Survivorship - The Bloodline with Blood Cancer United Podcast

After being diagnosed with multiple myeloma at age 31, Brice Davis faced challenges that extended far beyond treatment alone. Join us as he talks about balancing fatherhood, navigating mental health struggles, rebuilding after setbacks, and adjusting to life with a chronic blood cancer. Brice reflects on the importance of community, resilience, and focusing on what matters most while creating a fulfilling life after diagnosis.

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Episode supported by Adaptive Biotechnologies Corporation; GSK plc; and Johnson & Johnson.

The post Myeloma, Fatherhood, and Moving Forward first appeared on The Bloodline with Blood Cancer United Podcast.

In this episode, four-time Olympic downhill skier AJ Kitt shares his diagnosis of chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) and how revolutionary medical advances transformed an unsettling diagnosis into a manageable part of his everyday life.

AJ opens up about the initial shock of the news, the emotional toll it took on his young family, and how finding CML pioneer, Dr. Brian Druker, restored his confidence amid deep uncertainty. The conversation dives into his treatment with tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs), the vital importance of self-advocacy, and how he continues to thrive as both an athlete and a ski coach. Tune in to hear why AJ believes that access to reliable information is the ultimate game-changer for anyone navigating a new CML diagnosis.

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The post Chronic Myeloid Leukemia (CML): Four Olympics, One Unexpected Diagnosis first appeared on The Bloodline with Blood Cancer United Podcast.

When a child is diagnosed with cancer, parents are suddenly expected to manage medications, appointments, treatment decisions, family life, and overwhelming emotions, often all at once.

In this episode, we speak with Laura DeKraker Lang-Ree, pediatric cancer parent, advocate, and author of The Cancer Parent’s Handbook, about the practical guidance she wishes every family received from day one. Laura shares powerful insights from her family’s journey after her three-year-old daughter was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). She offers actionable guidance on child advocacy, trusting parental instincts, engaging siblings, and maintaining normalcy during treatment. Additionally, Laura explores strategies for helping children thrive post-treatment, providing crucial hope and support for families facing some of their hardest days.

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The post A Parent’s Guide to Childhood Cancer: Support, Advocacy, and Hope first appeared on The Bloodline with Blood Cancer United Podcast.

Two college students. Two lymphoma diagnoses. One unexpected love story.

In this episode, we speak with Kim and Josh Woda, who were both diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma while attending college. They share how they navigated school during treatment, coped with relapse and stem cell transplant, found support in the cancer community, and unexpectedly found each other. Their story is a powerful reminder that connection, understanding, and hope can appear when you least expect it.

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Episode supported by Kyowa Kirin Pharmaceutical Development Inc and Merck & Co.

The post Finding Each Other Along the Way: A Cancer Love Story first appeared on The Bloodline with Blood Cancer United Podcast.

Behind every policy is a patient, caregiver, or family whose story helped make change possible.

In this episode, we speak with Andrea Sanchez and Becki Chandler, volunteer advocates with Blood Cancer United, about the power of patient voices in shaping public policy. Drawing from their own family experiences with blood cancer, they discuss issues ranging from medical debt and insurance coverage to clinical trial access and research funding and explain how patients and caregivers can make their voices heard.

Learn why sharing your story matters and how personal experiences help lawmakers see that patients are more than numbers on a page. Behind every statistic is a real person, a unique story, and a family impacted by blood cancer.

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The post Making Your Voice Count: The Power of Patient Advocacy first appeared on The Bloodline with Blood Cancer United Podcast.

Recorded onsite at CancerCon®, a young adult cancer conference presented by Stupid Cancer®, we talk about what resilience really means after a cancer diagnosis, and why it’s not about always being “strong.”

 Join us alongside Sam Brotkin, PhD, a clinical psychologist at Bull City Behavioral Health and Chelsea Kaye, LCSW, an Information Specialist at Blood Cancer United. In this episode, we share compassionate, practical strategies for building lifelong resilience. Learn how to manage expectations, find trusted support, and give yourself grace exactly where you are today.

Although this discussion comes from a young adult cancer conference, the insights shared are relevant across all ages and experiences.

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Episode supported by Merck & Co., Inc.

The post The Bloodline Live!: Redefining Resilience first appeared on The Bloodline with Blood Cancer United Podcast.

A cancer diagnosis in your 20s or 30s can raise questions most people never expect to face so early in life.

In this episode, we speak with Chris Pagliarulo, who was diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma at the age of 29, about the medical, emotional, and practical realities of cancer during early adulthood. We explore issues that are especially relevant for adolescent and young adult (AYA) patients, including delayed diagnosis, fertility preservation, treatment side effects, career disruption, relationships, and finding connection with others who understand. While this conversation highlights experiences unique to AYAs, patients and caregivers of all ages may hear pieces of their own experience reflected in what Chris shares.

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Episode supported by Merck & Co., Inc.

The post A Young Adult Story: Cancer, Connection, and Life After Treatment first appeared on The Bloodline with Blood Cancer United Podcast.

In this episode, we sit down with Ann Grace MacMullan, Director of Integrative Wellness at the International Waldenstrӧm’s Macroglobulinemia Foundation (IWMF), to explore how wellness can become a powerful part of life after a cancer diagnosis. Ann Grace shares practical, calming techniques, including breathing exercises, “Bee’s Breath”, and guided meditation, that you can do anywhere to reduce stress and feel more grounded. We’ll also dive into what integrative wellness really means, why it matters for blood cancer patients, and how concepts like the “self-care sandwich” can help you start and end your day with intention.

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Episode supported by Merck & Co., Inc.

The post Hope Meets Healing: Simple Practices for Stress Relief first appeared on The Bloodline with Blood Cancer United Podcast.

When cancer enters a family, it changes everything – routines, roles, and relationships.

In this episode, we talk with Lindsey and Thomas Kealey about what it means to navigate cancer together as a care partner and patient. From unexpected diagnoses to months spent living in a hospital room, Lindsey shares how she balanced caregiving, work, and self-care while learning to hold space for difficult emotions. Together, they offer practical tips for caregivers, like creating healing spaces, communicating with care teams, and finding small moments of gratitude amid uncertainty. This heartfelt conversation is a reminder that behind every patient is someone quietly carrying so much and they deserve to be seen too.

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The post Supporting the Supporter: Real Talk for Caregivers first appeared on The Bloodline with Blood Cancer United Podcast.

Choosing the right health insurance plan can make all the difference in protecting your health and finances.

In this episode, Bethany Lilly, Executive Director of Public Policy at Blood Cancer United, discusses important updates to healthcare insurance enrollment for 2026. Bethany explains what patients and caregivers need to know about changes to the Healthcare Marketplace and Medicare, how to avoid falling into medical debt, and the resources available to help you make informed decisions.

Whether you’re reviewing employer coverage, Marketplace plans, or Medicare options, this episode will help you prepare with confidence.

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The post Health Coverage for 2026 and Protecting Yourself from Medical Debt first appeared on The Bloodline with Blood Cancer United Podcast.