Raise Your Voice for Blood Cancer Awareness

Thank you AstraZeneca for sponsoring this post.

Hello and welcome to my blog! I am the founder of The Creative Cottage and Health and Wellness is one of the main topics I cover. I am also a Contributing Writer on Arianna Huffington’s health and wellness website Thrive Global.

Today, I’d like to give a shout out to a cause that has a lot of personal significance for me.

September was National Blood Cancer Awareness Month. Quite a few of my friends and family members have been diagnosed with one or more forms of cancer. This also includes blood cancers, making me extremely passionate about raising awareness for all forms of cancer.

Since 2007 I’ve been volunteering my time with various organizations to help support research and find a cure for blood cancer and other types of diseases. Most of my volunteer activities have been in the form of raising money while participating in different long distance cycling, running and triathlon events.

Living with a blood cancer is challenging but great resources and the support of friends and family can help you navigate it.

Lynn Smythe, founder and chief blogger for The Creative Cottage, at St. Anthony’s Triathlon to help raise funds and awareness for blood cancer.

Fundraising for a Cause

Recently, one of my former cycling teammates, who also coached one of my triathlon teams, was diagnosed with cancer. Her form of blood cancer is CLL – Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia.

At first it seemed a bit ironic, all these years my friend, coach and mentor has been participating in various charity events to help other people who have been diagnosed with blood cancer.

But, she’s not one to let life’s challenges get her down. In fact, she accepts her new normal head on and has committed to a new fundraising effort. Normally she dedicates her fundraising to an honored hero, either someone that is currently battling a blood cancer, or someone who, unfortunately, has lost the battle.

Here is a summary of the message she put on her fundraising page:

“I’ve been a part of finding a cure for blood cancer for close to 20 years as an athlete, mentor and coach. Every event I took part in I honored my heroes (fighters, survivors and angels) by carrying their name when I ran, on my bike when I rode or in my heart when I swam. I’ll still be carrying those other names with me but this time my name is also on the list.

I was diagnosed with CLL on January 2, 2020. I have decided to take on a new challenge to raise funds and discover new treatment methods for leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin’s disease and myeloma, while helping improve the quality of life for patients and their families.”

Lynn Smythe, founder and chief blogger for The Creative Cottage, participating in a local triathlon to help raise funds and awareness for blood cancer.

Living With Blood Cancer

My heart and soul go out to support my friend and others who are fighting their own personal health crisis battles. Finding a viable treatment option for cancer is an ongoing challenge for, not only the patient, but also for their friends and family.

Luckily treatment modalities are available for CLL and other blood cancers. One such option is CALQUENCE® (acalabrutinib) capsules.

Did you know that CALQUENCE is a way to help those with a blood cancer diagnosis continue living their current lifestyle?

CALQUENCE is a prescription medicine used to treat adult patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) or small lymphocytic lymphoma (SLL).

The US Food & Drug Administration, FDA, has approved this treatment option after obtaining positive results from two clinical trials. CALQUENCE has been proven to significantly reduce the risk of disease progression or death in patients with previously untreated and relapsed or refractory CLL. In one of the clinical trials, patients with previously-untreated CLL were 80% less likely to have their disease worsen or to die with CALQUENCE compared to patients who took a different treatment (chlorambucil plus obinutuzumab).

Taking your CLL medication should be as convenient as an oral, twice a day capsule, allowing you to focus on the lifestyle you want.

Lover of Life and Content With Her World

My friend, mentor and former coach certainly is an inspiration. She tirelessly gives of her free time, even during this difficult time in her own life.

Here is her mantra of love and encouragement for her friends and family, near and far:

“I hope you know the world is better because you are in it.”

Select Safety Information

CALQUENCE may cause serious side effects including: serious infections, bleeding problems, decrease in blood cell count, new cancers, and heart rhythm problems. Some may lead to death. Tell your doctor if you experience unexpected infections such as flu-like symptoms; bleeding such as blood in your stool or urine; or heart rhythm problems such as fast or irregular heartbeat. Use sun protection when outside in sunlight.

Please see full Prescribing Information, including Patient Information.