Search Results
Molly
Molly was just 2 years old when diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). We noticed a few petechiae on her back and went to see her pediatrician. Two days later she was having surgery to have a mediport placed and starting chemotherapy.
The first few months were horrible. She lost the ability to walk or even sit up due to the steroids she took daily. She was a zombie and didn't talk or smile. It was so sad to watch her so lifeless. Often times we cried and cried and felt helpless.
Rhonda
In 2012, I was diagnosed with stage 4 non-Hodgkin lymphoma. I had 10 rounds of radiation and six treatments of chemotherapy (R-Chop). It was a very rough journey, however, by the grace of God, the love of family, and of course, the wonderful doctors and advances in cancer treatments I persevered through.
Peter
I do not aspire to be a hero, I just want other patients to realize that any one of us can have a long life after receiving such a horrible diagnosis. Times may be difficult but anything is possible.
On September 5, 2015, I celebrated the 25th anniversary of my autologous bone marrow transplant for non-Hodgkin lymphoma that took place at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston. I want to thank my wife, children, and the many doctors, nurses, and technicians who treated me and continue to look after me in my senior citizen years.
Courtney
In 2007, I was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia. After a long and painful 2 year and 3 month treatment full of chemotherapy, a coma, IV's. etc., I finally finished treatment. Around 2008, I began working with LLS to share my story and since then, I have continued to share my story through different programs held by LLS. Throughout the last 11 years I have been with LLS, they not only helped countless people, but they have also treated me like family and have always asked me about my life and they truly care.
Myra
Over the course of Myra’s career in oncology nursing, she’s seen the hurdles that families face and heard from patients about the daily struggles to access the care they need to stay alive. Unfortunately, she is too familiar with patients who are forced to choose between life-saving treatment and going against a doctor’s recommended treatment plan simply because the cost is too high.
Ryan
I am a cancer and bone marrow transplant survivor. In June 2013, at the end of my eighth grade, I was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia (AML). On top of that, it was the worst subtype of AML and my outlook was considered very grim.
Jeremiah
In February 2018, my youngest twin (by three minutes), Jeremiah was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Our world and lives were turned upside down, to say the least.
As a single mother, I never felt or experienced pain like this in my entire life. It felt like everything was crashing around me. Jeremiah began treatment with chemotherapy at the Children’s Hospital.
Tom
I was diagnosed with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) in January 2023. I am very thankful for all the research that has led up to medications and treatments that I am able to benefit from today. God has a plan, and I feel a large aspect of that plan is bringing together those with needs and those with resources to help. It is so overwhelming to me to understand that there are those who support this wonderful research even though they don't have a name or face to tie it to. Through their generosity, people like me can continue living.
Adelaide
I was first diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) in September 2014 when I was six years old. I relapsed three additional times between 2014 and 2021. I had a bone marrow transplant in 2020 during COVID-19 and relapsed again six months after the transplant. In July 2021, I received huCART-meso cells at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP). Since that time, I have remained in remission.
Jaden
When I was nominated to be a Student Visionary of the Year, I had no idea how it would impact my life. I was allowed to join a groundbreaking philanthropic leadership development program for high school students. Throughout my courageous seven-week journey, I had a goal of creating a world without blood cancers. It was bigger than winning; it was about making a real impact on the world around me. I learned business marketing skills, used effective communication tools, and met with fellow change-makers in my local area. By the end of the campaign, I felt like a new person.
Stem Cell Transplantation
The goal of stem cell transplantation is to cure the patient’s cancer by destroying the cancer cells in the bone marrow with high doses of chemotherapy and then replacing them with new, healthy blood-forming stem cells. The healthy blood stem cells will grow and multiply forming new bone marrow and blood cells. There are two main types of stem cell transplantation. They are
Helping Siblings Cope
When a child is diagnosed with cancer, everyone in his or her family is affected by the experience, including the child's brothers and sisters. Siblings can feel angry, anxious, lonely or sad. They may even feel guilty for being healthy or for resenting the attention their sibling is getting. You can help your children cope with a sibling’s diagnosis in some of the following ways:
Cathy
I decided to call my cancer the “little c” rather than the “Big C.” I wasn't giving it that much power over my life!
Zeena
As an oblivious 14-year-old, I never imagined that I would soon go through the most difficult journey of my life. While on summer vacation with my family, we quickly realized I was not my energetic, joyous self. My favorite activities seemed like energy-draining tasks, and my large appetite had suddenly disappeared. The once quick trip up the stairs turned into a painful trek up a mountain and a walk down the street to a treacherous marathon with no end.
Matt
On February 2nd, 2019 my youngest daughter, Harper, was diagnosed with leukemia. Three and a half years later as I'm writing this I have a lump in my throat and tears in my eyes. Harper and our family are fortunate. She has great insurance, access to world class care, treatment options that are highly effective, and an amazing support network. That said she, and all cancer patients, must fight for their lives. I'll never forget spending the evening before her birthday in the emergency room with severe bone pain (a common side effect from her treatment).
Alicia
You never think it will happen to you until it does. Hearing the idea that you might have cancer was one of the darkest moments of my life. I was diagnosed with acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) in February 2023 at only 27 years old. I am a mom, a wife, a sister, a daughter, and a pediatric ICU nurse. I am used to taking care of patients on their worst days, but becoming a patient made a huge impact on me and made me a better nurse and advocate for patients/family/friends.
Blaine
Everything happens for a reason, even cancer. I am thrilled to say I just walked out of the hospital doors at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center after receiving the news that I have achieved a complete and total REMISSION. Leukemia pushed me to death’s door more than once, and it taught me more than I could ever dream of knowing about myself and life in general.
Mike
I was diagnosed with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) in December 2004 at stage 0 which was revealed through a routine yearly physical.
Heather
My name is Heather and I was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) +FLT3/ITD on December 14th, 2017. That morning I noticed I was extremely pale and I had large bruises over my body. My doctor ran blood work STAT and within an hour I knew my platelets were below 20 and I needed to rush to the ER. I was pretty near death at that time. I was in Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation (DIC), which has a pretty high mortality rate.
Douglas
My story begins almost 24 years ago in 1996, when I was diagnosed with cancer, chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). Back then, there was no cure for CLL except for a bone marrow transplant (BMT), but that procedure only had a survival rate of 50%, not very attractive odds. My prognosis was I had anywhere from six to 15 years without a BMT.
Grace
We were busy living our daily lives, and Grace had just celebrated her 9th birthday. She was involved in dance and was a normal kid, but cancer came on so quickly and knocked us down.
Will
In April 2021, as I was just starting to emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic, I started to feel unwell. I was suddenly very tired and could not finish a soccer match. My family and I decided to reach out to our family doctor and look into my fatigue; we were not worried at all. We attributed my symptoms to adolescence and growth, and so did our doctor at first.
Maverick
My son, Maverick, a vibrant and spirited young boy, faced a daunting challenge at just 20 months old. His journey began with alarming symptoms — relentless nosebleeds, unexplained bruises, and a petechial rash that spread rapidly. Within three days of the first symptom, he was diagnosed with B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL) on July 14, 2022. It was like we found the first symptom on day one, and by day three, he had a cancer diagnosis.
Kelly
This is a photo of my best friend and I -- my Grandma Smiley and I. Grandma Smiley was first diagnosed with Llukemia in 2000. Until just recently she was still fighting, 15 years later.
My Grandma Smiley is the toughest person I know. I spent countless weekends with her, getting spoiled with her kindness. I'll never forget how she would always take me to Taco Bell for dinner, and we would watch TV while we ate - two things my parents would never let me do. And waking up at Grandma Smiley's always meant waking up to the best homemade waffles you'll ever have.