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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.
Rachel in hospital with head wrap holding "It's my last day of chemo" sign

Rachel

lymphoma

Woman with glasses looking into camera

Chrissy

B-cell follicular lymphoma (FL)

Copilot said: Close-up selfie of an older adult wearing glasses and a navy shirt with an “I Voted” sticker, seated in a car, highlighting everyday resilience and community engagement within the blood cancer community and survivorship journey.

Fred

non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) and chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL)

Heriberto, Burkitt lymphoma (BL) patient, with wife on his wedding day

Heriberto

Burkitt lymphoma (BL)

Steven, a young white male with dark hair and light mustache and beard wearing sunglasses and life vest over white and black shirt standing on a boat

Steven

non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL)

Photo of a mature woman standing on a savannah feeding a giraffe out of her hand

Lisa

Lymphoma, myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS)/acute myeloid leukemia (AML)

A group of cyclists wearing matching purple and white “Team in Training” jerseys ride together during a sunny charity event supporting The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, raising awareness for blood cancer.

Joy

peripheral T-cell lymphoma (PTCL)

A person stands on a quiet, snow‑covered woodland path, wearing a dark zip‑up jacket lightly dusted with snowflakes. Bare winter trees surround the trail, creating a still, muted landscape. The cold air and gently falling snow evoke a sense of resilience and reflection—an atmosphere that mirrors the strength often required in a journey with blood cancer.

Tim

non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL)

A portrait-style image shows an individual with shoulder-length, light-brown hair, wearing a purple textured top against a neutral gray background. The calm, studio-like setting conveys a sense of steadiness and dignity, offering a quiet contrast to the difficult realities of a blood cancer journey. The overall composition evokes strength through simplicity, highlighting a moment of poised stillness amid uncertainty.

Debra

Family member, volunteer, supporter/donor

inspirational-stories-blood-cancer-daniel.jpeg

Daniel

Family member and supporter

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Dana

non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL)

A woman shares a joyful moment with the character Piglet at a sunny theme park, standing close together as the bright pink costume radiates playfulness and warmth. The lively crowd and cheerful atmosphere create a sense of lightness and celebration—reflecting the importance of holding onto happiness, hope, and cherished memories for families whose lives have been touched by blood cancer.

Chris

Advocate

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