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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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.

You cannot have progress without research.

In our latest episode, Dr. Jay Yang of the Karmanos Cancer Institute in Detroit, MI, breaks down the essentials of MDS care, from risk-based treatment plans to managing fatigue and exploring promising new therapies. Tune in to find out why the future of MDS treatment is brighter than ever.

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Episode supported by Bristol Myers Squibb and Taiho Oncology, Inc.

The post Myelodysplastic Syndromes (MDS): Progress, Possibility, and What’s Next 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.

Cancer affects more than your health. It can impact your finances, insurance coverage, employment, and daily life. In this episode, Monica Fawzy Bryant, Esq. of Triage Cancer joins us to discuss common financial and insurance challenges patients and caregivers may face after a cancer diagnosis, including understanding health insurance, managing medical debt, appealing insurance denials, finding financial assistance, and avoiding gaps in coverage. Monica also shares practical resources and strategies to help individuals make informed decisions and reduce the financial stress that can come with cancer.

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The post Advocating for Yourself: Insurance, Finances, and Your Rights first appeared on The Bloodline with Blood Cancer United Podcast.

When you hear the word “aggressive,” it can feel overwhelming, but in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), it can also point to something encouraging – a potential cure.

In this episode, we speak with Dr. Jonathon Cohen, of Winship Cancer Institute in Atlanta, GA, about what a DLBCL diagnosis really means, from how this common type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma is identified to current treatment options and emerging therapies. We explain what patients and families need to know about side effects. We also look at new treatments, including CAR T-cell therapy and bispecific antibodies, and the importance of open communication with your care team.

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Episode supported by Genmab US, Inc.

The post Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma (DLBCL): Breaking Down an Aggressive Lymphoma 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.

What does a myelofibrosis (MF) diagnosis really mean, and how does it fit within a group of conditions called myeloproliferative neoplasms, or MPNs? In this episode, we’re joined by Dr. Tania Jain of Johns Hopkins Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center in Baltimore, MD, who helps break it all down in a clear and approachable way.

She discusses how myelofibrosis affects the bone marrow, common symptoms to watch for, and how treatment options are tailored to each person. From managing day-to-day challenges to understanding when more advanced treatments may be considered, this conversation focuses on what matters most to patients and families.

As Dr. Jain shares, “every patient writes their own story,” noting that advancing research offers genuine hope.

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Episode supported by Takeda Oncology.

The post Myelofibrosis (MF): More Options, More Hope first appeared on The Bloodline with Blood Cancer United Podcast.

Some people with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) may feel well day to day, but that doesn’t mean life stays the same. In this episode, we hear from Annette Holloway, a clinical psychologist living with CLL, as she shares how her diagnosis, treatment decisions, and side effects have shaped her daily life. Also joining us is Elise Curry, RN, OCN, a Clinical Trial Nurse Navigator at Blood Cancer United’s Clinical Trial Support Center, who helps break down treatment options, side effects, and the importance of communication with your care team.

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Episode supported by AbbVie Inc.; BeOne Medicines; and Genentech, A Member of the Roche Group.

The post Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL): Managing Treatment and Finding Balance first appeared on The Bloodline with Blood Cancer United Podcast.