Being diagnosed with a blood cancer can make you feel like you are alone. The Bloodline with LLS is here to remind you that after a diagnosis comes hope. Listen in as experts and patients guide listeners in understanding diagnosis, treatment, and resources available to blood cancer patients. Join Alicia Patten and Lizette Rivera from the Patient Access Education Team at The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society as they explore various survivorship topics.
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Recent Episodes
Dating with a Diagnosis: Merissa’s Story
Join Alicia and Lizette as they speak with a young adult and Stage II Hodgkin lymphoma survivor, Merissa Pemberton. Having just finished her master’s degree, started her first full-time job, and moved into her first apartment on her own, Merissa believed life was finally settling down. After receiving an alarming call while on vacation, Merissa shares how her boyfriend (now husband), Jake, served as a tremendous pillar of strength during one of the most challenging times of her life. She explains how Jake, who was also in medical school, helped to remind her of her beauty, the fighter she truly is and ensured her that cancer would not ruin their relationship. They decided to navigate this cancer journey together, celebrating ‘the little things’. Listen in as Merissa shares how having a relationship where both people know when and how to be each other’s support system is crucial, as well as noticing when the other person may feel bombarded. Merissa now volunteers for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society and is an active member in Pittsburgh’s Young Adult Cancer Support Group, known as YACS.
CLL: Risk Factors, Resources and Research
Join Alicia and Lizette from The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society as they speak with Dr. Ann LaCasce, Program Director of the Dana-Farber/ Partners CancerCare Fellowship, the largest hematology/oncology training program in the country. On this episode, Dr. LaCasce explains the difference between chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and small lymphocytic lymphoma (SLL), CLL and its connection with Agent Orange exposure, resources available for Veterans, current and emerging therapies, clinical trials and the importance of medication adherence. Dr. LaCasce shares her excitement for what is to come for CLL treatment and her appreciation for fellow providers around the world, who work to move science forward as they continue to learn from each other.
Support for this episode provided by Pharmacyclics.
Removing Mystery from Myeloma: Diagnosis & Treatment
Join Alicia and Shona from The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society as they speak with Dr. Racquel Innis-Shelton, Associate Professor of Medicine and Director of the University of Alabama Multiple Myeloma Clinic at the University of Alabama. This episode is the first of five that will be part of ‘Removing Mystery from Myeloma‘ series. On this episode, Dr. Innis-Shelton explains the difference between myeloma and multiple myeloma, risk factors that can affect someone’s chance of getting myeloma, signs and symptoms of myeloma, diagnosis and current and emerging treatments. Dr. Innis-Shelton also expounds on why it seems that myeloma seemingly takes longer to diagnosis and the role of ‘monoclonal gammopathy of unspecified significance’ (MGUS) within a myeloma patient. Dr. Innis-Shelton shares her concern for the low awareness of myeloma within the African-American population, especially with myeloma being the most common hematologic malignancy in African-Americans with twice the incidence of Caucasians. She strives to educate all patients about their myeloma diagnosis and stresses the importance of community and support along one’s cancer journey.
Be sure to look out for our other 4 episodes from this series in the upcoming months!
Support for this episode provided by Amgen and Takeda Oncology.
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Support for The Bloodline with LLS provided by Amgen, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Jazz Pharmaceuticals, Kite Pharmaceuticals, Pharmacyclics, Seattle Genetics, and Takeda Oncology.
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*The information contained in this podcast is for general information purposes only and is subject to change without notice. It is not intended to substitute the advice of your healthcare provider or information provided to you by your insurance carrier.
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