Carol Anthony’s old doctors said she suffered from a severe case of eczema. Dermatologists at Strong Memorial Hospital diagnosed her with Sézary syndrome, a chronic, rare, fast-growing cutaneous T-cell lymphoma
By Mike Costanza
Many patients being treated for blood cancers might be overwhelmed by their illness and the side effects of their medications and head to their couches.
Carol Anthony decided to take action against her disease.
The 71-year-old Brighton resident has organized Light the Night in Rochester, a fundraiser that will be held in Sept. 19 at Brickstone by St. John’s, a Rochester senior living community. September is Blood Cancer Awareness Month.
Anthony was suffering from fatigue and a painful skin condition when she moved from the southern US to Rochester in 2024.
“Itching, flaky, scaly skin that never went away,” she said. “It’s almost like you’re on fire.”
Her old doctors had diagnosed it as a severe case of eczema. But the standard treatments hadn’t worked.
Once Anthony settled into her new home she decided to seek a second opinion. Strong Memorial Hospital dermatologists diagnosed her with Sézary syndrome, a chronic, rare, fast-growing cutaneous T-cell lymphoma.
The most noticeable early sign of the disease is a distinctive rash that turns the skin red or darker than usual, is very itchy and painful, and spreads and peels quickly.
The disease can cause fatigue, fever, swollen lymph nodes, unexplained weight loss and other symptoms. It can also spread cancerous cells to the lungs and other organs and cause other complications.
There is no cure for Sézary syndrome. But doctors proscribed a regimen of immunotherapy to hold the disease at bay.
Every two weeks Anthony spends two hours at the Wilmot Cancer Institute being infused with the lifesaving drugs.
“I want to preserve as good quality of life and be able to do what is important to me to do as long as I can,” she said. “Every day in life is a gift, you know, whether you have cancer or not.”
Blood Cancer United is a global leader in blood cancer research, treatment and patient advocacy. Though a grant from the nonprofit covers the cost of Anthony’s treatment, her disease and the medications she takes have left her underweight and suffering from nausea and extreme fatigue. White flakes of skin cover her.
“I feel like I look like somebody who just came out of a blizzard,” she said.
Unrelated to her Sézary syndrome, Anthony also suffers from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, an ongoing lung condition that leaves her so short of breath that she has to use oxygen at night.
Despite her maladies, she works as a part-time house manager for Harbor House of Rochester. The nonprofit provides affordable, supportive and safe temporary lodging for the families of adult patients who are from outside the Rochester area and being treated in area hospitals.
Light the Night in Rochester will be held on Sept. 19 at Brickstone by St. Johns, a Rochester senior living community. Those who attend will be able to carry colored lanterns on a brief walk around the grounds, enjoy a buffet dinner, listen to live music and participate in a question-and-answer session on blood cancer.
Physician Melissa (Kah Poh) Loh will lead the session and blood cancer survivors will be on hand to tell their stories. Loh’s practice at Wilmot focuses upon the treatment of older adults who have blood cancers.
Sharing their experience battling blood cancer
After feeling tired for a couple of months in 2024, Shannon Godlove suffered a severe headache. Though it was Christmas Day, her husband took her to Rochester General Hospital, where she was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia.
“I was completely shocked,” the 43-year-old Corfu resident said. “I had been previously a completely healthy person.”
Godlove spent the next 42 days in the hospital undergoing a combination of three types of chemotherapy. Though that sent her cancer into remission, the disease was of a type that’s prone to returning. While waiting for the bone marrow transplant that would prevent cancer from returning, she continued chemotherapy, returning to the hospital every two weeks for five-day stays. She finally received the transplant on July 11, 2025. The cancer hasn’t returned and Godlove plans to tell her story at Light the Night.
“My purpose in my speech will be to educate and share my story and hopefully help anyone who needs it,” she said.
William McTighe has a message for those battling blood cancers.
“The biggest challenge is your state of mind,” the 64-year-old said. “If you maintain a good state of mind, then it’ll make everything a whole lot easier.”
After being diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma in the latter part of 2023 McTighe underwent chemotherapy and radiation treatments at Rochester Regional Health’s Lipson Cancer Institute. The treatments left him nauseated, caused most, but not all, of his hair to fall out and weakened him.
“The chemo, after the third treatment definitely took a toll,” he said. “Your appetite’s off, you’re not getting your normal exercise.”
The Springwater resident took prescription medications to decrease his nausea, shaved his head and continued in treatment until July of 2024. He is now in remission and regaining his stamina.
“Thanks to the treatments that are available, I would say that my life has been pretty much normal,” McTighe said. “I haven’t really altered my lifestyle; other than I don’t need to comb my hair as much anymore.”
He hopes to give a touch of hope to those who attend Light the Night’s question and answer session.
“It’s not the end of the world, so to speak, to come down with a cancer diagnosis. At least it hasn’t been for me as of yet,” he said.
Loh pointed out that testing for cancer has improved over the years, making it easier to diagnose the disease. At the same time the number and types of treatments available have grown.
“We used to have two chemotherapies. Now we have more than 10, 15, 20 types of chemotherapy that we can use,” she said.
The combination of more precise tests and additional medications has made it possible for physicians to better tailor treatments more closely to their patients’ cancers and desires for care.
“Some older adults care about living as long as possible; some older adults care about quality of life,” Loh said. “Depending upon what people care about, treatments can be different.”
Harbor House is the presenter for Light the Night in Rochester, Blood Cancer United of Buffalo will provide the lanterns and food and Brickstone by St. Johns the space.
The event is free, though donations are welcome, especially from those who enjoy the dinner.
All funds go to Blood Cancer United.
For more information on the fundraiser or to make a donation without attending, go to www.harborhouseofrochester.org
Sept. 19 Event
September is blood cancer awareness month and 71-year-old Brighton resident Carol Anthony, who suffers from Sézary syndrome, a chronic, rare, fast-growing cutaneous T-cell lymphoma, is organizing an event to raise funds for Blood Cancer United, a nonprofit.Light the Night in Rochester will be held Sept. 19 at Brickstone by St. John’s, a senior living community located at 1325 Elmwood Ave, Rochester. September is Blood Cancer Awareness Month
For more information on the fundraiser or to make a donation without attending, go to www.harborhouseofrochester.org