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Monica is
Blood Cancer United

Smiling woman with short hair and smiling man holding little girl with a flower arrangement

Monica was learning how to be a new mom to a six-month-old baby when her night sweats got worse and worse. She also seemed to have a cough that would not go away. It turns out that her symptoms were not due to the daycare bugs her daughter brought home. In April 2017, she was diagnosed with non-Hodgkins lymphoma. Her clinical care team discovered a malignant 5 inch mass in her chest near her heart.

She was surprised to hear the news but had the privilege of knowing a thing or two about cancer. She had recently worked at Northwestern University on cancer disparities in Chicago and previously, worked as a management and operations consultant to help clinical care teams and administrative support staff redesign their processes and improve their team culture at the Stanford Health Care cancer center, in the hematology and gynecologic oncology departments.

She is currently in remission and loving every minute of life with her husband, toddler, and two miniature American shepherd dogs. She attended her first Light The Night walk in Chicago. She does not take The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society for granted as they fund research and advocate for all to receive the best care with intent to cure patients diagnosed with blood cancers.

Monica

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

A blood cancer patient stands with friends at an outdoor Blood Cancer United event, wearing colorful leis and holding heart-shaped signs while posing together in front of a branded backdrop, creating a celebratory and supportive atmosphere.

Carlos

non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL)

Portrait of a blood cancer survivor wearing glasses and a checkered button-down shirt while seated indoors against a neutral background. The image highlights resilience, advocacy, and the experiences of individuals living with or recovering from blood cancer.

Robert

non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL)

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

Side-by-side portraits showing a blood cancer survivor and Team In Training participant in 2012 and 2022. In the first image, the individual wears a Team In Training shirt and points to the program logo. In the second image, the same individual stands wearing multiple race medals earned through endurance fundraising events. The photo illustrates a decade of resilience, survivorship, and advocacy in the blood cancer community, highlighting the impact of fundraising, patient support, and blood cancer research.

Max

non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL)

Black-and-white close-up portrait of a family gathered together at home, with a young child in the center and two adults nearby. The image highlights the importance of family support, connection, and resilience during a blood cancer diagnosis, reflecting the experiences of patients, caregivers, and loved ones navigating blood cancer treatment and survivorship together.

Maria

Hodgkin lymphoma (HL)

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