In this episode, we speak with Dianne Callahan, four-time cancer survivor, best-selling author, speaker, and patient advocate. Dianne shares her experiences with non-Hodgkin lymphoma and breast cancer, stem cell transplant, and survivorship while highlighting the importance of advocacy, joy, and intention in life after diagnosis. From her work with fundraising campaigns to legislative advocacy on Capitol Hill, Dianne offers inspiring insights on resilience, hope, and the power of living intentionally.

Mentioned on this episode: 

Additional LLS Support Resources: 

Supported by Genentech, A Member of the Roche Group.

The post Joy, Hope, and Healing Beyond a Cancer Diagnosis first appeared on The Bloodline With Blood Cancer United Podcast.

In this episode, we speak with Dianne Callahan, four-time cancer survivor, best-selling author, speaker, and patient advocate. Dianne shares her experiences with non-Hodgkin lymphoma and breast cancer, stem cell transplant, and survivorship while highlighting the importance of advocacy, joy, and intention in life after diagnosis. From her work with fundraising campaigns to legislative advocacy on Capitol Hill, Dianne offers inspiring insights on resilience, hope, and the power of living intentionally.

Mentioned on this episode: 

Additional LLS Support Resources: 

Supported by Genentech, A Member of the Roche Group.

The post Joy, Hope, and Healing Beyond a Cancer Diagnosis first appeared on The Bloodline with LLS.

The cancer experience isn’t just physical—it’s deeply emotional.

Join us for this special episode recorded onsite while filming our SHARE Project video series, exploring emotional well-being in cancer survivorship. Listen in as four blood cancer survivors share how their diagnoses impacted their mental health and what helped them cope. Key Opinion Leader, psychotherapist Julie Larson, LCSW, then joins us to discuss signs of emotional distress, the role of therapy, and how resilience and support can shape the healing journey.

Mentioned on this episode: 

Additional LLS Support Resources: 

The post LIVE! At SHARE: Emotional Wellness in Survivorship first appeared on The Bloodline With Blood Cancer United Podcast.

Exercise, or simply moving the body, can be an important part of cancer recovery, both physically and emotionally. In this episode, Dr. Shernan Holtan of Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center and blood cancer survivors, Paul Rothweiler and Joe Grey, share about a clinical trial they developed to introduce a personalized strength training program to patients and caregivers.

Dr. Holtan highlights the benefits of strength training for all patients, while Paul and Joe share how exercise has aided their physical and emotional recovery during and after their treatments. For patients and survivors who may be fearful or nervous about starting an exercise program, this episode is for you!

Mentioned on this episode: 

Additional LLS Support Resources: 

Support for this episode is provided by Genentech, a member of the Roche Group.

The post Exercise and Cancer: Celebration That You CAN first appeared on The Bloodline With Blood Cancer United Podcast.

For patients with chronic blood cancers, such as Waldenström Macroglobulinemia (WM), quality of life is a main priority. Physical and emotional side effects of the disease or treatment may present several challenges for patients and caregivers.  

In this episode, we were onsite at the International Waldenström‘s Macroglobulinemia Foundation’s 2024 IWMF Educational Forum in Renton, WA.  Elissa met with experts who discussed how integrative oncology, wellness, mental health, and peripheral neuropathy affects WM patients and their caregivers.

While this episode focuses on WM, the topics discussed are relevant to all types of cancer. We encourage you to listen and learn! 

Mentioned on this episode: 

Additional LLS Support Resources: 

The post LIVE! At IWMF: Living with Waldenström Macroglobulinemia 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.

When adolescents and young adults (AYA) are diagnosed with cancer, they face unique challenges that aren’t seen as frequently in other age groups.  Healthcare and nonprofit professionals around the world are listening to patients and researching these issues to improve quality of life during and after treatment.

In this episode, we are taking you onsite to the 5th Annual Global Adolescent and Young Adult Cancer Congress in Long Beach, CA. Elissa met with experts who discussed mental health, the resiliency of AYA patients when facing uncertainty, healthcare transitions and disparities, and how patients can advocate for their care. 

Mentioned on this episode: 

Additional LLS Support Resources: 

The post The Bloodline Live: Emphasizing the Patient Voice in Young Adult Cancer Care first appeared on The Bloodline With Blood Cancer United Podcast.

Join us as we hear two different perspectives from people living with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML); Tim Sohn, a 16-year survivor and Becky Dame, a 32-year survivor. In this episode, we hear how CML treatment has changed since 1991, when Becky was diagnosed. Becky had a difficult journey through cycles of relapse, transplant, and remission, while Tim shares his experience using newer therapies. Both share their stories and how CML has impacted their lives.

Both Tim and Becky have worked to build and maintain a good quality of life and have used their experiences to help others in the cancer community and find connection.

Mentioned on this episode: 

• Chronic Myeloid Leukemia (CML)
• Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors (TKIs)
• Leukapheresis
• Stem Cell Transplant
• Donor Lymphocyte Infusion (DLI)
• Graft-Vs-Host-Disease (GVHD)
• Showing Up: Perspectives On Cancer Show
• Perspectives On Cancer Book
• PodcastNotPodcast: Tim Sohn. Leukemia and Livestreaming.
• Information Specialists 
• Caregiver support 

Additional LLS Support Resources: 

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

Support for this episode provided by: Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation.

The post Perspectives on Quality of Life: Chronic Myeloid Leukemia (CML) first appeared on The Bloodline With Blood Cancer United Podcast.

Please join us as we speak to Howard Willens, a chronic myelomonocytic leukemia (CMML) patient. In this episode, Howard shares how he was diagnosed with this rare blood cancer. He shares how patient support groups have assisted him, and how he no longer feels alone. His story encourages CMML patients to focus on stability and the present, while living their lives to the fullest.

Mentioned on this episode: 

• Chronic Myelomonocytic Leukemia (CMML)
• CMML Fact Sheet
• Stem Cell Transplant
• Myelodysplastic Syndromes (MDS)
• Myeloproliferative Neoplasms (MPNs)
• Mental Health Resources
• LLS Community 
• CMML Friends on Facebook

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
• Clinical Trial Support Center
• Online chats 
• Caregiver support 
• Support groups 
• Free Nutrition Consultations 
• LLS Advocacy
• Survivorship Workbook

Support for this episode provided by Taiho Oncology.

The post Support and Stability: Living with CMML first appeared on The Bloodline With Blood Cancer United Podcast.

Join us as we speak to Damion Davis, a myeloma patient and licensed professional counselor. In this episode, Damion talks about his myeloma diagnosis and how he reached remission after a stem cell transplant. Dealing with the difficulty of a cancer diagnosis as a husband and father of young daughters, Damion knew the benefits that therapy would provide for him and his family. In honor of Mental Health Awareness Month in May, we share his story of resilience, highlighting the importance of mental health care for cancer patients and their families. 

Mentioned on this episode: 

• Multiple Myeloma
• Stem Cell Transplant
• Autologous Stem Cell Transplant
• Parenting Resources
• Mental Health Resources
• Additional Mental Health and Crisis Resources
• Survivorship Workbook

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
• Clinical Trial Support Center
• Online chats 
• Caregiver support 
• LLS Community 
• Support groups 
• Free Nutrition Consultations 
• LLS Advocacy

Support for this episode provided by Genentech, Inc & Biogen; GlaxoSmithKline; and Janssen Oncology.

The post Mental Health and Myeloma: A Story of Resilience first appeared on The Bloodline With Blood Cancer United Podcast.