Inspirational Stories

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. They removed both tumors and she ended up in the hospital for almost a month due to complications and infections from the surgery. A year later she was still having complications and the oncologist decided to proceed with chemotherapy. With the help and support of her family, she completed six cycles and about a week before Christmas learned she was in remission. She finished her last treatment in January 2012 and has been in remission ever since. The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society is focused on ensuring a world without blood cancer so that no one has to go through what Shelley has - not someday, but today.