Country Music Star Ashley Monroe, 34, Says She Learned about Her Blood Cancer Diagnosis Via Email While Visiting Bandmate Miranda Lambert; Support Through Your Diagnosis

Monroe tells the paper that she’s “doing really well.” She says that the treatment and diagnosis “really forced me into this sweet surrender.” She also admits it’s been an emotional time, though. “I’ve had moments where I was crying and praying but at the same time [said] ‘Why?’ After those, I’ve surrendered. I’m in the moment more. Paying attention to every single thing, whether it be my son doing something sweet or something outside.”

Monroe impressively also released a new EP earlier this month titled The Covers, in which she covers classic songs by bands like The Beach Boys and the Police.

What is a Blood Cancer?

In July, Monroe announced that she’d been diagnosed with a rare type of blood cancer called Waldenstrom macroglobulinemia, a type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma. She’s now treating it with chemotherapy. Her disease was discovered after doing some blood tests with her doctors.

Of her chemo treatment, she tells The Tennessean, “You just don’t feel good after you have your chemo, but I’ve actually bounced back quicker with every cycle that I’ve done. I’m really thankful that I can do as much as I can, feel as good as I can right now.”

The most common types of blood cancers include Hodgkin lymphoma, non-Hodgkin lymphoma, leukemia, and multiple myeloma. The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society reports that every 3 minutes, one person in the U.S. is diagnosed with blood cancer.  This year alone, approximately 186,400 people will be diagnosed with leukemia, lymphoma, or myeloma.

UCSF Hematologist-oncologist Dr. Nina Shah explains in an earlier interview, "In general, having a blood cancer means that your bone marrow is not functioning correctly. And when your bone marrow doesn't function correctly," she says, "it means that you can have something happen to you like anemia."

"Or you can have low platelets, which makes it possible for you to bleed easily. Or your immune system is not functioning correctly. And you can have infections that most people won't have. One cell got really selfish," says Dr. Shah. "And decided that it needed to take up all the resources of everybody else. And in doing so took up space and energy from the rest of the body."

What is a Blood Cancer, How is it Different?

Support Through Cancer

It must’ve been comforting for Monroe to receive such scary, life-changing news while in the company of some of her closest friends, her Pistol Annies bandmates. In fact, she called it a “blessing.” She says that being there with her friends at the time of her diagnosis was “exactly where I needed to be.”

Having a strong community and support network through cancer is a way to make the journey feel less intimidating and less lonely.

When Beverly Reeves was diagnosed with ovarian cancer, she called upon her different communities to help her. And in an earlier interview, she advises other people diagnosed with cancer to do the same. Reeves says, “If I had one piece of advice for someone who had just been diagnosed with cancer, it would be to get a strong support group together.”

“Get your close friends,” says Reeves. “If you’re connected to a faith community, get your faith community. Get your family. Let them know what’s going on and let them help you. And sometimes that’s the most difficult thing to do, but just know that they are there. If they love you, they’re there to help you.”

'Faith, Family, and Friends' Helped Beverly Reeves Get Through Ovarian Cancer Treatment

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