Episodes

Coping with the Challenges of Living in Isolation

May is Mental Health Awareness Month. The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) recognizes the unique issues faced by blood cancer patients and caregivers from the moment of diagnosis throughout survivorship. These include psychosocial and emotional effects such as relationship stress, anxiety, depression, survivor guilt and more, which are further compounded by current events. Increased awareness […]

Coping with the Challenges of Living in Isolation Read More »

What Blood Cancer Patients Need to Know About COVID-19

What does the effect of the virus have on blood cancer patients? What are hospitals doing to ensure cancer patients can still get treatment during this pandemic? What makes COVID-19 so different than other viruses? Has there been any progress made regarding treatment for COVID-19? Join us on this episode as Alicia and Lizette speak

What Blood Cancer Patients Need to Know About COVID-19 Read More »

Survivor, Author, Athlete & Overcomer: Bishoy’s Story

Listen in as Alicia and Lizette from The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society speak with Bishoy Tadros.  Bishoy was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) at three years old. As an Egyptian immigrant with many things for his family to consider such as, where the best treatment would be and how to go about relocating, Bishoy

Survivor, Author, Athlete & Overcomer: Bishoy’s Story Read More »

How Will My Child’s Cancer Diagnosis Impact Their Emotions?

When you think about a pediatric patient, they are not a child living in a vacuum. They are part of a very complex system that is suddenly impacted by a cancer diagnosis. Psychosocial care helps to address every piece of that complicated system to successfully get patients the treatment that they need. Join Alicia and

How Will My Child’s Cancer Diagnosis Impact Their Emotions? Read More »

The Value of a Second Opinion

One of the most important reasons to seek a second opinion is to protect yourself from misdiagnosis. Researchers have found that the rates of misdiagnosis and mistreatment are higher than you might suspect. Join Alicia and Lizette from The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS), as they speak with Dr. Pallawi Torka, Assistant Professor of Oncology and Co-Program Director of the

The Value of a Second Opinion Read More »

“The Only Way Through It, Is Through It”: Tim Card’s Story

They say hindsight is always 20/20. Looking back, Tim Card remembers how his body may have been sending signals that something was wrong, but how he often attributed them to his active and busy lifestyle. Tim received his shocking lymphoma diagnosis after logging onto his medical portal, while awaiting test results. Tim is Penn State Cancer Institute’s first chimeric antigen

“The Only Way Through It, Is Through It”: Tim Card’s Story Read More »

Diagnosed with Myeloma: What Should I Eat?

Eating a well-balanced diet is important, especially with a diagnosis of multiple myeloma. A proper diet during and after cancer treatment can help you feel better, maintain your strength, and positively impact recovery time. Listen in as Alicia and Lizette speak with Gina DeLuca. Gina is an Outpatient Oncology Dietitian for the Center for Cancer Care

Diagnosed with Myeloma: What Should I Eat? Read More »

Still Sparkling After AML: Casey’s Story

Listen in as Alicia and Lizette speak with Casey Biltz Marsh. Casey is a high school mathematics teacher and acute myeloid leukemia (AML) survivor. With Spring Break approaching, Casey noticed her increasing fatigue however, attributed it to the demands of a high school teacher during that time. Casey realized something was very wrong when she attended a

Still Sparkling After AML: Casey’s Story Read More »

How CAR T-cell Therapy Saved My Life: Chuck’s Story

On this episode, Alicia and Lizette speak with Chuck Colletti, a two-time survivor of Stage 4 follicular lymphoma. Chuck was diagnosed in early 2016 when he underwent 7 months of chemotherapy which put his cancer into temporary remission. Unfortunately, 7 months later, it returned in a more aggressive form. With options dwindling, he was accepted

How CAR T-cell Therapy Saved My Life: Chuck’s Story Read More »

CAR T-cell Explained: Recovering from CAR T-cell Therapy

On this episode, Alicia and Lizette speak with Dr. Rayne H. Rouce. Dr. Rouce is a pediatric hematologist and oncologist at Texas Children’s Cancer Center where she is a member of the Leukemia and Bone Marrow Transplant programs. She works as part of The Center for Cell and Gene Therapy at Baylor College of Medicine,

CAR T-cell Explained: Recovering from CAR T-cell Therapy Read More »

CAR T-cell Therapy Explained: What Is It and How Does It Work?

Join Alicia and Lizette as they speak with Dr. Rayne H. Rouce. Dr. Rouce is a pediatric hematologist and oncologist at Texas Children’s Cancer Center where she is a member of the Leukemia and Bone Marrow Transplant programs. Specifically, she works as part of a research program called The Center for Cell and Gene Therapy

CAR T-cell Therapy Explained: What Is It and How Does It Work? Read More »

CAR T-Cell Therapy Explained: Understanding Potential Side Effects

Like any therapy that is administered in oncology, there is great promise but also, unfortunately, several toxicities and side effects that must be understood and monitored. Join Alicia and Lizette as they speak with Dr. Jonathon B. Cohen, an Assistant Professor in the Department of Hematology and Medical Oncology at Emory University School of Medicine

CAR T-Cell Therapy Explained: Understanding Potential Side Effects Read More »

Treating Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL)

Join Alicia and Lizette as they speak with Dr. Mohammad Maher Abdul-Hay, a hematologist and bone marrow transplant physician in New York, New York who is affiliated with multiple hospitals including NYC Health and Hospitals, Bellevue, and NYU Langone Hospitals. On this episode, Dr. Abdul-Hay explains how ALL is treated and addresses pre-treatment considerations. He

Treating Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL) Read More »

Dating with a Diagnosis: Stephen & Rebecca’s Story

Join Alicia as she speaks with young adult leukemia survivor, Stephen and his wife, Rebecca. This episode was recorded onsite at the filming of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s young adult reunion video, which you can access here. As Stephen prepared when he would introduce Rebecca to his parents, he realized that he was experiencing

Dating with a Diagnosis: Stephen & Rebecca’s Story Read More »

Acute Myeloid Leukemia: Diagnosis & Prognosis

Join Alicia and Lizette as they speak with Dr. Martha Arellano, Associate Professor of Hematology and Oncology and Program Director of the Hematology and Medical Oncology Fellowship Program at the Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia. On this episode, Dr. Arellano defines acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and how it is diagnosed. She

Acute Myeloid Leukemia: Diagnosis & Prognosis Read More »

Diagnosing Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia

Join Alicia and Lizette as they speak with Dr. Mohammad Maher Abdul-Hay, a hematologist and bone marrow transplant physician in New York, New York who is affiliated with multiple hospitals including NYC Health and Hospitals, Bellevue, and NYU Langone Hospitals. On this episode, Dr. Abdul-Hay defines and explains how acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is diagnosed

Diagnosing Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia Read More »

Removing Mystery from Myeloma: Management of the Elderly Myeloma Patient

Join Alicia and Lizette as they speak with Dr. Marc Braunstein, a Board-certified hematologist, medical oncologist at NYU Winthrop in New York, NY. This is episode four of our five- part episode series, ‘Removing Mystery from Myeloma‘. On this episode, Dr. Braunstein explains how management of myeloma differs between younger and older patients. He stresses

Removing Mystery from Myeloma: Management of the Elderly Myeloma Patient Read More »

Removing Mystery from Myeloma: The Truth About Transplant

Join Alicia and Shona from The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society as they speak with Dr. Racquel Innis-Shelton, Associate Professor of Medicine and Director of the University of Alabama Multiple Myeloma Clinic at the University of Alabama. On this episode, Dr. Innis-Shelton describes the process for a bone marrow transplant, the difference between autologous and allogeneic transplant, how a patient is screened

Removing Mystery from Myeloma: The Truth About Transplant Read More »

Removing Mystery from Myeloma: Questions to ask, Bone Health and Clinical Trials

Join Alicia and Lizette as they speak with Dr. Marc Braunstein, a Board-certified hematologist, medical oncologist at NYU Winthrop in New York, NY. This is the second episode of five that will be part of ‘Removing Mystery from Myeloma‘  series. On this episode, Alicia and Lizette discuss the topics pertaining to myeloma patients and caregivers.

Removing Mystery from Myeloma: Questions to ask, Bone Health and Clinical Trials Read More »

Dating with a Diagnosis: Merissa’s Story

Join Alicia and Lizette as they speak with a young adult and Stage II Hodgkin lymphoma survivor, Merissa Pemberton. Having just finished her master’s degree, started her first full-time job, and moved into her first apartment on her own, Merissa believed life was finally settling down. After receiving an alarming call while on vacation, Merissa

Dating with a Diagnosis: Merissa’s Story Read More »

CLL: Risk Factors, Resources and Research

Join Alicia and Lizette from The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society as they speak with Dr. Ann LaCasce, Program Director of the Dana-Farber/ Partners CancerCare Fellowship, the largest hematology/oncology training program in the country. On this episode, Dr. LaCasce explains the difference between chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and small lymphocytic lymphoma (SLL), CLL and its connection with Agent Orange exposure, resources available for Veterans,

CLL: Risk Factors, Resources and Research Read More »

Understanding a CLL Diagnosis

Listen in as Alicia and Lizette chat with Dr. Ann LaCasce, a Program Director of the Dana-Farber/ Partners CancerCare Fellowship, the largest hematology/oncology training program in the country. While studying pre-med, Dr. LaCasce took additional classes that piqued her interest in art history. After managing an art gallery in New York for five years and returning to medical

Understanding a CLL Diagnosis Read More »

Coping as a Caregiver

November is Caregiver Awareness Month! On behalf of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, we’d like to thank caregivers for their kindness in caring for their loved ones. Your dedication does not go unnoticed. On this episode, Alicia and Lizette speak with Dr. Marni Amsellem, a clinical psychologist who specializes in working with patients and caregivers

Coping as a Caregiver Read More »

Mantle Cell Lymphoma: Indolent vs Aggressive

With over 60 types of lymphomas, a lymphoma diagnosis can be very confusing.  Listen in as Alicia and Lizette speak with hematologist/oncologist Dr. Robert Chen from City of Hope in Duarte, California about mantle cell lymphoma (MCL). On this episode, they discuss how MCL is diagnosed, indolent vs aggressive lymphomas, and the importance of knowing what to research before attempting to learn about a

Mantle Cell Lymphoma: Indolent vs Aggressive Read More »

Young Adult Cancer Action Day: Advocating for Young Adult Survivors

Young adult cancer survivors have unique needs, different from pediatric and adult patients. Live on June 21, 2018, the first ever Young Adult Cancer Action Day, listen in as Guest Speaker Shona Lovie, from The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, speaks with Kate Houghton, President and CEO of Critical Mass of The Young Adult Cancer Alliance,

Young Adult Cancer Action Day: Advocating for Young Adult Survivors Read More »

Transplant & Veno-Occlusive Disease (VOD)

Many may be familiar with graft versus host disease (GVHD) however, veno-occlusive disease (VOD), otherwise known as sinusoidal obstruction syndrome (SOS), is also one of the most frequently encountered complications after stem cell transplantation. Listen in as Alicia and Lizette from The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) speak with Dr. Joseph Antin, Chief of the

Transplant & Veno-Occlusive Disease (VOD) Read More »

Psycho-Oncology: Caring for Body & Mind

Listen in as Alicia and Lizette from The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) speak with psycho-oncologist, Elizabeth Harvey. Elizabeth works with and supports cancer patients, their families and caregivers throughout their cancer journey. Elizabeth has spent over 20 years working in research for cancer drug development and also worked alongside the late Dr. Jimmie Holland,

Psycho-Oncology: Caring for Body & Mind Read More »

Live at CancerCon with Matthew Zachary: Founder of ‘Stupid Cancer’

Listen in as Guest Speaker, Shona Lovie, from The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) speaks with Founder of Stupid Cancer, Matthew Zachary onsite at CancerCon 2018 in Denver, Colorado. Film composer and concert pianist by the age of 21, Matthew was confident about what his next steps would be until life threw him the proverbial curve

Live at CancerCon with Matthew Zachary: Founder of ‘Stupid Cancer’ Read More »

Live at CancerCon with Heather Juliet: Young Adult Advocate & Mentor

Listen in as Guest Speaker, Shona Lovie, from The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) speaks with Heather Juliet, a young adult survivor and an attendee onsite at CancerCon 2018 in Denver, Colorado. Heather knew something was wrong for many years but each time she went to the doctor she was met with ‘you’re fine’, ‘you’re too

Live at CancerCon with Heather Juliet: Young Adult Advocate & Mentor Read More »

Live at CancerCon with Melanie Stachelski: Therapist & Young Adult Survivor

Listen in as Guest Speaker, Shona Lovie, from The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) speaks with Melanie Stachelski onsite at CancerCon 2018 in Denver, Colorado. Diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) at 29 years old after celebrating her first wedding anniversary, Melanie describes how staying in a good place mentally was one of her top priorities.

Live at CancerCon with Melanie Stachelski: Therapist & Young Adult Survivor Read More »

Live at CancerCon with Sara Davenport: Panelist & Young Adult Survivor

Listen in as Guest Speaker, Shona Lovie, from The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) speaks with Sara Davenport, a young adult survivor and Blood Cancer panelist, onsite at CancerCon 2018 in Denver, Colorado. Having been diagnosed with thyroid cancer first and later with non-Hodgkin lymphoma, Sara talks about her journey, how she was introduced to

Live at CancerCon with Sara Davenport: Panelist & Young Adult Survivor Read More »

A Bright Future for Hodgkin Lymphoma

Join us on this episode as Alicia and Lizette from The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) speak with Dr. Pallawi Torka, Assistant Professor of Oncology and Co-Program Director of the Hematology/Oncology Fellowship Program, at Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer in Buffalo, NY. Dr. Torka speaks about her experience diagnosing and treating Hodgkin lymphoma and why shared

A Bright Future for Hodgkin Lymphoma Read More »

Scroll to Top