Understanding Lymphoma
- Los Angeles choreographer Jacob Jonas has transformed his stage four lymphoma journey into creative expression, using dance as therapy and a way to process trauma.
- His upcoming trilogy, Keeping Score, premieres March 19–22 at BroadStage in Santa Monica, featuring world premieres that reflect his experiences with illness and healing.
- It’s unclear what type of lymphoma Jonas was diagnosed with. Hodgkin Lymphoma and Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma are the two main types of lymphoma, and their classification depends upon white blood cells and the presence (or absence) of Reed-Sternberg cells.
- They are both cancers of the lymphatic system, which includes lymph nodes, spleen, bone marrow, and other immune tissues.
- Their symptoms can overlap, including swollen lymph nodes, fatigue, fever, night sweats, and unexplained weight loss. However, the way they are treated may vary.
- “There are some lymphomas that are very treatable but not curable,” Dr. Lawrence Piro, President and CEO of The Angeles Clinic and Research Institute in Los Angeles, told SurvivorNet. Lymphoma treatment largely depends on the nature of your specific diagnosis. For non-Hodgkin lymphoma patients, their cancer is more likely to spread randomly and be discovered in different groups of lymph nodes in the body.
Ahead of his soon-to-premiere dance trilogy called “Keeping Score,” Jonas, who has been in remission since April 2023, opened up to the Los Angeles Times on how his health battle has strengthened his connection to his beloved sport.
Read MoreJonas, who says his lymphoma was initially triggered by medication he was taking for Crohn’s disease, explained that his choreography reflects how trauma from his illness and childhood experiences can manifest in the body.
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“I think the reason I have disease in my body, in some part, is because of the stresses, traumas and pains that are stored in my body, in large part because of the environment that I was raised in growing up,” he added.
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He also compared continuing to choreograph to watching waves crash in the ocean, saying he enjoys it because “it never stops.”
“The tides shift, the force of the waves changes, but it always continues. I look at my relationship to my work the same. It’s always just continuing to happen, and if I wanted to stop or run away, the stresses of life wouldn’t stop,” Jonas said.
From March 19 to 22 at BroadStage in Santa Monica, Jonas will unveils “Keeping Score,” which he describes as his most personal and ambitious work to date.
The program includes three world premieres, featuring 12 dancers and eight choir singers.
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In an earlier conversation with Interview Magazine, Jonas said he’s constantly discovering new ways to express himself as he navigates life in the moment.”
He explained in November 2025, “I’ve been practicing closing my eyes recently, taking a lot of deep breaths, and just seeing what ideas come to me.
“Over the past two years, a lot has come up during the time of healing about my life and childhood. I guess dance and creative expression has always been a way to organize and find therapy in what I’ve been going through.”
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Jonas shared how he’s dealt with Crohn’s Disease, a chronic disease that causes inflammation and irritation in the digestive tract, for a good portion of his life.
“I was hospitalized when I was 21 for a few days, and life kind of stopped there. Everything was put on hold. So when this whole journey started, it felt very similar, except the duration was much longer,” Jonas told the magazine.
“But yeah, there’s nothing like being in a hospital room and being in a hospital bed. The treatments I was on didn’t allow me to leave my room, just from the chemicals of the chemotherapy and the drip. When this first started happening, a close friend of mine said I could approach this with fear and anger, or with gratitude for the opportunity. I really just tried to find gratitude in the stillness, and it became very peaceful to surrender.”
Expert Resources on Lymphomas
- Sneaky Lymphoma Symptoms Often Lead to a Late Diagnosis
- Finding Lymphoma Early: Do you Know the Symptoms and Risks?
- Conquering Fear in the Treatment of Large B-Cell Non Hodgkin Lymphoma
- Double-Hit and Triple-Hit Lymphomas May Need More Aggressive Treatment
- Exciting New Developments in Treatment For Mantle Cell Lymphoma
- How Effective is Radiation Treatment for Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma?
- Imbruvica Treats Relapsed Lymphoma in a Different Way
- Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma Treatment — and Beyond
- What to Expect During Your Child’s Lymphoma Treatment
Recounting when he was diagnosed in 2022, Jonas wrote in an Instagram post featuring footage of his hair being shaved off, in the spring of 2023, “This past November, I was diagnosed with stage four cancer. Having had to deal with Crohns most of my life, I was somewhat familiar to dealing a serious health issue, but nothing could have prepared me or my closest community for this curve ball.
“I’ve spent most of the past few months in treatment and in a hospital. I am lucky that my case is showing great progress and I will recover fully. Was waiting to share anything publicly until there was more certainty. I have a few treatments left then am back to work.”
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He continued, “My motivations and goals have changed and I am looking forward to seeing how they manifest. One of the most powerful things I’ve learned through this process is that we in life have many opportunities, both good and bad, and it’s up to us to approach each one with fear or gratitude.
“Framework was the biggest asset to healing and getting through. I want to give a special acknowledgement to my family and close friends who have gotten me through as well as the unbelievable doctors, nurses and caretakers at UCLA health.”
Jonas then said the hardest part has been seeing others worry, though he appreciates their care and support.
Learning About Lymphoma
Lymphoma is a cancer of the immune system that affects infection-fighting cells called lymphocytes. And there are more than 40 different types of lymphoma.
Non-Hodgkin lymphoma and Hodgkin lymphoma are the two most common types. It’s unclear what time Jonas battled.
“Lymphoma is split up into a number of different categories,” Dr. Elise Chong, a medical oncologist at Penn Medicine, previously told SurvivorNet.
“The first distinguishing breakpoint, if you will, is non-Hodgkin lymphoma versus Hodgkin lymphoma,” Dr. Chong explained “and those sound like two different categories. But non-Hodgkin lymphoma comprises the majority of lymphoma, and Hodgkin lymphoma is a single specific type of lymphoma.”
Finding Lymphoma Early: Do you Know the Symptoms and Risks?
Hodgkin lymphoma has distinctive, giant cells called Reed-Sternberg cells. The presence of these cells, which can be seen under a microscope, will help your doctor determine which of the two lymphoma types you have.
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There are a few other important differences between non-Hodgkin lymphoma and Hodgkin lymphoma to note. For one thing, non-Hodgkin lymphoma is much more common, and you’re more likely to be diagnosed with it after age 55. People usually develop Hodgkin lymphoma at a younger age.
Another important differentiation is that non-Hodgkin lymphoma is more likely to spread in a random fashion and be found in different groups of lymph nodes in the body, while Hodgkin lymphoma is more likely to grow in a uniform way from one group of lymph nodes directly to another.
“Non-Hodgkin lymphoma is a big group of [cancers] with a lot of different treatment approaches based on the specific type of lymphoma,” said Dr. Chelsea Pinnix, a radiation oncologist at MD Anderson Cancer Center, to SurvivorNet in a prior interview.
While the most common treatment for non-Hodgkin lymphoma, especially initially, is chemotherapy, many non-Hodgkin lymphoma patients with different types, and at different stages of the disease may benefit from radiation therapy as well.
Radiation Therapy for Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma
These two different types of lymphoma behave, spread and respond to treatment differently, so it’s important for you to know which type you have.
A Lymphoma Diagnosis: What Is Your Risk?
“The patients who are diagnosed with lymphoma early, typically it’s luck,” Dr. Chong said. They may have had a symptom that made their doctor check them, or the cancer showed up on a scan or blood test that was done for another reason.
Until an effective screening test does become available, you can increase your odds of finding lymphoma early by knowing whether you’re at risk, and staying alert for symptoms.
You might be at higher risk for this cancer if you:
- Have been infected with the HIV or Epstein-Barr virus
- Had an organ transplant
- Have a family history of lymphoma
- Have been treated with radiation or chemotherapy drugs for cancer in the past
- Have an autoimmune disease
Let your doctor know about any of these potential risks, so they can keep a close eye on you. Depending on your individual health history, you may need more frequent checkups and tests.
Also watch out for lymphoma symptoms. The most common ones are:
- Swollen glands in your neck, armpit, or groin
- Fever
- Chills
- Night sweats
- Weight loss without trying
- Feeling tired
- Swelling in your belly
Many different conditions, including infections, cause these same symptoms, so it’s best not to panic if you have them. It’s most likely something more benign, but still worth getting checked out. It’s also a good idea to see your doctor for any unusual symptoms, even if they’re not on this list.
How Doctors Diagnose Lymphoma
Most people with lymphoma see their doctor because they have a swollen gland that won’t go away, or they just don’t feel right. If you suspect there’s a problem, you can start with a visit to your family doctor.
The doctor will first ask about your symptoms and risk factors. Then you’ll have a physical exam, looking for swelling in your lymph nodes and belly. Your doctor will try to rule out other causes, such as an infection, which may require that you get a blood test.
The only way to confirm that you have lymphoma is with a biopsy — removing a small piece of a lymph node for testing. Because this test is somewhat invasive, your doctor won’t do it unless he or she has a strong suspicion that you have lymphoma. A lab will test the sample to see if it contains cancer cells. The biopsy results can also show what type of lymphoma it is.
You might also need imaging tests such as an x-ray, computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), or positron emission tomography (PET) scan to find out what’s causing your symptoms, and if you do have lymphoma, to determine its stage.
Advocating for yourself is important when you’re trying to get an accurate diagnosis. If you have persistent symptoms that look like lymphoma and your doctor hasn’t sent you for a biopsy, it might be worth seeking out a second opinion.
How Turning to Music Can Help Cancer Patients
Creating, listening, and even performing music can be a powerful tool. Most people have felt the positive effects of a musical experience, but fewer people know there is actually science to back it up.
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Dr. Alexander Pantelyat, a neurologist at Johns Hopkins, told SurvivorNet in an earlier interview, “Just listening to music activates more brain regions simultaneously than any other human activity.”
A study recently published in the journal Parkinson’s Disease researched the effects music had on the brain. It found music can help reduce anxiety for patients. Dr. Serap Bastepe-Gray, who co-founded the Johns Hopkins Center for Music and Medicine with Dr. Pantelyat, led the study.
“The guitar, which is portable, affordable, and one of the most popular instruments in the U.S., has potential as a motivational therapeutic tool both in the clinical and community settings,” Dr. Bastepe-Gray said.
Music therapy is a resource cancer patients turn to during treatment. Music therapy includes “creating, singing, moving, listening and/or relaxing” to the sounds of your favorite songs according to the National Cancer Institute.
This form of therapy can help relieve depression, stress, anxiety, and pain.
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Focusing on something you love is an important way to build resilience in the face of coping with cancer and chronic disease, psychiatrist Dr. Samantha Boardman previously told SurvivorNet. She explained what she calls the “three wellsprings of vitality,” which are connecting with others, contributing to the lives of others, and challenging yourself to continue growing.
“Those are the cores of vitality, and the core pathways to enhance your everyday resilience,” Dr. Boardman said.
Contributing: SurvivorNet Staff
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