As a young adult cancer patient, I craved a sense of normality. Going to work every day helped me maintain my routine, and for 8 hours, I tricked myself into believing nothing was out of the ordinary.
Lymphoma
I was 27-years-old and went to my primary care doctor for a sore shoulder and a cough that only happened when I laughed. Given a recent backpacking trip, it made sense when his initial diagnosis was a shoulder strain. But as an extra precaution, he ordered a chest x-ray. That’s when he found the mass under my sternum, near my heart.
As a 25-year cancer survivor, a “veteran” if you will, there is a natural tendency for newly diagnosed cancer patients to gravitate toward me. After all, I’ve “been there done that.”
Lymphoma is a cancer that starts in the infection-fighting cells of the immune system, called lymphocytes. These cells are in the lymph nodes, spleen, thymus, bone marrow, and other parts of the body. There are many types of lymphoma, and the risk factors vary.
As a cancer survivor of 24 years, I’ve been through a significant amount of ups and downs when it comes to my health. In this environment, one learns to become fluid and quickly adapt. I’ve had the opportunity to revisit and evaluate several facets of my life—priorities, family, careers and other relationships. Twenty-four years post-diagnosis, I am still constantly making those assessments and adjustments.
Watchful waiting is a treatment approach that may be recommended in certain situations for certain types of cancer, including some blood cancers. While this method may seem frightening, understanding the reasoning and science behind it can help to ease your fears.
On October 15, 1992, I was diagnosed with stage IV non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Upon hearing that news, I went completely numb and silent as we drove over to my parents to break the news. I could not bring myself to look or speak to them, as I was in complete shock.
On October 15, 1992 my life changed dramatically. After Multiple CT scans and painful biopsies, I was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma.
At age seven, I was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma. After my main surgery to remove the cancer, I had to go through weeks of chemotherapy and never stopped asking questions during the process.
Cal Walker, 61, was diagnosed with a rare form of lymphoma. He recently underwent a bone marrow transplant at Roswell Park and is doing well. But for the next 54 weeks, Cal will be on disability from his job at Cornell University to recover from his illness. While most would consider this a setback, Cal looks at it as a “gift of time,” and he’s determined to use his time wisely.
September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month and is also celebrated as Leukemia and Lymphoma Awareness Month.