting multiple blood transfusions, fighting fevers as high as 108 degrees and undergoing chemotherapy sessions that leave him weak and sickened.
Kimberly
When my husband, NFL linebacker Elijah, was diagnosed with multiple myeloma in 2005, shortly after retiring from the Oakland Raiders, we were stunned. Neither of us had ever heard of it.
Life with multiple myeloma became an instant roller coaster. As his caregiver I knew it was my job to learn as much as possible about what we were facing, while trying to keep things normal for our two young sons.
Monica
Monica was learning how to be a new mom to a six-month-old baby when her night sweats got worse and worse. She also seemed to have a cough that would not go away. It turns out that her symptoms were not due to the daycare bugs her daughter brought home. In April 2017, she was diagnosed with non-Hodgkins lymphoma. Her clinical care team discovered a malignant 5 inch mass in her chest near her heart.
Michele
Michele decided she wanted to volunteer with The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society (LLS) because she herself and millions of others have been impacted by cancer. Both of Michele’s parents passed away from cancer and during that time, a lot of people were there for them. She knows how important that was for her and her family.
Annais
My name is Annais. I am now five years old, and I will be one year in remission from acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) this September 1st.
Christine
Back in 2019, I was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and was only given two weeks to live. I stayed the entire month in the hospital undergoing chemotherapy every day and blood transfusions. When I was released from the hospital at the end of August 2019, the doctor said I needed to do chemotherapy every day for nine months, and I would not be able to work. I asked the doctor, "May I work from home?
JoLeen
Ten years ago, at just 29, I was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) while being a mother to my 3-year-old daughter. After 83 days in the hospital, countless rounds of chemo, and losing hope when my family wasn't a match for a bone marrow transplant, a miracle happened ― a donor match was found.
MaKayla
I am the mother of MaKayla. MaKayla found out on September 21, 2023, that she had acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). She was admitted to St. Francis Hospital in Greenwood, Indiana. During the next three and a half months, MaKayla underwent treatment and several procedures. I cannot begin to explain the faith and strength my daughter had during this process. The oncologists, nurses, and staff were tremendous. We couldn't have asked for better care for her than what we were given.
Follow-Up Care
Follow-up care is important with both aggressive and indolent forms of NHL because if the disease recurs, curative options are still available for many people. Follow-up care needs to be individualized and should be based on several factors, including how the disease initially manifested. Patients who are in remission should continue to be monitored by clinical assessment as determined by their doctor. In the past, computed tomography (CT) scans or other diagnostic imaging were done routinely in an attempt to detect relapse.
Relapsed and Refractory
Most patients with classical HL are cured by their initial (first-line) treatment. However, in a significant percentage of patients—especially those with advanced stage HL—the disease relapses or is refractory.
- Relapse means the disease comes back after a remission following treatment.
- Refractory means the disease has not responded to treatment.
For these patients, HL is still potentially curable.
Side Effects
The main goal of treatment for myeloma is to get rid of myeloma cells. The term side effect is used to describe how treatment affects healthy cells. Patients react to treatments in different ways. Sometimes there are very mild side effects. Other side effects may be serious and last a long time.
Myeloma patients should talk with their doctors about side effects before they begin any type of treatment. There are drugs and other therapies can prevent or manage many side effects.
Prognostic Factors
Prognosis is the likely outcome of a disease along with the chance of recovery or recurrence. Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) cases are generally classified into the three subgroups described below.
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
Bryant
Bryant, age five, was diagnosed with Pre-B Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia in April 2014. At the time of his diagnosis he was the typical 3-year-old, who loved to say “NO.” As an independent guy, who wants to make all decisions, he didn’t have many choices for the first few months of treatment. He began his treatment with an intense 8 month protocol. With the many ups and downs chemotherapy brings, he had to also fight a serious kidney infection. After the initial 8 months Bryant moved onto a maintenance program, which began in January of 2015.
Chelsea
Initially, I joked with my boss at work about the lymph node swelling in my neck and about taking another sick day off. I finally decided to see my primary care physician about it, who is typically very jovial. That day he wasn't joking much and referred me to a local ENT. Every test and scan from that first opinion pointed to a malignancy. I was in deep denial about being diagnosed with cancer, even after my second opinion at Dana Farber Cancer Institute in Boston when the nurse asked if I wanted a snack.
Marisa
Throughout my father’s journey, I was impressed by his care team, the advanced medicine used to treat blood cancer today, the individuals I met, people’s generosity, and the organizations I was introduced to. This journey opened my eyes to various organizations such as Be the Match and The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS).
Jade
Last year in June of 2021, I was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) at the age of 24. This diagnosis came as a complete shock to my family and me! My symptoms included extreme fatigue, migraines, bruising, nose bleeds, and radiating leg pains. All these symptoms came and went, and I never would've imagined it would be cancer. I attributed my symptoms to the stress from work. With sitting all day and staring at my computer screen, I never really thought much of it.
Ilustre
Just like many Filipinos, my beloved grandpa said “YES” to the U.S. Navy to provide for his poor family in the Philippines. He gave his all, and no matter the circumstances, he stayed strong. My grandpa was a warrior with a golden heart.
From open heart surgery to prostate cancer and acute myeloid leukemia (AML), he fought for his life until his very last breath.
He has instilled in me leadership, hard work, and love. There was never a time he wasn’t there for me at my pageants, birthdays, or award ceremonies.