Search Results
Susanne
I am a four-time diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) survivor and a recent stem cell transplant (SCT) survivor. DLBCL is a type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL). My first diagnosis was in 2007, then 2012, 2013, and 2023. I received invaluable support financially from The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS). People often ask how I am so positive after all I've been through. I think we need to take whatever we are dealt and make the best of it each day. The key is a positive attitude, gratitude, and a strong support system.
Treatment for Indolent NHL Subtypes
Indolent non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) subtypes progress slowly. They make up about 40 percent of all NHL cases in the United States. Indolent subtypes include:
Lorna
I was diagnosed with Stage 4 NH large B-Cell primary hepatic lymphoma in April, 2013. I was told by my doctor that this was a very rare form of lymphoma with less than 200 cases in the US. I had surgery to remove 90% of the right lobe of my liver as the tumor was very large at 16cm (initially I was diagnosed with liver cancer until they removed the tumor and the pathology revealed that it was NH lymphoma).
Felicita
At age 38, I was a wife and mom of three active boys. I worked as a preschool teacher. My days were spent surrounded by children, even when I was not working. In the fall of 2018, I began feeling really tired and I was suffering from chronic back pain and abdominal pain. I also was losing a great deal of weight. Then one evening while stretching, I felt a large lump on the left side of my abdomen. I panicked and made an appointment with my primary care physician.
Lisa
I lost my big brother Vincent J. Di Cristo to two forms of cancer on February 14, 2014. He apparently had both high grade B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma as well as Burkitt lymphoma. I’m very confused as to how he could have had two different types of cancer because as far as I know, he was always in good health.
Treatment
Treatment for Hodgkin lymphoma is changing due to new drugs and research findings from clinical trials. Therefore, before treatment begins, it is important to consider getting a second opinion at a center with a Hodgkin lymphoma expert.
It's important that your doctor is experienced in treating patients with Hodgkin lymphoma or works in consultation with a Hodgkin lymphoma specialist. This type of specialist is called a hematologist-oncologist.
Lisa
I am a 26-year survivor of 4B Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) and a 21-year survivor of non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL).
I was 41 years old when I was first diagnosed, and I had three young children back then. Treatment was tough, but my husband was by my side every step of the way, and it made a big difference.
My hero is my dad. He was diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma in 1961 and battled the disease until 1969. He was 38, and I was only 14. Back then, they didn't have the drug regimens they have today, but they were working on getting it right.
Sahara
In August 2021, I was diagnosed with stage IV Hodgkin lymphoma (HL). I am now cancer-free. The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) helped me tremendously throughout my process. I had the privilege of raising money for LLS through an Instagram campaign by sharing my story online.
Joy
My mother, Joy, was diagnosed in 2015 with follicular lymphoma (FL) in her stomach. She went into remission after chemo treatment. Six months later, it came back, this time more aggressive and on the outside of her organs. They did CHOP chemo and then a bone marrow transplant. She went into remission for a second time. Eight months later, she wasn't feeling spectacular, so we took her back to the doctor. She was diagnosed with large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). The mass was in her uterus and had grown so fast and massive that it blasted through her bladder.
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.
Nicole
In the summer of 2016, I wasn't feeling like my usual energetic self and felt tired all the time. Initially, I attributed my tiredness to my busy life as a wife and mother with a full-time job outside the home. Some of my other symptoms were weight loss, night sweats, and a persistent feeling that something was always stuck in my throat.
Amber
I was diagnosed with stage 3 Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) right before my 27th birthday. I had just finished my Master’s degree and was engaged to get married the same year. I was a special education teacher and wasn’t sure what to do with the news.
Keith
Hi! My name is Keith. I’m currently 37 years old. I was diagnosed on November 6, 2015, with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). My wife, Tesia, was proudly serving in our finest Navy at the Pentagon when I received the news. She came home, and I had to deliver the news to her. It was rough; it was scary; it was a blur. I felt like I was on autopilot.
Matt
Meet Matt. Hodgkin Lymphoma Survivor. Goalkeeper of major league soccer's Columbus Crew. After donating blood when he was 17 years old, Matt learned he had Stage 4 Hodgkin lymphoma. While all of his friends were going off to college, Matt was going to chemotherapy. But thankfully, by September, 2007 Matt was cancer free. Today, Matt is doing all he can to help others with blood cancer.
Ally
I was diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) in October 2024 and began chemotherapy (my last is April 25). My best friend and I were supposed to run a half marathon together in March 2025, but due to my health, I had to skip it. She wound up fundraising through The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s (LLS) Team In Training (TNT) on my behalf and ran the NYC half marathon. Our next goal is to run the NYC marathon together!
Signs and Symptoms
The most common symptom of Hodgkin lymphoma is one or more enlarged (swollen) lymph nodes. The enlarged lymph node may be in the neck, upper chest, armpit, abdomen or groin. The swollen lymph node is usually painless.
Other signs and symptoms of Hodgkin lymphoma may include
Jeff
Meet Jeff. Follicular Lymphoma Survivor. During an annual physical, Jeff noticed a lump under his arm, and after a biopsy it was discovered that he had follicular lymphoma. Jeff learned that LLS was doing research in the area of his illness and also received important disease information from LLS. Jeff's wife talks about the innovative treatments that LLS is funding and how, as advancements take place, longevity for Jeff becomes more and more of a reality.
Tim
On March 10, 2015 I reached another milestone and turned 60 years young. I have been blessed with good health and the ability to swim, bike, and run. For over a decade I have been involved with The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) as a board member and participant in more than a dozen fundraising triathlons/marathons for Team In Training events all over the world. My efforts will continue until cures for blood-related cancers are realized.
Melanie
I beat stage 4 lymphoma last year after six months of aggressive chemotherapy. Honestly, I wasn't given much information from my centers, but The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) reached out to me to inform me about all the aid and grants they offer to help those going through cancer. Their representative stayed on the phone with me for over 40 minutes and was one of the most helpful people. When you're going through cancer with very little education, EVERYONE helps.
Steven
I have a rare blood cancer. It is Waldenstrom macroglobulinemia (WM), a type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL), but some doctors say it has the same characteristics as POEMS syndrome.
I have very painful neuropathy, and it affects my legs and feet to the point that some days I cannot walk.
I have a spinal cord stimulator with the battery implanted in my back.
I am thankful to The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) for my grants and all the other assistance, especially through this COVID pandemic.
Childhood and Adolescent Blood Cancer Facts and Statistics
Childhood and Adolescent Blood Cancers- An estimated 54,868 children and adolescents younger than 20 years in the US are living with or in remission from leukemia, lymphoma, myeloma, myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) or myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs).
- Leukemia is the most common cancer diagnosed in children and adolescents younger than 20 years and accounts for 25.4 percent of all cancer cases in this age-group.
- From 2016 to 2020, the most recent 5 years for which data are available, leukemia and lymphoma accounted for 38.4 percent of all cancer types in
Clinical Trials
Taking part in a clinical trial may be the best treatment choice for some Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) patients. Clinical trials are under way to develop treatments that increase the remission rate or cure the disease. Today's standard treatments for cancer are based on earlier clinical trials. The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society continues to invest funds in HL research.
Click here to read more about clinical trials.