Researchers are focused on maintaining an excellent cure rate in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) and minimizing some of the treatment individuals receive – reduce the number of cycles of chemotherapy or avoid radiation, and looking at new drugs to improve the cure rate for others with DLBCL.

Join us as we chat with Dr. John Kuruvilla, working as a hematologist-oncologist for 20 years (currently at the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre in Toronto) including as a researcher in DLBCL, which is the largest form on non-Hodgkin lymphoma.

Learn more about DLBCL at: 

https://www.bloodcancers.ca/diffuse-large-b-cell-lymphoma-dlbcl 

Dr. Rena Buckstein from Odette Cancer Centre in Toronto shares the basics of myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) diagnosis, treatment, and side effects.

There are two main types of MDS: primary (de novo) and secondary MDS. The treatment for MDS varies according to the type and stage of the disease with the goal of slowing or stopping the MDS from becoming acute myeloid leukemia (AML).

For more information about MDS, visit:

https://www.bloodcancers.ca/i-have-blood-cancer/myelodysplastic-syndromes

Mayra Husic shares her experience with Follicular Lymphoma.

Dr. Philip Kuruvilla, hematologist-oncologist at the William Osler Health Centre at the Brampton Civic Hospital in Brampton, Ontario talks about chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL): Current treatment options, potential side effects and how to manage those side effects.

CLL is the most common type of leukemia in adults. For more information about CLL, visit:

https://www.bloodcancers.ca/I-Have-a-blood-cancer/Leukemia/chronic-lymphocytic-leukemia

Dr. Tobias Berg, an associate professor and researcher from McMaster University explains maintenance therapy as a treatment option for acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and the factors that influence the decision to start this type of treatment.

Maintenance therapy is treatment given after the first (primary) therapy used to manage your cancer, or to stop it from coming back. Some people may use maintenance therapy for a long time. This type of therapy can include drugs, vaccines, antibodies, or hormones.

Maintenance therapy can be used after a stem cell transplant for a blood cancer or after your first therapy if a stem cell transplant is not an option or not recommended for you. Maintenance therapy is often given at a low intensity, but over a long period of time. The goal is to help keep you in remission and to prevent relapse (also known as cancer recurrence).

Maintenance therapy has a role to play in some types of blood cancers such as multiple myeloma and acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Acute means the disease progresses quickly. AML is the most common acute leukemia in adults.

Learn more about AML at:

https://www.bloodcancers.ca/i-have-blood-cancer/leukemia/acute-myeloid-leukemia-aml

What started as a normal trip to the cottage ended up leading Tom to take a trip to the hospital- where he was diagnosed with myelodysplastic syndrome. Tom shares his blood cancer experience and how learning about his diagnosis, staying positive, and staying active are what helped him through the difficult times of treatment.

Rachel Sutherland is an Indigenous Patient Navigator at the London Regional Cancer Program and Dr. Samantha Boshart is a Family Physician who is also the Regional Indigenous Cancer Lead for the Southwest Regional Cancer Program. In this podcast, both experts discuss the unique challenges experienced by the Indigenous Community in Cancer Care and the efforts that our hospitals are taking to ensure that they receive equitable care in their cancer experience.  

Alyssa Brandone was 11 years old when she was diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia. In this podcast episode, Alyssa shares her experience with a pediatric blood cancer and how the support of her family and friends helped her overcome the challenges of integrating back into “normal” life after treatment.  

In this episode of our AYA podcast series, Sukant Sharma shares his experience balancing work, side effects, and his personal life after being diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia.

After being diagnosed with leukemia at 21 years old, Shae-Lynn Way shares her experience with shifting her mindset while preparing for a second stem cell transplant after her leukemia returned.