
AJ Kitt
In this episode, four-time Olympic downhill skier AJ Kitt shares his diagnosis of chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) and how revolutionary medical advances transformed an unsettling diagnosis into a manageable part of his everyday life.
AJ opens up about the initial shock of the news, the emotional toll it took on his young family, and how finding CML pioneer, Dr. Brian Druker, restored his confidence amid deep uncertainty. The conversation dives into his treatment with tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs), the vital importance of self-advocacy, and how he continues to thrive as both an athlete and a ski coach. Tune in to hear why AJ believes that access to reliable information is the ultimate game-changer for anyone navigating a new CML diagnosis.
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Mentioned on this episode:
Chronic myeloid leukemia
CML podcast with Dr. Druker
Hematology Horizons vlog episode: Blood cancer care close to home
Shared Decision Making Chronic Leukemias
CML programs
Additional Blood Cancer United Support Resources:
Information Specialists
Free Nutrition Consultations
Nutrition Handbook for Parents Free telephone/web patient programs
Clinical Trial Support Center
SHARE web series
Online videos
Free booklets
Young Adult Resources
Young Adult Online Chat
Caregiver support
Caregiver Workbook
Support groups
Patient Community
Medical Debt Case Management Program
Financial support
Survivorship Workbook
Advocacy and Public Policy
Mental Health Resources
The post Chronic Myeloid Leukemia (CML): Four Olympics, One Unexpected Diagnosis first appeared on The Bloodline with Blood Cancer United Podcast.
Sep 21
31 min

Laura DeKraker Lang-Ree
When a child is diagnosed with cancer, parents are suddenly expected to manage medications, appointments, treatment decisions, family life, and overwhelming emotions, often all at once.
In this episode, we speak with Laura DeKraker Lang-Ree, pediatric cancer parent, advocate, and author of The Cancer Parent’s Handbook, about the practical guidance she wishes every family received from day one. Laura shares powerful insights from her family’s journey after her three-year-old daughter was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). She offers actionable guidance on child advocacy, trusting parental instincts, engaging siblings, and maintaining normalcy during treatment. Additionally, Laura explores strategies for helping children thrive post-treatment, providing crucial hope and support for families facing some of their hardest days.
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Mentioned on this episode:
Dare to Dream
PedAL trial
Navigating Blood Cancer for Children and Teens
The Cancer Parent’s Handbook: What Your Oncologist Doesn’t Have Time To Tell You
Pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL)
Pediatric acute myeloid leukemia (AML)
Caregiver support
Caregiver Workbook
Additional Blood Cancer United Support Resources:
Information Specialists
Free Nutrition Consultations
Nutrition Handbook for Parents Free telephone/web patient programs
Clinical Trial Support Center
SHARE web series
Online videos
Free booklets
Young Adult Resources
Young Adult Online Chat
Support groups
Patient Community
Medical Debt Case Management Program
Financial support
Survivorship Workbook
Advocacy and Public Policy
Mental Health Resources
The post A Parent’s Guide to Childhood Cancer: Support, Advocacy, and Hope first appeared on The Bloodline with Blood Cancer United Podcast.
Sep 11
43 min

Jay Yang, MD
You cannot have progress without research.
In our latest episode, Dr. Jay Yang of the Karmanos Cancer Institute in Detroit, MI, breaks down the essentials of MDS care, from risk-based treatment plans to managing fatigue and exploring promising new therapies. Tune in to find out why the future of MDS treatment is brighter than ever.
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Mentioned on this episode:
Myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS)
MDS patient videos
Acute myeloid leukemia (AML)
Allogeneic stem cell transplant
Graft-vs-host disease
Clinical Trial Support Center
Additional Blood Cancer United Support Resources:
Information Specialists
Free Nutrition Consultations
Free telephone/web patient programs
SHARE web series
Online videos
Free booklets
Young Adult Resources
Young Adult Online Chat
Support groups
Patient Community
Caregiver support
Caregiver Workbook
Medical Debt Case Management Program
Financial support
Survivorship Workbook
Advocacy and Public Policy
Mental Health Resources
Episode supported by Bristol Myers Squibb and Taiho Oncology, Inc.
The post Myelodysplastic Syndromes (MDS): Progress, Possibility, and What’s Next first appeared on The Bloodline with Blood Cancer United Podcast.
Aug 28
38 min

Kim and Josh Woda
Two college students. Two lymphoma diagnoses. One unexpected love story.
In this episode, we speak with Kim and Josh Woda, who were both diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma while attending college. They share how they navigated school during treatment, coped with relapse and stem cell transplant, found support in the cancer community, and unexpectedly found each other. Their story is a powerful reminder that connection, understanding, and hope can appear when you least expect it.
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Mentioned on this episode:
Young Adult Resources
Young Adult Online Chat
Young Adult Cancer Organizations
Support groups
Patient Community
CancerCare®
Hodgkin lymphoma
Allogeneic stem cell transplant
Additional Blood Cancer United Support Resources:
Information Specialists
Clinical Trial Support Center
Free Nutrition Consultations
Free telephone/web patient programs
SHARE web series
Online videos
Free booklets
Caregiver support
Caregiver Workbook
Medical Debt Case Management Program
Financial support
Survivorship Workbook
Advocacy and Public Policy
Mental Health Resources
Episode supported by Kyowa Kirin Pharmaceutical Development Inc and Merck & Co.The post Finding Each Other Along the Way: A Cancer Love Story first appeared on The Bloodline with Blood Cancer United Podcast.
Aug 17
51 min

Behind every policy is a patient, caregiver, or family whose story helped make change possible.
In this episode, we speak with Andrea Sanchez and Becki Chandler, volunteer advocates with Blood Cancer United, about the power of patient voices in shaping public policy. Drawing from their own family experiences with blood cancer, they discuss issues ranging from medical debt and insurance coverage to clinical trial access and research funding and explain how patients and caregivers can make their voices heard.
Learn why sharing your story matters and how personal experiences help lawmakers see that patients are more than numbers on a page. Behind every statistic is a real person, a unique story, and a family impacted by blood cancer.
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CLICK HERE to participate in our episode survey.
Mentioned on this episode:
Blood Cancer United Advocacy and Office of Public Policy – sign up for volunteer advocacy or sharing your voice here
Medical Debt Case Management Program
Financial support
Accelerating Kids Access to Care Act
Dare to Dream
Blood Cancer United Scholarship program
Blood Cancer Care Close to Home vlog episode
National Institutes of Health (NIH)
Advocating for Yourself: Insurance, Finances, and Your Rights podcast episode
Additional Blood Cancer United Support Resources:
Information Specialists
Clinical Trial Support Center
Young Adult Resources
Young Adult Online Chat
Free Nutrition Consultations
Free telephone/web patient programs
SHARE web series
Online videos
Free booklets
Patient Community
Caregiver support
Caregiver Workbook
Support groups
Survivorship Workbook
Mental Health Resources
The post Making Your Voice Count: The Power of Patient Advocacy first appeared on The Bloodline with Blood Cancer United Podcast.
Jul 30
55 min

Monica Fawzy Bryant, Esq.
Cancer affects more than your health. It can impact your finances, insurance coverage, employment, and daily life. In this episode, Monica Fawzy Bryant, Esq. of Triage Cancer joins us to discuss common financial and insurance challenges patients and caregivers may face after a cancer diagnosis, including understanding health insurance, managing medical debt, appealing insurance denials, finding financial assistance, and avoiding gaps in coverage. Monica also shares practical resources and strategies to help individuals make informed decisions and reduce the financial stress that can come with cancer.
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CLICK HERE to participate in our episode survey.
Mentioned on this episode:
Financial support
Medical Debt Case Management Program
Triage Cancer
No Surprises Act
No Surprises Act Help Desk – 1-800-985-3059
How Do I? Insurance Series
Insurance Coverage
Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA)
Continuation of Health Coverage (COBRA)
Chart of State Laws
Appeals
Insurance Guides and Worksheets
October 2026 Webinar-Understanding Changes to Medicaid & the Marketplace: What Patients and Caregivers Need to Know
Caregiver support
Caregiver Workbook
Advocacy and Public Policy
Additional Blood Cancer United Support Resources:
Information Specialists
Clinical Trial Support Center
Young Adult Resources
Young Adult Online Chat
Free Nutrition Consultations
Free telephone/web patient programs
SHARE web series
Online videos
Free booklets
Patient Community
Support groups
Survivorship Workbook
Mental Health Resources
The post Advocating for Yourself: Insurance, Finances, and Your Rights first appeared on The Bloodline with Blood Cancer United Podcast.
Jul 21
54 min

Jonathon Cohen, MD, MS
When you hear the word “aggressive,” it can feel overwhelming, but in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), it can also point to something encouraging – a potential cure.
In this episode, we speak with Dr. Jonathon Cohen, of Winship Cancer Institute in Atlanta, GA, about what a DLBCL diagnosis really means, from how this common type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma is identified to current treatment options and emerging therapies. We explain what patients and families need to know about side effects. We also look at new treatments, including CAR T-cell therapy and bispecific antibodies, and the importance of open communication with your care team.
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Mentioned on this episode:
Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma
CAR T-cell therapy
Stem cell transplantation
Bispecific antibodies (immunotherapy fact sheet)
Clinical Trial Support Center
Additional Blood Cancer United Support Resources:
Information Specialists
Young Adult Resources
Young Adult Online Chat
Financial support
Free Nutrition Consultations
Free telephone/web patient programs
SHARE web series
Online videos
Free booklets
Patient Community
Support groups
Caregiver support
Caregiver Workbook
Survivorship Workbook
Advocacy and Public Policy
Mental Health Resources
Episode supported by Genmab US, Inc.The post Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma (DLBCL): Breaking Down an Aggressive Lymphoma first appeared on The Bloodline with Blood Cancer United Podcast.
Jun 25
38 min

Samuel Brotkin, PhD, Chelsea Kaye, LCSW and Elissa Baldwin
Recorded onsite at CancerCon®, a young adult cancer conference presented by Stupid Cancer®, we talk about what resilience really means after a cancer diagnosis, and why it’s not about always being “strong.”
Join us alongside Sam Brotkin, PhD, a clinical psychologist at Bull City Behavioral Health and Chelsea Kaye, LCSW, an Information Specialist at Blood Cancer United. In this episode, we share compassionate, practical strategies for building lifelong resilience. Learn how to manage expectations, find trusted support, and give yourself grace exactly where you are today.
Although this discussion comes from a young adult cancer conference, the insights shared are relevant across all ages and experiences.
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CLICK HERE to participate in our episode survey.
Mentioned on this episode:
Information Specialists
Young Adult Resources
Young Adult Online Chat
Bobby’s Coaches
Stupid Cancer
The Bloodline Live: Emphasizing the Patient Voice in Young Adult Cancer Care – featuring Dr. Abby Rosenberg
Additional Blood Cancer United Support Resources:
Financial support
Free Nutrition Consultations
Clinical Trial Support Center
Free telephone/web patient programs
SHARE web series
Online videos
Free booklets
Patient Community
Support groups
Caregiver support
Caregiver Workbook
Survivorship Workbook
Advocacy and Public Policy
Mental Health Resources
Episode supported by Merck & Co., Inc.
The post The Bloodline Live!: Redefining Resilience first appeared on The Bloodline with Blood Cancer United Podcast.
Jun 12
21 min

Tania Jain, MBBS
What does a myelofibrosis (MF) diagnosis really mean, and how does it fit within a group of conditions called myeloproliferative neoplasms, or MPNs? In this episode, we’re joined by Dr. Tania Jain of Johns Hopkins Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center in Baltimore, MD, who helps break it all down in a clear and approachable way.
She discusses how myelofibrosis affects the bone marrow, common symptoms to watch for, and how treatment options are tailored to each person. From managing day-to-day challenges to understanding when more advanced treatments may be considered, this conversation focuses on what matters most to patients and families.
As Dr. Jain shares, “every patient writes their own story,” noting that advancing research offers genuine hope.
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CLICK HERE to participate in our episode survey.
Mentioned on this episode:
Myelofibrosis (MF)
DIPSS/DIPSS plus myelofibrosis scoring
Myelofibrosis: Charting the Course for Care
Allogeneic stem cell transplantation
Acute myeloid leukemia (AML)
Clinical Trial Support Center
Online Chat
Additional Blood Cancer United Support Resources:
Information Specialists
Financial support
Free Nutrition Consultations
Free telephone/web patient programs
Free booklets
Patient Community
Support groups
Caregiver support
Caregiver Workbook
Young Adult Resources
Survivorship Workbook
Advocacy and Public Policy
Mental Health Resources
Episode supported by Takeda Oncology.The post Myelofibrosis (MF): More Options, More Hope first appeared on The Bloodline with Blood Cancer United Podcast.
May 29
46 min

Some people with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) may feel well day to day, but that doesn’t mean life stays the same. In this episode, we hear from Annette Holloway, a clinical psychologist living with CLL, as she shares how her diagnosis, treatment decisions, and side effects have shaped her daily life. Also joining us is Elise Curry, RN, OCN, a Clinical Trial Nurse Navigator at Blood Cancer United’s Clinical Trial Support Center, who helps break down treatment options, side effects, and the importance of communication with your care team.
DOWNLOAD TRANSCRIPT
CLICK HERE to participate in our episode survey.
Mentioned on this episode:
Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL)
Clinical Trial Support Center
Minimal/measurable residual disease (MRD)
Patti Robinson Kaufmann First Connection ® program
Online Chat
Patient Community
Support groups
Caregiver support
Lessons in Blood Cancer Video: CLL
Shared Decision Making in Chronic Leukemias interactive program
CLL Society
Patient Power
Additional Blood Cancer United Support Resources:
Information Specialists
Financial support
Free Nutrition Consultations
Free telephone/web patient programs
Free booklets
Caregiver Workbook
Young Adult Resources
Survivorship Workbook
Advocacy and Public Policy
Mental Health Resources
Episode supported by AbbVie Inc.; BeOne Medicines; and Genentech, A Member of the Roche Group.The post Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL): Managing Treatment and Finding Balance first appeared on The Bloodline with Blood Cancer United Podcast.
May 15
43 min
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