Search Results

Carlos

I was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) in June 2021 in Puerto Rico. I was introduced by a hospital social worker to The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) for educational resources for patients and caregivers. My stem cell transplant was performed at Auxilio Mutuo Hospital in 2022. After applying for financial help from the LLS, I received help from several programs. LLS provided valuable educational materials that helped me to understand the condition and to make informed decisions. I am now 19 months post-transplant and in remission.

Sherri

It all happened 23 years ago. I had gone to my primary care physician (PCP) for an earache, then showed him the moveable lump on the left side of my neck. After I was diagnosed with stage 3 T-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL), I lost my hair halfway through doing CHOP chemotherapy, and then two weeks later, I did radiation daily while working nights. I've been volunteering with my local Relay For Life. I also carried the banner. This year I did the 1K Gleaux Fun Run/Walk in honor of people living and deceased.

Matthew

Matthew was diagnosed with Burkitt's Lymphoma and Leukemia in November 2008 at just two years old. After long and difficult chemotherapy treatments, Matthew achieved remission. He is now part of The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia survivorship program. Matthew finds time for his hobbies like making crafts and running make-believe restaurants and stores. He also stays busy playing baseball, swimming, and basketball. Matthew also enjoys looking for treasure in his backyard. When he grows up, Matthew wants to be a teacher or a restaurant owner because he loves people.

Lab and Imaging Tests

Doctors use several different lab and imaging tests to help detect (diagnose) a blood cancer (leukemia, lymphoma, myeloma, myelodysplastic syndromes or myeloproliferative disease). You may need to undergo additional tests to confirm your diagnosis.

Once your diagnosis is confirmed, your doctor may need to test you for certain genetic, cellular or molecular characteristics that will help him or her treat your specific diagnosis.

Your doctor considers these test results along with information from your physical examination and detailed medical history to:

What to Tell Your Child

Regardless of age, children are usually aware when their health causes their parents concern. Your child may experience a variety of emotions, such as anger, guilt, fear, anxiety and sadness, all in quick succession. Sometimes parents wish to shield their child from information about the illness and its treatment. Keep in mind that your child will use his or her imagination to fill in perceived gaps of information. Talk with your child about the illness and its treatment. Listen carefully to what your child is saying (or not saying) and then answer his or her questions.

Sarah

My name is Sarah and I am a six-year Hodgkin’s lymphoma survivor. I’m extremely honored to not only be in attendance today but to also share my story. My world came crashing down July 2013. Like so many other patients, I had been diagnosed with frequent upper respiratory infections, asthma, bronchitis, pneumonia, and pleurisy prior to my diagnosis. I just so happened to discover a “swollen” area on my left collar bone one morning at work. It didn’t hurt, and it was kind of soft. It caught me off guard, so I made an appointment with my PCP.

Nikki

I was diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) about a month and a half ago at the age of 26. This was my first year out of nursing school; I had just landed my dream job, and I was in the midst of planning my wedding. This was supposed to be “my year” to enjoy my 20s finally. Getting diagnosed was a huge shock to me, my friends, and my family. I will be transparent and say the hardest part so far is navigating the financial hardships.

Kemal

On July 4, 2014, I noticed a large lump on the side of my neck when it didn't go away after a couple of weeks. I went to see my doctor at the University of Illinois at Chicago and had a biopsy done. It was non-Hodgkin lymphoma.

After admitting myself into the hospital for a week of chemo I was allowed to go home and rest for three weeks only to go back and check in again for another week. We did that six times for a total of 700 hours of chemo. Thanks to a great staff at UIC with the help of Dr David Peace, I am cancer free today, one year later. You can beat it too!

Follow-Up Care

Click here for information about follow-up care, including what to expect, long-term and late effects of treatment, survivorship clinics, and other resources such as The National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) treatment guidelines.

• Download or order The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's factsheet Hairy Cell Leukemia 

Follow-Up Care

Click here for information about follow-up care, including what to expect, long-term and late effects of treatment, survivorship clinics, and other resources such as The National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) treatment guidelines.

• Download or order The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s free booklet, Myeloproliferative Neoplasms.

Follow-Up Care

Click here for information about follow-up care, including what to expect, long-term and late effects of treatment, survivorship clinics, and other resources such as The National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) treatment guidelines.

• Download or order The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s free booklet, Myeloproliferative Neoplasms.

Follow-Up Care

Click here for information about follow-up care, including what to expect, long-term and late effects of treatment, survivorship clinics, and other resources such as The National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) treatment guidelines.

• Download or order The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s free booklet, Myeloproliferative Neoplasms.

Chemotherapy and Drug Therapy

Treatment of CLL is started when symptoms develop that are associated with active disease. Before starting treatment, it is important to have another FISH test to see if there are any changes to the genes and/or chromosomes of the CLL cells. 

Reduced-Intensity Allogeneic Stem Cell Transplantation

Reduced-intensity allogeneic stem cell transplantation (sometimes called mini-transplant or nonmyeloablative transplant), like a standard allogeneic stem cell transplantation, uses stem cells from a donor, but the conditioning treatment contains lower, less toxic doses of chemotherapy and radiation. This type of SCT may be an option for certain patients who are older or who are otherwise not healthy enough or strong enough to undergo standard allogeneic SCT.

Jenna

Keisha

In 2017, I was diagnosed with a rare and chronic form of non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL). I was beyond devastated as I knew there was no cure for my condition, and I also knew my life would be altered in many ways. I was also finishing my last semester in graduate school and almost gave up my dream of graduating. But with the support of my family, school, physicians, and The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS), I persisted and received my Master of Education in 2018.

Brooke

In September 2014, just shy of four months after college graduation, I was blindsided sitting in the emergency room at Duke Hospital.

Pamela

In the fall of 2009, I rushed my wife, Pam Lewis, to the first of six emergency room visits.  As with all of the visits, she was in such acute pain she could not answer the admitting questions coherently.  She screamed in pain and scared several nurses in the process.  My wife had always had a high threshold of pain, so her screams scared me also.

Lynette

It all started with a race...  I began running back in 2011 with the sole purpose of losing weight.  I joined a running group and became interested in races, specifically the Nike Women's Half Marathon.

Lauryn

After visiting Fiesta Texas on July 11, Lauryn complained about pain in her lower right leg. She had been complaining of pain and swelling in her lower right leg since April when she accidentally caught her leg in the car door. We took her to an orthopedic urgent care center when she continued to complain of pain while she was walking. After x-rays did not show a fracture, she continued to have a bump on her lower leg and the pain increased over time. I took her back to the orthopedic urgent care on July 12. The same P.A.

Beth

Shortly after Thanksgiving of 2008, I started feeling sick and extremely weak. By late January of 2009, I was diagnosed with stage IV aggressive Burkitt’s lymphoma.

Alyssa

In March 2017, after not feeling well for over a year,  Alyssa was diagnosed with histiocytosis disease. Even though she wasn’t feeling her best, she graduated that year with National Honor Society honors and received a scholarship from Valparasio University. She was excited to go to college and fulfill her dream of going into the medical field. But her plans changed when she developed a high fever while on family vacation that summer.

Jennifer

In 1985, 10-year-old Jennifer took to the stage to accept The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s (LLS) “Employee of the Year” award for her mother, Teresa McVay, who had lost her battle against chronic myelogenous leukemia earlier that year. That was Jennifer’s first time speaking on stage, but it would not be her last. Driven by her mother’s traumatic passing, Jennifer has been a public speaker on Adverse Childhood Events (ACEs), sharing her own experience with loss in order to bring awareness to the cause.

Paul

In 2001, I described my health as excellent. I had a great job, was very physically active, and participated in a number of nonprofit activities. However, I very occasionally experienced extreme abdominal cramps that caused nausea and curling into a fetal position for approximately five hours. Doctors were perplexed, though suspected gallstones.

Jaden

My name is Jaden, and I am an 18-year-old Political Science student at Penn State University. I have been deeply involved with The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) since I was 10 years old, a journey that began with a profound personal experience.