Bold Advocates for Blood Cancers and Blood Disorders

Blood diseases place a huge burden on individual patients, their families and on wider society. Yet advances in hematology treatment give so much cause for hope. It’s our responsibility to turn that hope into reality. Hear from five bold advocates who inspire us.
Sep 01, 2020

September is Blood Cancer Awareness Month. Get to know the stories of people living with, or advocating for those impacted by blood cancers and blood disorders. People who, in their own bold way, challenge the status quo – for themselves and those around them.

Support among patients brings out hope for the future in Myelodysplastic Syndrome (MDS)

Patient living with myelodysplastic syndrome enjoying time outdoors

What I would say to other MDS patients is there is hope. There are resources and support groups, and we will try to answer any questions you have and we’ll work together to get through it.

Jill, living with myelodysplastic syndrome

Life with MDS

Jill shares how her family helped her overcome an MDS diagnosis.

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Understanding CAR-T cell therapy in advanced B-cell blood cancers

Steve, architect and patient with advanced B-cell blood cancer

I had a tenacity to pursue, research and study. I pressed my doctor to give me some other choice. He told me about CAR-T cell therapy. I spent my waking hours researching, reading every article and learning all there was to be learned.

Steve, who received CAR-T cell therapy for his advanced B-cell blood cancer

Stories of CAR-T

Getting to know more about CAR-T cell therapy can be an important part of advocating for yourself and for patients.

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The untold stories of sickle cell disease

Patient living with sickle cell disease

For the teenagers living with sickle cell and the young people, don’t let sickle cell hold you back from your dreams or aspirations because you can achieve anything you want to achieve, as corny as it sounds. Just don’t give up. You can do it.

Faith, living with sickle cell disease

Faith grows up to become a warrior

Faith shares her experiences as a young person living with sickle cell disease.

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Speaking up when Chronic Myeloid Leukemia (CML) stops being the “good cancer”

Patient who has been living with chronic myeloid leukemia for over 18 year
 

I challenged my doctor, often asking questions, ‘What’s next? What can you do for me?’ Just to see what else is out there – always hoping there's something more coming up.

Lisa, diagnosed with chronic myeloid leukemia 18 years ago

Lisa’s speaks up about “not so tamed” CML

Lisa’s shares her story and reflects upon the ongoing unmet needs in CML, despite the many advances in this disease.

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Helping Myeloproliferative Neoplasms (MPN) patients help themselves

Advocating for patient living myeloproliferative neoplasms
 

I like to use the acronym HIKE with MPN patients. I want to provide hope, inspiration, knowledge and education to patients to help them HIKE through their journey.

Cherly, advocate for patients living with myeloproliferative neoplasms