Lymphoma Voices

In our latest podcast, Professor Andy Davies, Professor of Haematological Oncology at the University of Southampton and Dr Cathy Burton, Consultant Haematologist at Leeds Teaching Hospital talk to Lymphoma Action’s Anne Hook. They talk about how lymphoma management has changed over the past 40 years and discuss how lymphoma treatment and care may look in the future. Forty years ago, the diagnosis...

 | In this podcast on fatigue Lymphoma Action’s Anne Hook talks to Ruth Jackson who is a Haematology Nurse Clinician at Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals. Ruth says that more than 70% of lymphoma patients will describe fatigue and the subject comes up at most of her consultations. It’s something that is difficult for people to describe and measure, and something that people struggle to...

In our latest podcast we talk to Shannon. With a wedding, a honeymoon and a young daughter just starting at school, Shannon had a lot going on. Health concerns took a bit of a back seat until a business trip to Newcastle resulted in a trip to A&E and the discovery of a tumour in her chest. A biopsy resulted in a diagnosis of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, with chemotherapy needing to start whi...

In our latest podcast Professor David Linch, Emeritius Professor at University College London talks to Lymphoma Action’s Anne Hook. As Lymphoma Action celebrates its 40th anniversary year they discuss how things have changed clinically, with Professor Linch commenting how lymphoma was seen as a mysterious disease with little information available for patients to learn more about it. The Charity st...

 Living and working in the Galapogos, Mollie was living her dream life, but she was concerned about a growing number of health issues. A last-minute decision to go back home to see family ended up saving her life. Within hours of landing in the UK she was in A&E and tests resulted in a diagnosis of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma.  In this podcast, Mollie talks about the struggles of intense che...

In this podcast Nancy and Stewart share their personal blood cancer experiences as LGBTQIA+ people. They describe the additional challenges they faced, and are faced by others, due to gender and/or sexual identity. The need to continuously come out, explain your relationship to those around you and not feeling safe in the healthcare space.  Stewart tells us about why he set up the charity OUTpatie...

In this podcast, Mimi shares her experience of being a carer. Her partner Roger, who is the keyboard player in the band The Cure, was diagnosed with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma in September 2023. Mimi talks about the difficult moments they shared as they waited for test results; a mix of anxiety and numbness. She shares how much sadness she felt as Roger went through chemotherapy and how ill he...

 | In this podcast Roger O’Donnell, who is the keyboard player of the band The Cure, talks about his diagnosis of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. He explains about the treatment he received and about coming to terms emotionally with his diagnosis. In 2023, Roger noticed a lump, but put it down to the demands of touring. Returning to the UK, he contacted his GP, and a scan was organised which indica...

 In this podcast Dr Rob Lown, Consultant Haematologist at University Hospital Southampton talks to Lymphoma Action’s Anne Hook about the monoclonal antibody rituximab. Dr Lown explains what rituximab is and how it works to treat lymphoma, both as part of a chemotherapy regimen and as maintenance therapy. Dr Lown describes why ritixumab was considered a ‘game changer’ in the treatment of B-cell lym...

The only thing that made Lauren think something was wrong was pain when she drank alcohol. In this podcast, Lauren explains about the shock of her Hodgkin lymphoma diagnosis and decisions around fertility that had to be made swiftly. She talks about her treatment with BEACOPP chemotherapy and the dread she felt for losing her hair. She explains how she coped with her hair loss, as well as other si...

In this podcast Clare Montagu, CEO at Poppy's Funerals and Dallas Pounds, Director of Services at Lymphoma Action, cover a subject often not spoken about. They talk through some of the myths and misunderstandings around funerals as well as some of the facts and practicalities. They talk about steps and choices you can make to ensure it is personal to you and enabling you to give the send off you w...

A keen runner and weightlighter, Melinda thought she had pulled a muscle on her shoulder. She held off going to see her GP until things were a lot worse and also tried a chiropractor, hoping this would make a difference. But nothing was improving and she then developed pain in her back as well as a numbness that moved up her body. By the time she went back to see a GP, she could barely move, so wa...

Dr Mike Scanlan is a retired therapist and lecturer in mental health at the University of Northampton and De Montford University. In this podcast he talks to Lymphoma Action’s Anne Hook about sleep and achieving good, restorative sleep.    Many people worry about getting a good night’s sleep and the more you worry about it, the harder it is for your brain to allow you to get to sleep. In this podc...

Mez talks with honesty about his diagnosis and treatment for diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. As a 42-year old Indian Hindu with a wife and 1-year old daughter, he found it hard to find others going through the same experience and wanted to share his story to support others like himself. He talks about the challenges of treatment and how he created circles of friends and family to support him throug...

Tom Kerry is the Lead Pharmacist for Oncology at University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay. In our latest podcast, Tom takes you behind the scenes of the hospital pharmacist. He explains how pharmacists work with the wider clinical team, including haematologists and clinical nurse specialists. He explains how the pharmacist provides the expertise when it comes to medicines, ensuring they are used in t...

In this podcast Mike and Kasia talk about their diagnosis of cutaneous (skin) lymphoma. Mike has had skin lymphoma since 1999 and Kasia was diagnosed in 2023.  Both Mike and Kasia are living with mycosis fungoides (MF), which is the most common type of skin lymphoma. Five years seems to be a bit of a theme, as Mike was living with MF for five years before he found out he had a skin lymphoma. Kasia...

In our latest podcast, Def Leppard guitarist Vivian Campbell talks about his career and his diagnosis of Hodgkin lymphoma. He explains how Marc Bolan of T-Rex inspired him to become a musician and the joy and theatricality of performing with Def Leppard worldwide. Troubled by a number of symptoms, he shares his feelings on having a diagnosis of Hodgkin lymphoma and the treatment he was facing. He...

Helen Knight, Director of Medicines and Evaluation at the National Institute of Health and Care Excellence (NICE), talks to Lymphoma Action’s Policy and Public Affairs Advisor, Tara Steeds. In the podcast they discuss Health Technology Assessments and their role in making new treatments available through the NHS. They also discuss the role and impact of people with lived experience of lymphoma in...

Dallas and Lesley share a passion to change society’s relationship with death and dying, and to support all of us to have timely conversations about our wishes, should a time come when we can no longer speak for ourselves; through a lack of mental capacity or when we die.  Courageous conversations with those who are important to us can be empowering and reassuring for those we leave to make decisi...

John’s lymphoma story begins almost 50 years ago in the shipyards of Newcastle and a diagnosis of Hodgkin lymphoma that was kept from him. In a twist of fate, his daughter also received a blood cancer diagnosis. In this podcast John talks about his emotional lymphoma experience which led him to a career as a lymphoma clinical nurse specialist and more recently an author. He talks also about what h...

In this podcast Professor George Mikhaeel, Consultant Clinical Oncologist at Guys and St Thomas’ NHS Foundations Trust, explains what radiotherapy therapy is and when it is used in the treatment of lymphoma. He explains the three steps involved – an initial consultation and consent, the planning phase and then treatment.  Although radiotherapy was available before chemotherapy, there have been eno...

Lou was diagnosed with follicular lymphoma in 2017. In this podcast, she talks about how living with a low-grade non-Hodgkin lymphoma can be challenging; wondering when and if you will need treatment again, the impact of living with lymphoma on her mental health, and the value of information and support at the right time. Lymphoma Voices is a series of podcasts for people living with lymphoma, and...

Angie and John talk to Anne about the role of stem cell transplants in the treatment of lymphoma, when they are used, and the important differences between allogeneic (donor) and autologous (self) transplants, and the challenges in deciding between these two different treatment options. This podcast includes discussions around this often very difficult subject, and contains information on side eff...

 Lyle was diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma in 2021, at the age of 19. In this podcast, Lyle and his mum Julie talk about their shared experience of lymphoma, from diagnosis to treatment and beyond, and how their experience inspired them to fundraise for Lymphoma Action.  Lymphoma Voices is a series of podcasts for people living with lymphoma, and their family and friends. In each podcast, we are in...

Manil Subesinghe, talks to us about the vital role radiology plays in the diagnosis and management of lymphoma. This podcast gives an insight into this key role in guiding treatment and decision-making, reviewing treatment outcomes, and in overall supporting individuals with lymphoma.