Patient Stories
MCL touches every life differently. These are first-person stories from our community — what diagnosis felt like, how treatment unfolded, what helped, and what they wish they'd known. We share them because no one should face MCL alone, and because hearing from people who have walked this path can be one of the most powerful resources of all.
Cathy's Story: Standing at the Starting Line
In May 2021, a routine mammogram led to a diagnosis Cathy never expected — mantle cell lymphoma. After nearly five years of watch and wait, she is standing at the threshold of treatment and sharing the journey that brought her here.
Kelly's Story: Today Is the Gift
Four years ago, Kelly DeWitt was rushed to the hospital with a 2½-pound mass and diagnosed with blastoid mantle cell lymphoma — one of the most aggressive variants of the disease. She shares what those four years have taught her about gratitude, joy, and choosing to celebrate the ordinary.
Kris's Story: I Was So Wrong About My Last Chapter
Kris Tuchek, a co-founder of the MCLA and a Physician Assistant for more than 25 years, was diagnosed four years ago with an aggressive, high-risk form of mantle cell lymphoma — and without realizing it, she started living to die. Writing two years to the day after receiving Tecartus CAR-T cell therapy, she shares what it took to get there, the deep remission she did not expect, and why no patient should have to travel across the country to understand their options.
Larry's Story: Living with MCL Since 2012
Larry Fagan, an MCLA Board Member, was diagnosed with mantle cell lymphoma in 2012 — just after retiring and his son's college graduation. He shares his treatment journey at Stanford, the unusual way he learned about his diagnosis, and how an online community of MCL patients eventually led him to help start the MCLA.
Want to share your story?
If you've been diagnosed with MCL — or you've cared for someone who has — your story could help someone who is just starting their journey. We'd love to hear from you.
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