Marrow Masters

Today, Peggy Burkhard talks with Dr. Amar Kelkar of the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute about the medical side of survivorship after bone marrow, stem cell, or CAR-T transplant. The conversation begins with the important shift from the urgent “save my life” phase to the longer “protect my health” phase. Dr. Kelkar explains that this transition often starts around the 100-day mark, though timing varie...

In this episode of Marrow Masters , Peggy Burkhard talks with caregiver Ashlee Cramer about what caregiving really looks like during cancer, bone marrow transplant, and survivorship. Ashlee shares the story of her son Michael, who was diagnosed in 2020 with hepatosplenic T-cell lymphoma. Their family had already lived through cancer once before, when Ashlee’s husband Patrice was diagnosed with lar...

In this episode of Marrow Masters , we talk with Adam Claxton, a British acute myeloid leukemia (AML) survivor who was diagnosed in 2024 and received a transplant in December 2024. He shares what early survivorship really feels like, especially the part no one prepares you for. Once treatment slows down, there is a gap between being a patient and figuring out who you are in the world again. Adam e...

In this episode of Marrow Masters , we speak with Stephanie Chuang, founder and chief storyteller of The Patient Story. Stephanie shares how her life changed at 31, just two months before her wedding, when she was diagnosed with lymphoma. At the time, she was working as a TV news reporter in San Francisco and had been explaining away symptoms like fatigue, bloating, and a strange cough. A same day...

Today, Peggy talks with Daniel Gaylor, LCSW, OSW-C, ACHP-SW, and a social work supervisor at Moffitt Cancer Center, about what happens after patients and caregivers get through the intense treatment period and begin asking, “Now what?” Daniel explains that recovery does not mean life snaps back to normal. Survivorship brings fear, relief, hope, uncertainty, and exhaustion all at once. Those reacti...

In this episode, we talk with Christy Donovan, DNP, RN, a Blood Cancer Coordinator at the the Blood and Marrow Transplant/ Leukemia Program at Northside Hospital Cancer Institute, about what survivorship really looks like after a stem cell transplant. The central message is that survivorship is not a finish line. It is a transition into a new normal. Many patients expect life to return to the way...

Season 20 of the Marrow Masters Podcast, produced by the National Bone Marrow Transplant LINK, focuses on thriving in survivorship post-transplant. You'll hear from patients, caregivers, doctors and social workers as they share their best tips and practices. Season 20 of the Marrow Masters Podcast is sponsored by Incyte and Sanofi. Look for Season 20 on May 27, 2026. And be sure not to miss an epi...

Recently, Peggy attended the Tandem 2026 meeting in Salt Lake City, Utah. While there, she sat down as a guest on the Eurofins Viracor Transplant Radio podcast.  We wanted to share that interview with you. If you'd like to follow their podcast, you can do so at the links below. We learn today from Peggy Burkhard that transplant is not just a medical experience — it’s an emotional, creative, and co...

In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Joseph Pidala from the Moffitt Cancer Center to discuss chronic graft-versus-host disease (GVHD), a complex condition affecting many stem cell transplant survivors. We focus on the latest prevention strategies, treatment innovations, and the critical role that clinical trials continue to play in advancing care. We begin with promising news around prevention. D...

In this episode, we speak with Rebecca Heimsoth, a young mother and survivor of myelodysplastic syndrome who underwent a bone marrow transplant in April 2022. Diagnosed shortly after turning 33, Rebecca shares her deeply personal journey of navigating transplant recovery, chronic graft-versus-host disease (GVHD), and parenting two small children. Her story is one of resilience, support, and a cons...

In this episode, we sit down with Sue Stewart, a 36-year survivor of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and the founder of BMT InfoNet. Sue walks us through her transplant journey, beginning with a difficult diagnosis in the late 1980s and the grueling induction chemotherapy that followed. With limited treatment options, she opted for an autologous bone marrow transplant—a relatively new and uncertain p...

Note: This episodes contains discussion and language of a sexual nature and may not be appropriate for all audiences. In this episode of Marrow Masters , we sit down with Dr. Christian Nelson, a psychologist at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center and an expert in psycho-oncology, to address a deeply personal yet often overlooked topic: male sexual dysfunction following cancer treatment. Togethe...

In this episode, we speak with Synary Be, a resilient survivor of acute myeloid leukemia (AML), who shares her powerful journey of enduring three bone marrow transplants over eight years. Diagnosed suddenly in March 2017, Synary’s story begins with a high fever that led to a shocking diagnosis: 93% leukemia. From that point on, her life transformed into a series of hospital stays, treatments, and...

In this episode, we talk with caregiver Sylvia Chunn of Nashville, who shares her journey alongside her husband David through his diagnosis of AML, a stem cell transplant, and the ongoing challenges of GVHD. Sylvia walks us through their intense timeline, from David’s emergency diagnosis in January 2024 to his transplant in July and their extended stay in Atlanta, away from home and their teenage...

Welcome to Marrow Masters season 19 with a focus on chronic GVHD. There are so many exciting advances regarding C-G-V-H-D taking place. We'll be talking with a variety of speakers this season, who will share their experiences, advice, coping mechanisms, updates, and tips to make this rare disease more manageable. We will hear from doctors at the forefront of research and treatment, as well as surv...

Given that Season 18 of Marrow Masters focuses on caregiving, we wanted to share an empathy exercise that the LINK's licensed staff social worker, Jennifer Gillette, performed in a recent webinar. It's impossible to know exactly what a cancer patient is going through, but through this exercise, you may get a bit of understanding. And it may help you garner some empathy for the person you are carin...

In this episode, we sit down with Sally Werner, CEO of Cancer Support Community, to explore her dual perspective as a longtime oncology professional and as a caregiver to her mother-in-law. We begin with Sally’s background—first as an oncology nurse, then a healthcare administrator, and now a nonprofit leader. She calls this her “passion job,” driven by a deep commitment to support patients and ca...

In this episode, we talk with Deb Brandt, caregiver to her husband, JR, a survivor of Philadelphia-positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Deb shares the journey that began in September 2016 when JR noticed unusual symptoms that led to an urgent diagnosis. Within days, he began an aggressive chemotherapy regimen, with the hope of a bone marrow transplant as the only cure. The search for a mat...

Today we sit down with Henry Ford Health Michigan's Hina Desai, an oncology certified social worker with decades of experience, to share her best caregiving tips for those supporting transplant patients. Hina explains that patience, physical stamina, problem-solving, adaptability, and emotional intelligence are essential caregiver skills. We talk about the many roles a caregiver plays — from trans...

In this episode, we speak with Daniel Medina of Broomfield, Colorado, about his journey as a caregiver for his wife Miley, who was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) in 2021 at the young age of 27. What begins as a story of sudden diagnosis during an active summer of volleyball quickly turned into an emotional and logistical rollercoaster for Daniel, Miley, and their then two-year-old dau...

In this episode, we sit down with Lorri Pimentel of Santa Rosa, California, a resilient survivor who shares her deeply personal journey through breast cancer, acute myeloid leukemia (AML), and a life-saving bone marrow transplant. We explore not only the medical milestones but also the practical and emotional realities of navigating treatment and recovery, especially in the context of caregiving d...

In this episode, we sit down with Anastasia Cacavias, a registered nurse and manager of the Blood and Marrow Transplant Leukemia Program at Northside Hospital Cancer Institute in Atlanta. Anastasia walks us through the essential role that caregivers play throughout the transplant journey—from initial diagnosis to long-term recovery. Her perspective comes not only from clinical experience but from...

Welcome to Season 18 of Marrow Masters, produced for the National Bone Marrow Transplant Link, and sponsored by Sanofi and Jazz Pharmaceuticals. This season is all about the caregivers. Our guests will offer up their best tips, experiences and advice. We’ll cover the importance of self-care and share heartwarming stories of compassion and love.  You'll hear from an RN and transplant manager at Atl...

In this incredible episode of Marrow Masters , we sit down with Kayla West, a stem cell donor from Texas, and Miriam Bauer, the mother of a young leukemia survivor Miley, from Oklahoma. This story is a deeply emotional journey of hope, resilience, and a connection that transcends bloodlines. Kayla and Miriam take us through the entire transplant process from both perspectives: the donor stepping u...

In this episode, we sit down with Nick Giallourakis, Executive Director of the Steven G. Cancer Foundation and co-founder of Elephants and Tea , a digital magazine and support platform for adolescent and young adult (AYA) cancer patients and survivors. We begin by learning about Nick’s brother, Steve, whose incredible journey as a five-time cancer survivor—including osteosarcoma, Secondary AML, re...