Hodgkin Lymphoma Graeme Sacks – Composing a new chapter
April 1, 2026 Word for Word Media
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Graeme Sacks shares how music has been his healing companion through years of living with Hodgkin lymphoma.

Graeme Sacks (57) lives in Johannesburg, Gauteng with his wife. Music is a big part of Graeme’s life; he had a successful career as a professional musician until he was diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) in 2012. However, the song didn’t end there. Throughout the 13 years of relapses and new treatment regimens, music was a constant which instilled calm, gave him hope, and helped his healing process. This prompted him to return to university, in 2017, and complete a…

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Hodgkin Lymphoma Classical Hodgkin lymphoma
February 3, 2026 Word for Word Media
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Dr Sharlene Parasnath explains the treatment landscape and patient journey of classical Hodgkin lymphoma.

Short on time? Listen to the audio version of this article here, or by using your favourite podcast player

Classical Hodgkin lymphoma (cHL) is a cancer of the lymphatic system and one of the great success stories of modern oncology. It’s highly curable, even when diagnosed at advanced stages.2 Yet, in South Africa (SA), many patients still present late, with Stage 3 or 4 disease, often after weeks or months of unexplained fevers, weight loss, night sweats,…

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Hodgkin Lymphoma Lymphoma survivorship journey
August 4, 2025 Word for Word Media
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Dr Garrick Laudin describes the lymphoma survivorship journey. 

A recap on lymphoma Lymphomas are cancers of lymph nodes. The lymphatic system is the main component of the immune system comprised of lymph nodes (site where immune cells reside) and lymphatic channels that closely follow the course of blood vessels.  Lymphomas encompass two broad groups, namely Hodgkin (HL) and non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL). Within the category of NHL, the subtypes are diverse with both aggressive and less aggressive (indolent) forms. The diversity of the lymphoma subtypes also reflects the varied needs and survivorship of patients with these different lymphomas.  What is survivorship?  Survivorship…

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Hodgkin Lymphoma Bradlee Tyack – In remission
August 4, 2025 Word for Word Media
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Bradlee Tyack shares why he insisted on having LifegainÂź Advanced Nutritional Supplement with him while in isolation after a stem cell transplant.

Bradlee Tyack (36) lives in Cape Town with his dog. Hodgkin lymphoma diagnosis In February 2023, Bradlee was diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma. The first symptom was a lump in his groin, then more lumps under his arms and neck. “I then started losing control of my body. I couldn’t concentrate at work, sweated a lot while sleeping, and I just knew something was up,” Bradlee explains. When Bradlee went to a GP, blood tests…

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Hodgkin Lymphoma A bird’s eye view of Hodgkin lymphoma
September 27, 2023 Word for Word Media
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Dr Garrick Laudin helps us understand the disease process of Hodgkin lymphoma and the available treatments thereof. What is Hodgkin lymphoma? Hodgkin lymphoma is a disease process typically confined to the lymph nodes and lymphatic structures throughout the body. Lymph nodes are collections of tissue distributed strategically throughout the head, neck, chest, armpits, abdomen and groin that contain soldier cells (lymphocytes) which are primed to fight invading organisms. In lymphomas, lymphocytes multiply uncontrollably even in the absence of an intruder and spread to different lymph node groups via special lymphatic channels. If untreated, your disease may spread to tissues (bone…

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Hodgkin Lymphoma Gabriella Kourie – Lessons learnt from a diagnosis at age 19
July 29, 2022 Word for Word Media
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Gabriella Kourie tells us how she dealt with the diagnosis of Hodgkin lymphoma at age 19 and what she learnt from it. Gabriella Kourie (26) lives in Johannesburg, Gauteng and recently got engaged. Stage 2 Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) Gabi was nearing the end of her first year of studies in BSc (occupational therapy) when she became extremely fatigued. “I would sleep anything between eight to 12 hours a day. I thought it was burnout from studying for the up-and-coming end of year exams. I was unable to finish more than 15 minutes of exercise without feeling lightheaded. Two months leading up to…

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Hodgkin Lymphoma Thami Tshabalala: the Batsumi biker
August 2, 2021 Word for Word Media
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Thami Tshabalala, a Hodgkin’s lymphoma survivor, tells us more about his treatment journey and his love for bikes. Thami Tshabalala (37) lives in Soweto, Gauteng.  Diagnosis In 2017, Thami had a persistent cough. “I went to the chemist and self-medicated as I don’t like going to doctors,” he explains. “However, it didn’t help so I got something else; that also didn’t help so I decided to go to the doctor.” By this time, Thami had lost weight, was itchy all over his body, had swollen glands under his armpits and was experiencing fatigue.  A chest X-ray showed that Thami had growths on his…

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Hodgkin Lymphoma Xolani Hlongwane – Embracing change
June 1, 2020 Word for Word Media
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From being a successful group HR administrator to now working as a donor recruiter and education specialist at The Sunflower Fund, Xolani Hlongwane tells us how his life changed after surviving Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Xolani Hlongwane (36) lives in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal with his partner of two years. Growing up in the township of Lamontville, Xolani is the eldest of four children. He became the first person in his family to attend university; an achievement his parents are extremely proud of.  Xolani paid for his education by waiting on tables and completed it by sheer determination, not only to make a success of himself but…

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Archives Winning at life
September 1, 2016 Word for Word Media
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Professional rower, Lawrence Brittain, not only beat his way to a silver medal at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, in the Men’s Coxless Pair with Shaun Keeling, but most importantly, he also beat cancer. He shares his twofold victory with us. Lawrence Brittian (25) stays in Pretoria and is currently studying BCom Marketing at the University of Pretoria. Lawrence couldn’t wait to start high school at Parktown Boys’ High School for one reason only – to start rowing. “My dad had been in the national team and my older brother was rowing, so I couldn’t wait to get started,” Lawrence…

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