Earlier, researchers at Yale University found that long-term use of dark hair dye by women who began coloring their hair before 1980 may increase the risk of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.

Increased risk of Kaposi's sarcoma and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma was associated with lower CD4 count, higher HIV viral load and a lack of combination antiretroviral therapy (cART).

After a sorority sister was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, Couchenour decided to join the charity running group Team in Training.