Join us as we speak to lymphoma patient, Leona, her husband and caregiver, Howell, and Tia Newcomer, the CEO of CaringBridge®. In this episode, Leona and Howell discuss the benefits of utilizing patient and caregiver support resources like the online journaling site, CaringBridge, to communicate with loved ones after Leona’s diagnosis. They were comforted that the site also afforded the opportunity for family members and friends to engage and give them support.

Tia then shares the mission of CaringBridge and how it has evolved into a community of over one million pages where patients and caregivers communicate their updates and needs with family members from diagnosis through survivorship.

Mentioned on this episode: 

• CaringBridge®
• Diffuse Large B Lymphoma
• MealTrain
• Write for Life: Persisting in Online Health Communities through Expressive Writing and Social Support
• Caregiver support 
• Caregiver Workbook

Additional LLS Support Resources: 

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

The post Engaging with Loved Ones: A CaringBridge Story first appeared on The Bloodline with LLS.

Join us as we speak to John Falco, who was diagnosed with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) in 2019 and then later diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) in his brain in 2021. This incredibly rare second diagnosis changed the course of John’s treatment and thankfully led to him achieving a complete remission after a stem cell transplant.

As a young adult professional, John was at the heart of his career at the time of his diagnosis and felt the pressure to return to normal, which meant returning to work quickly. He shares advice with other young adult cancer patients to slow down and enjoy life, while also listening to your body and advocating for yourself.

Mentioned on this episode: 

• Chronic Myeloid Leukemia
• Acute Myeloid Leukemia
• Stem Cell Transplant
• Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors (TKIs)
• Be The Match – Bone Marrow Donor Registry
• Let’s Talk About Stem Cell Transplantation: Benefits and Side Effects podcast episode
• Tips about Talking to Your Employer 
• Light The Night event

Additional LLS Support Resources: 

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

The post A Young Adult’s Journey Through Two Leukemia Diagnoses first appeared on The Bloodline with LLS.

Join us as we speak to Dr. Anand Patel and Dr. Satyajit Kosuri from The University of Chicago Medicine about the latest treatment advances for myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS). In honor of MDS Awareness Day on October 25th, the doctors discuss how MDS develops, why genetic mutations matter when choosing a treatment course, and how stem cell transplantation, targeted treatments and cellular therapies bring hope to MDS patients and their families.

Mentioned on this episode: 

• Myelodysplastic syndromes
• Acute Myeloid Leukemia
• Transplant Support and Graft-Versus-Host-Disease (GVHD) episode
• Patient-Doctor Perspectives: Hereditary Myelodysplastic Syndromes (MDS)
• Transplant Optimization Program (TOP)
• MyeloMATCH initiative
• CAR T-cell Therapy
• Stem Cell Transplant
• Cellular Therapies
• Graft-Vs-Host Disease
• Be The Match – Bone Marrow Donor Registry

Additional LLS Support Resources: 

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

Support for this episode is provided by University of Chicago Medicine.

The post Instilling Hope Through Progress: Myelodysplastic Syndromes (MDS) first appeared on The Bloodline with LLS.

Don’t miss this story of a patient who refuses to let cancer define his life.  

Join us as we speak to Bruce Rieder, who was diagnosed in 2019 with mantle cell lymphoma (MCL), a type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma. In this episode, Bruce shares about his diagnosis and subsequent search for a clinical trial. He connected with the LLS Clinical Trial Support Center, sought out a second opinion and ended up with a specialist in a nearby cancer center. He received a stem cell transplant in February 2020, right before the world shut down due to COVID.  

Now, two years after his transplant, Bruce stays active in the LLS Community and has received support from the Patti Robinson Kauffman First Connection® program.

Mentioned on this episode: 

• Mantle Cell Lymphoma
• Mantle Cell Lymphoma (MCL) Part One: Treatment Advances episode
• Mantle Cell Lymphoma (MCL) Part Two: CAR T-Cell Therapy episode
• Stem Cell Transplant
• Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma
• COVID Information
• Patti Robinson Kaufmann First Connection Program
• Clinical Trial Support Center
• LLS Community 

Additional LLS Support Resources: 

• Information Specialists
• Financial support
• Free telephone/web patient programs 
• Free booklets 
• LLS Public Policy & Advocacy
• Online chats 
• Caregiver support 
• Support groups 
• Free Nutrition Consultations 
• LLS Advocacy
• Survivorship Workbook

Support for this episode provided by Bristol Myers Squibb, Eli Lilly and Company, Genentech, Inc. & Biogen, and Merck & Co., Inc.

The post Cancer Doesn’t Define My Life: A Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma Story first appeared on The Bloodline with LLS.

Please join us for a brand new series called, Community Outreach In The Field, where our field correspondents, comprised of LLS Staff, will be interviewing health advocates, patients, caregivers and healthcare professionals in the communities in which they serve. These episodes will give the listener the feel that they are right in the middle of the action.

In the first episode, Bryon Daily, the National Community Outreach Manager for LLS’ Myeloma Link Program, explored one of the newest outreach settings called Blood and Chess. This chess event took place in Atlanta, Georgia, at The Anguished Barber and is designed as an off shoot of the barbershop model, where advocates can spread blood cancer awareness in comfortable community settings and help to decrease healthcare disparities of underserved communities.

Mentioned on this episode: 

Additional LLS Support Resources: 

Support for this episode provided by Genentech, Inc. and Biogen

The post Community Outreach In The Field: Blood and Chess Atlanta first appeared on The Bloodline with LLS.

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 LLS.

Please join us for our second live episode from CancerCon®, a young adult cancer conference presented by Stupid Cancer®. In this episode, we’ll be speaking with experts who discussed survivorship planning, imposter syndrome, and developing a growth mindset.

Cancer patients and survivors of all ages, whether newly diagnosed, in treatment or post-treatment, can benefit from hearing from these experts.

Be sure to tune into the previous episode from CancerCon, where we hear from young adult cancer patients and survivors on what the word, “survivorship” means to them and how that meaning may have changed throughout their cancer experience.

Mentioned on this episode: 

• Survivorship Definition – National Cancer Institute
• Survivorship Workbook
• Young Adult Online Chat
• Young Adult Resources
• Stupid Cancer®
• National Cancer Institute Cancer Centers
• Grow Into Greatness
• First Descents®

Additional LLS Support Resources: 

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

The post LIVE! at CancerCon: Navigating Young Adult Cancer first appeared on The Bloodline with LLS.

Please join us for this special episode live from CancerCon®, a young adult cancer conference presented by Stupid Cancer®. In this episode, we’ll be speaking with patients and survivors about what the word, “survivorship” means to them.

We found the responses to this question can vary from patient to patient and even change once treatment ends. We hope that through their words, listeners will find a sense of connection and evaluate their own meaning of survivorship.

Be sure to stay tuned for the next episode from CancerCon, where we will be hearing from experts who presented on various aspects of survivorship, such as the growth mindset, creating a survivorship plan, and imposter syndrome.

Mentioned on this episode: 

• Survivorship Definition – National Cancer Institute
• Survivorship Workbook
• Young Adult Online Chat
• Stupid Cancer
• LLS Dare to Dream
• Stem Cell Transplant
• Be The Match
• Armenian Bone Marrow Registry

Additional LLS Support Resources: 

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

The post LIVE! At CancerCon: A Journey Through Survivorship first appeared on The Bloodline with LLS.

Please join us as we speak to Dr. Shernan Holtan and guest co-host from LLS, Christina Neilsen. In this episode, Dr. Holtan discusses stem cell transplants; how they work, the different types of transplants, and the side effects, including graft-vs-host disease (GVHD).

Dr. Holtan shares exciting new research on reducing GVHD and provides blood cancer patients with hope as transplantations continue to improve and bring about potential cures.

Mentioned on this episode: 

• Stem Cell Transplant
• Allogeneic Stem Cell Transplant
• Autologous Stem Cell Transplant
• Graft-verses-Host Disease Fact Sheet
• CAR T-cell Therapy
• Clinical Trial Support Center
• Hope Lodge
• Posttransplant Cyclophosphamide
• Be The Match

Additional LLS Support Resources: 

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

The post Let’s Talk About Stem Cell Transplantation: Benefits and Side Effects first appeared on The Bloodline with LLS.

Please join us as we speak to Dr. John Leonard of Weill Cornell Medicine. In this episode, Dr. Leonard discusses the broad array of immunotherapy treatments, in which a patient’s own immune system is stimulated to fight cancer cells.

From CAR T-cell therapy to monoclonal antibodies to new bispecific therapies, Dr. Leonard shares how these immunotherapies are changing the landscape of cancer treatment and giving hope to more blood cancer patients.

Mentioned on this episode: 

• Immunotherapies for Blood Cancer
• 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
• Diagnosed with Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma. Now What? Podcast episode
• Clinical Trial Support Center

Additional LLS Support Resources: 

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

The post Immune System To The Rescue: Immunotherapies In Blood Cancer first appeared on The Bloodline with LLS.