A Story of Hope and Persistence

communityreply@lls.org — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 17:40:54 GMT

John Haluck became part of the LLS family almost a decade ago. He is now a trustee of the Greater Sacramento Area chapter and is not only a survivor but is a huge supporter of LLS.

When I was diagnosed with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) in 2000, I was no stranger to leukemia, having lost a good friend to the disease. Still, going in for a routine physical and finding out I had an "incurable" form of cancer was a massive shock to both me and my family. I looked at my three kids and I wondered if I would be around to see any of them graduate from college or get married. It was the worst weekend of my life.

My doctor recommended a "watch and wait" approach, since my form of leukemia was chronic, not acute, and some people have lived twenty years with CLL.

However, my cancer progressed much faster than my hematologist could foresee. By 2004, he recommended that I start chemotherapy soon, as the cancerous lymphocytes were increasing in number and could cause a stroke. He told me that there was no hope for a cure and advised me against looking for a clinical trial.

By this time, I was volunteering with my local chapter of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, chairing and helping organize the annual Light The Night Walk. I also learned about a doctor who has been funded by LLS and does leading edge research in CLL - Michael Keating, MD, at the MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston. I contacted him and heard back immediately - he would see me as soon as I was ready.

The morning after the Light The Night Walk, I boarded a Southwest flight for Houston. After a battery of tests, I waited to see Dr. Keating. In walked this big, burly man (a rugby player, no less) who grabbed my hand and then gave me a big bear-hug. To my surprise, he said, "John, I think that we have a very promising treatment for you!"

I called my wife, who flew in, and I started a clinical trial the next day of a new targeted drug, Rituxan®, which was developed with the help of funding from LLS. The rest is history. After four days of therapy, my white cell count had dropped to normal! A week later, the lumpy cancerous lymphocytes had disappeared from my lymph nodes. It was happening just as Dr. Keating had described.

Now I've had 53 months in complete remission. I feel a debt of gratitude to Dr. Keating and LLS, whose funding helped make Rituxan a reality. I have my life, and am able to enjoy it. And I have hope!

-- John Haluck

You can also listen to a short audio clip of John sharing his support of LLS.

If you've been diagnosed with a blood cancer, LLS is here for you:
To speak to an information specialist, call (800) 955-4572, chat online at www.lls.org, or email infocenter@LLS.org.
Find peer support on the Blood Cancer Discussion Boards.
Support the fight against blood cancers with a tax-deductibe year-end gift to LLS.

AML, NHL, MDS - What does it all mean?

communityreply@lls.org — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 21:22:42 GMT

It's so much faster to type MDS rather than Myelodysplastic Syndrome (and easier, too, since I still manage to misspell it). At the same time, though, it can be confusing for people not as familiar with what those abbreviations mean - and especially so for people who are new to the blood cancers.

So what can you do to keep yourself or others straight on all the MDSs or NHLs besides carrying around a reference card?

I'd recommend looking at We need a Quick Reference for Abbreviations, a topic initiated on our Discussion Boards by Lynda. You can also visit our search glossary and type in the abbreviation you are interested in learning more about.

Here are a few to get you started:*

AML = Acute Myelogenous Leukemia

ALL = Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia

CML = Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia

CLL = Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia

NHL = Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma

MDS = Myelodysplastic Syndrome

Do you have any tips or tricks on how to remember so many abbreviations and their meanings?

*Learn more about leukemia, lymphoma, myelodysplastic syndrome, and other blood cancers in our Disease Information section on our website.

The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society Blog

A Story of Hope and Persistence

AML, NHL, MDS - What does it all mean?