Brent Kirchner returned from an afternoon at the local pool not feeling well and thinking he was coming down with the flu. As his symptoms worsened, he ended up in the hospital and in an induced coma to help clear his lungs of fluid. Brent was eventually diagnosed with hairy cell leukemia, a type of cancer in which the bone marrow makes too many white blood cells. The excess cells are abnormal and look "hairy" under a microscope.

Brent shares his challenging experience of living through hairy cell leukemia and says a very good healthcare team and a strong personal support network was crucial in helping him cope.

LLSC hairy cell leukemia resources

In the last 10 years, there have been many advancements in the treatment of MPNs. In combination with a better overall understanding of its causes and what contributes to its progression, Dr. Dawn Maze says it is a very "exciting" time in the treatment of MPNs.

In this episode, Dr. Maze, a hematologist at Toronto's Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, explains what MPNs are, how they are treated and the challenges those diagnosed with an MPN might face.

When she was a first-year resident, Dr. Mary-Margaret Keating's grandfather was diagnosed with a fast-growing lymphoma. At the time, she was unable to answer many questions from her family. It made her more interested in trying to understand the disease and was one of the factors that influenced her to specialize in treating lymphomas. Dr. Keating, a hematologist in Halifax, continues to be motivated by the treatment advancements which help those who are very sick get better. She also values the many long-term relationships she has formed with those affected by lymphoma and their families.

While her experience with an aggressive form of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) was filled with uncertainty - waiting for a diagnosis, not knowing the effects of chemotherapy, undergoing a stem cell transplant - Sarah Robertson says she learned some important lessons.  She discovered she had an incredible supportive network of family and friends. She also says cancer forced her to slow down and focus on taking care of  herself.

When Darren Bessette was re-diagnosed with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) in 2019, it was more difficult to treat. Darren says he was fortunate to get access to a "revolutionary" new treatment through a clinical trial. Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy is a way to get immune cells called T cells to fight cancer by changing them in the lab so they can find and destroy cancer cells. In this episode, Darren shares his experience and how it led to his efforts to help others with a blood cancer.

When she was diagnosed with Philadelphia positive acute ALL (PH+ ALL) in 2007, Jeanette Castillo leaned heavily on her healthcare background to cope. Having seen many people go through their own health challenges with a hopeful perspective, she adopted a similar attitude. Now 14 years post-stem cell transplant, Jeanette admits is was a long a scary road, but she says, "It's okay to be  afraid. You can't be brave or courageous without fear."

The lifting of many COVID restrictions across Canada may leave people living with a blood cancer feeling anxious and uncertain. However, Dr. Gerard Farrel, a GP from Newfoundland, says the best approach is to keep doing what you've been doing for the past 2 years for at least the next 2 months. In this episode, Dr. Farrel offers advice on what those living with a blood cancer can do to stay safe.

Ever since he was diagnosed with myelofibrosis 20 years ago, Doug Chisolm has tried to live every day to the fullest, even spending all his retirement savings and having to start saving again. In this episode, Doug speaks about the ups and downs of his blood cancer experience, why he thinks it's crucial to have a strong support system and what he shares as a First Connection peer volunteer.

Gail Whiteford returned from a 2014 hiking trip in Japan and Australia, visited her doctor for her annual physical, and was shocked to, soon after, be diagnosed with myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS). In this episode, Gail shares her treatment experience and some of the important lessons she has learned, maybe the most important one being, "I learned it is not weak to ask for help."

Andy Friedman returned to Ontario from BC’s Gabriola Island with a plan to spend more time with his grandchildren. What he did not plan on was a chronic lymphocytic leukemia diagnosis. In this episode, Andy talks about the good and bad of his post-diagnosis life, including his experience with watch and wait. He also shares two important pieces of advice for others with a blood cancer: don’t ever look at Google and lean on your social supports.