The Bloodline with Blood Cancer United Podcast

Non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) can sound overwhelming, but what does it really mean for patients and families? In this episode, we speak to Dr. Jean Koff of Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University, who breaks down the big picture of NHL: what it is, how it’s an umbrella term for multiple subtypes, and what today’s treatments and tomorrow’s innovations could mean for you. From understanding subtypes and staging to exploring options like watchful waiting, chemotherapy, and cutting-edge immunotherapies, we cover what matters most: knowledge, clarity, and hope.

Mentioned on this episode: 

Additional Blood Cancer United Support Resources: 

Supported by AbbVie Inc. and Genentech, A Member of the Roche Group.

The post The Big Picture on Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma: Treatments, Trends, and Tomorrow first appeared on The Bloodline with Blood Cancer United Podcast.

In this episode, we’re joined by Dr. Marc Hoffmann from The University of Kansas Cancer Center, to explore chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL)—what it is, how it’s treated today, and where research is headed. Dr. Hoffmann shares insights on treatment goals, side effect management, and the importance of shared decision making. We also touch on emerging therapies—including CAR T-cell therapy and bispecifics—and end with a message of hope for those navigating life after a CLL diagnosis.

Mentioned on this episode: 

Additional LLS Support Resources: 

Supported by AbbVie Inc., BeOne Medicines and Genentech, A Member of the Roche Group.

The post Partnering in Care: Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL) first appeared on The Bloodline with Blood Cancer United Podcast.

Join us on a heartfelt journey woven by support and education, as we speak to Teresa Altemeyer, who was diagnosed with chronic lymphocytic leukemia in 2009. In this episode, Teresa shares her experience with CLL from diagnosis through long-term survivorship. On the advice of her doctor, she went out to live her life, and found herself supporting other blood cancer patients and survivors in doing the same. Despite her own physical and mental health struggles with this disease, she shares beautiful advice learned along the way.

Mentioned on this episode: 

Additional LLS Support Resources: 

Support for this episode provided by: AbbVie Inc.; BeiGene USA, Inc.; Genentech, Inc. & Biogen.

The post Live Your Life: Navigating Mental Health and Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL) first appeared on The Bloodline with Blood Cancer United Podcast.

Join us as we sit down with Dr. Deborah Stephens from the University of Utah, as we discover the latest breakthroughs in treating chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL).  We also gain valuable insights into enhancing patient’s quality of life.

In this episode, Dr. Stephens emphasizes the importance of effective communication with your healthcare team, unveiling strategies that not only optimize disease management, but also minimize the impact of side effects. Your path to empowered long-term care with CLL begins here.

Mentioned on this episode: 

Additional LLS Support Resources: 

Support for this episode provided by: AbbVie Inc.; BeiGene USA, Inc.; Genentech, Inc. & Biogen.

The post Empowering Lives: Advancements in Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia first appeared on The Bloodline with Blood Cancer United Podcast.

Join us as we speak to Heidi MacAlpine, a chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) patient and occupational therapist. In this episode, Heidi talks to us about her diagnosis of CLL and how she has utilized wellness techniques to reduce inflammation and maintain a good quality of life while on a watch and wait protocol. 

This episode will help patients, caregivers and healthcare professionals understand the benefits of adding wellness practices to conventional therapies, such as yoga, mindfulness, journaling, and massage, to decrease side effects and improve the life of patients following a cancer diagnosis. 

Mentioned on this episode: 

• Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL)
• Watch and Wait (Active Monitoring) protocol
• LLS Write It Out Journal
• Genetic predisposition to CLL
• National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health
• Patient-Doctor Perspectives: Shared Decision Making podcast episode
• Shared Decision Making in Chronic Leukemias interactive program
• American Association for Cancer Research
• Interleukin 8
• Caregiver support

Additional LLS Support Resources: 

• Information Specialists
• Financial support
• Free telephone/web patient programs 
• Free booklets 
• Patti Robinson Kaufmann First Connection Program
• Clinical Trial Support Center
• LLS Financial Assistance Program
• LLS Community 
• Online chats 
• Support groups 
• Caregiver Workbook
• Free Nutrition Consultations 
• LLS Advocacy
• Survivorship Workbook

Support for this episode provided by: BeiGene USA, Inc.; Bristol Myers Squibb; Genentech, Inc. & Biogen; Loxo Oncology at Lilly and Pharmacyclics, An AbbVie Company & Janssen Biotech.

The post Improving Quality of Life Through Wellness Practices first appeared on The Bloodline with Blood Cancer United Podcast.

Please join us as we speak to Dr. Matthew Davids of Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. In this episode, Dr. Davids discusses current treatments for chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and the exciting possibilities for the future using immunotherapies.

Dr. Davids shares how the goal of treatment is long term remission and quality of life. Since 2010, BTK Inhibitors, CAR T-cell therapy and other treatments have come on the market and have increased the possibilities for patients to live a long life with CLL.

Mentioned on this episode: 

• Chronic Lymphocyctic Leukemia (CLL)
• How CAR T Cell Therapy Gives Hope to Cancer Patients Podcast Episode
• CURE Magazine Article on CAR T and Young CLL Patients
• American Journal of Managed Care – CAR T cells persist
• Minimal/Measurable Residual Disease (MRD) Fact Sheet
• CAR T-cell Therapy
• CAR T-Cell Therapy Webinar
• How CAR T-Cell Therapy Works In Augmented Reality
• Stem Cell Transplant
• Allogeneic Stem Cell Transplant
• Autologous Stem Cell Transplant
• LLS COVID-19 Resources
• Clinical Trial Support Center
• The Bloodline Subscriber Lounge

Additional LLS Support Resources: 

• Information Specialists
• Financial support
• Free telephone/web patient programs 
• Patti Robinson Kaufmann First Connection Program
• Free booklets 
• Online chats 
• Caregiver support 
• Support groups 
• Free Nutrition Consultations 
• LLS Advocacy
• Survivorship Workbook

Support for this episode provided by BeiGene USA, Inc.; Bristol Myers Squibb; Genentech, Inc. & Biogen; Loxo Oncology at Lilly and Pharmacyclics, An AbbVie Company & Janssen Biotech, and Thomas D. Oxley Fund for CLL Patient Education and Support.

The post Achieving Long-term Remission with Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL) first appeared on The Bloodline with Blood Cancer United Podcast.

Join us as we speak with Donnie Hill, a chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) / small cell lymphocytic lymphoma (SLL) patient and his doctor, James Essell, MD, of Oncology Hematology Care, Inc. in Cincinnati, OH. In this episode, Donnie and Dr. Essell discuss the importance of shared decision making (SDM) and how they worked together to determine the best treatment course for Donnie’s CLL/SLL. Shared decision making is a key component of patient-centered healthcare that balances risks and expected outcomes with patient preferences and values. Be sure to tune into this real-world example of how SDM works and how patients can have open communication with their healthcare team.

Mentioned on this episode: 

• Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL)
• Small Cell Lymphocytic Lymphoma (SLL)
• Shared Decision Making Fact Sheet
• Shared Decision Making in Chronic Leukemias immersive program
• Anxiety and Hope: Living with Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL) podcast episode
• Minimal/Measurable Residual Disease
• Information Specialists

Additional LLS Support Resources: 

• Free telephone/web patient programs 
• Clinical Trial Support Center
• Free booklets 
• Financial support
• Online chats 
• Caregiver support 
• LLS Community 
• Support groups 
• Free Nutrition Consultations 
• LLS Advocacy
• LLS Myeloma Link

Support for this episode provided by AbbVie Inc. and Genentech, A Member of the Roche Group.

The post Patient-Doctor Perspectives: Shared Decision Making first appeared on The Bloodline with Blood Cancer United Podcast.

Join us as we speak to Donnie Hill, a patient living with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and small cell lymphocytic lymphoma (SLL). In this episode, Donnie shares his experience and the stresses of living with a chronic disease like CLL/SLL, the various treatments he has had since he was diagnosed in 2008 and how he has worked with his doctor to determine the best treatment for him. Don’t miss this engaging story of how, throughout his cancer journey, Donnie continues to celebrate life and hope with volunteering, advocacy and the love of his family.

Mentioned on this episode: 

• Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL)
• Small Cell Lymphocytic Lymphoma (SLL)
• Shared Decision Making in Chronic Leukemias
• Blood Cancer Conferences
• Light The Night
• Man and Woman of the Year
• Patti Robinson Kaufmann First Connection Program
• Information Specialists

Additional LLS Support Resources: 

• Free telephone/web patient programs 
• Clinical Trial Support Center
• Free booklets 
• Financial support
• Online chats 
• Caregiver support 
• LLS Community 
• Support groups 
• Free Nutrition Consultations 
• LLS Advocacy
• LLS Myeloma Link

Support for this episode provided by Eli Lilly.

The post Anxiety and Hope: Living with Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL) first appeared on The Bloodline with Blood Cancer United Podcast.

Join us in this next installment of our series, Patient-Doctor Perspectives, where we explore a diagnosis from the view of a patient and doctor. In this episode, we speak to Dr. Larry Saltzman, a Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL) survivor and physician researcher and Dr. Steven Coutre from Stanford Medicine. Dr. Larry shares his experience living with CLL, participating in LLS Team In Training events, and his current work with LLS studying patient outcomes and COVID-19 vaccine antibody response. Dr. Coutre then delves deeper into CLL treatments, responses to vaccines and what is on the horizon for new treatments and clinical trials. 

*Please note that this episode was recorded prior to the rise of the COVID Delta variant and release of booster shots. We encourage patients to consult with your physician regarding COVID-19 safety and vaccines. Preliminary results have also been released for the antibody study and can be found in the show notes below.

Mentioned on this episode:

• Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL)
• Small Cell Lymphocytic Lymphoma (SLL)
• CAR T-cell Therapy
• Minimal Residual Disease
• Team In Training
• Financial support
• Clinical Trial Support Center
• LLS Patient Registry
• Vaccines for Blood Cancer Patients
• LLS COVID-19 Antibody Research Study: Your Questions Answered

Additional LLS Support Resources:

• Information Specialists 
• Free telephone/web patient programs 
• Free booklets 
• Online chats 
• Caregiver support 
• LLS Community 
• Support groups 
• Patti Robinson Kaufmann First Connection Program 
• Free Nutrition Consultations 

Support for this episode provided by Genentech, Inc. & Biogen and Pharmacyclics, An AbbVie Company & Janssen Biotech.

The post Patient-Doctor Perspectives: CLL and a Decade of Transformation first appeared on The Bloodline with Blood Cancer United Podcast.

Join us as we speak to Dr. Caron Jacobson, an Assistant Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School and a lymphoma physician and researcher at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. In this episode, Dr. Jacobson shares about the use and benefits of CAR T-cell therapy in B-cell cancers, such as diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) and chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). You will hear about how CAR T-cell therapy works, why it is used for B-cell cancers and the benefits of joining a clinical trial for this type of treatment.

Mentioned on this episode:

• CAR T-cell Therapy
• Diffuse Large B-cell Lymphoma
• Mantle Cell Lymphoma
• Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia
• Immune Effector Cell Therapy Program – Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
• Clinical Trial Support Center

Additional LLS Support Resources:

• Information Specialists 
• Free telephone/web patient programs 
• Free booklets 
• Financial support – **Mantle Cell Lymphoma funding is OPEN** 
• Online chats 
• Caregiver support 
• LLS Community 
• Support groups 
• Patti Robinson Kaufmann First Connection Program 
• Free Nutrition Consultations 

Support for this episode provided by Allogene; Bristol Myers Squibb; CRISPR Therapeutics; Kite, a Gilead Company; Janssen Oncology & Legend Biotech; and Novartis Pharmaceuticals.

The post How CAR T-cell Therapy Gives Hope to Cancer Patients first appeared on The Bloodline with Blood Cancer United Podcast.