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Emily is
Blood Cancer United

Emily and her mom hugging and smiling in a park at some point during Emily's treatment for lymphoma

My daughter, Emily is my hero! She is 25 years old and was diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma in June 2018. Her initial symptoms started with a cough and her losing weight while we lived in Texas, which we assumed was from her working her new job, which was very physical. We left Texas May 26 and drove from Fort Hood to Massachusetts, almost 2000 miles. None of us knew Emily was so sick. It took us four days to get back home.

Her cough got worse and she developed a huge lump on her neck, she finally couldn't take the pain and asked to go to the ER. We spent the whole day with testing and most came back as lymphoma, they were not sure whether it was Hodgkin or non-Hodgkin lymphoma. After numerous cat scans, X-rays and lab work, they were able to tell that Emily had an enormous amount of fluid around her lungs and her heart. They also noticed a 14 mm mass in the center of her chest and some on each side of her neck.

I am still shocked that my daughter has cancer. I watched her take needle after needle, to remove the fluid from her around her lungs. They ended up draining almost 800 cc from her lungs. An IV bag holds 1200cc, so you can imagine how much was in there. That was the day I knew she was a strong cookie and she was going to make it through this.

She has an amazing spirit and the only thing she is worried about is her bills. She's not worried about losing her hair or any of that. Just her bills. We had a shaving party for her after she started losing it. I am hoping we can get her some help financially. This would greatly ease her mind and worries.

Emily

Lymphoma Survivor

We are Blood Cancer United.

Everyone affected by blood cancer—patients, survivors, caregivers, researchers, advocates, fundraisers, everyone—has a story. Share yours.
Lisa and a man standing in a football stadium holding white, yellow and red Light The Night lanterns

Lisa

Lymphoma survivor

James, volunteer and survivor, pictured with group of friends

James

Volunteer and survivor

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Lynette

Volunteer

Headshot of Todd wearing suit and tie, a cancer survivor

Todd

Volunteer

Smiling person with short hair and glasses photographed against a light background, expressing warmth, resilience, and hope while representing the blood cancer community.

Danyele

Hodgkin lymphoma (HL)

A group of children and an adult stand together inside a large, illuminated droplet‑shaped display surrounded by handwritten messages of support. A sign below reads “Blood Cancer United,” with a QR code lit underneath. The colorful, hopeful scene reflects community solidarity and awareness for blood cancer.

Bruce

Hodgkin lymphoma (HL)

A person sits in a treatment chair wearing a black shirt that reads “DONE” with a purple heart ribbon, holding a small dog pillow while connected to medical equipment. The clinical setting and triumphant message on the shirt create a powerful moment that can accompany stories related to blood cancer, resilience, and completing treatment milestones.

Jessica

Hodgkin lymphoma (HL)

Young adult blood cancer survivor, Olivia, with her hands in the air celebrating

Olivia

Stage IVB Hodgkin lymphoma (HL)

Family visiting a loved one during blood cancer treatment in a hospital room. A patient rests in a hospital bed surrounded by family members wearing protective masks, with medical equipment visible nearby. This powerful image highlights the impact of blood cancer on families, the importance of caregiver support, and the realities of leukemia, lymphoma, and other blood cancer treatments during hospitalization.

Brandon

Family member and supporter

Alec standing in front of LightThe Night signage in a park at a Light The Night event. Alec is wearing a blue shirt with the words, "Survivor, Light The Night" printed on it and holding a white Light The Night survivor lantern.

Alec

Primary mediastinal large B-cell lymphoma (PMBCL)

Headshot of Nastasha, shoulder length straight blonde hair, in a red jacket and smiling

Natasha

primary central nervous system lymphoma (PCNSL)

Snapshot of Tricia with her family, a cancer survivor

Tricia

Staff

The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) is now Blood Cancer United. Learn more.