The Blood Cancer Experience

It was an ordinary bump on the elbow that wouldn't heal that led Lindsay Thompson to her doctor. The eventual diagnosis of chronic myelomonocytic leukemia (CMML) came as a complete surprise. Lindsay shares how she found strength in support from her family and coworkers to help her through her diagnosis and treatment.

In this podcast you'll meet two members of the McMaster SynBio team, a student-led research team that hopes their research will improve treatments for B-cell lymphoma. The team is working on a method that they hope will ultimately kill the cells responsible for B-cell lymphoma while leaving healthy cells intact. The team gathers passionate undergraduate students from across scientific disciplines...

When Al Pritchard learned that he had anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL), he told himself that cancer was not going to take anything from him. Taking control meant not only sharing his diagnosis with family and friends, but also with his work community. The support he received showed him that he was not alone and this is something he would say to anyone that is newly diagnosed. "You are not alo...

Karen Williamson was feeling well and looking forward to a trip to  Europe so it was a shock when she was diagnosed with leukemia. She spent  many months in the hospital being treated for the disease. Early on, her medical team told her she would need a stem cell transplant. Karen says the process went relatively smoothly. However, she admits that reading about what was going to happen did not do...

When Ron Ternoway was diagnosed with a rare blood cancer called Waldenstrom macroglobulinemia (WM), he did what he has always done when faced with an unfamiliar topic. He tracked down as much information as he could so he could be a full partner is his treatment. "My way of freaking out when I got the big 'C' diagnosis was to learn as much as I could." Ron is also generous with his knowledge, shar...

It's not at all surprising that when Eric Pitters was diagnosed with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) he told his doctor, "I've got a cancer and I want it treated now." However, his doctor explained that it would be best to use an approach called Watch & Wait.  Several studies have shown that early treatment does not have benefits for low-risk blood cancers and does not lengthen your li...

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...

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 t...

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 motiva...

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...

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 cel...

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...

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 l...

When Lois Lewis was diagnosed with AML in 2010, she had just retired from a career filled with music - as a music therapist, music teacher and leader of an intergenerational choir. Lois shares her cancer experience, which, not surprisingly, included the Gaelic version of the song Auld Lang Syne.

Just a few days before Christmas in 2010, Patrick Alexander, an LLSC First Connection volunteer from Vancouver, was diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma. He talks to us about his experience with his diagnosis, treatment and how it changed his view on life.

Dr. Ismail Sharif, an assistant professor at Dalhousie University and with the department of hematology, provides an overview of Myeloma: its causes, current treatment options and what the future holds for Myeloma treatments.

This podcast is for parents of children with blood cancer, as well as teenagers and young adults affected by this type of cancer. During and after cancer, physical activity is essential for young people. It can speed up their recovery, improve their overall health and help them cope with treatment side effects such as fatigue. In this podcast, Gabrielle Duhamel, kinesiologist and doctoral student...

Joanne was diagnosed with Polycythemia vera in 2012. She shares her experience with her diagnosis, the support she received from local groups and how it has changed her life.

In this episode, Max Parrot, professional Canadian snowboarder, an Olympic silver medalist and an eight-time X Games champion, speaks candidly about his blood cancer experience and its impact on his life and career. Max explains why he felt like "a lion in a cage" throughout treatment, and lets listeners in on what it took to get his health and mindset back on track.

In this special AYA episode, Montana Skurka and NHL survivor Cynthia Ghosen discuss the power of positive thinking, staying optimistic, and how goal setting can help you through treatment. Cynthia also shares how family and friends played a key role in her recovery and how her cancer experience has shaped her current career.

In this special AYA episode, guest host Montana Skurka connects with Amanda Saunders, who 13 months after having a heart transplant was diagnosed with post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorder (PTLD). The two discuss what life is like living with a rare blood cancer while completing university and living through a pandemic.

In this special AYA episode, guest host Montana Skurka connects with Cole Myers. When Cole was 16 he went from competing in triathlons to being diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma. The two discuss diagnosis, relapse, and the silver-lining that come from their experiences.