In August 2016, I was diagnosed with stage 4 primary mediastinal large B-cell lymphoma (non-Hodgkins lymphoma). Yes, you read that correctly, stage 4 cancer. Two months prior in June, I started to notice weird symptoms like, small rashes on my stomach and arms stuffy nose, my head felt extremely heavy like I had a cold and veins started to pop out of my neck. In the middle of the night I experienced this horrible chest pain. The pain was indescribable, I couldn't move left, right, and when I tried to get up it would hurt even worse. My mom told me that I need to go to urgent care, so I did.
After I was told it was jsut a bad cold, I finally went to see my primary doctor. She misdiagnosed me saying that I have a gluten problem, but I told her all of my symptoms, she examined me and I practically told her I feel like I'm dying can you help me. Unfortunately, she seemed to think that I was okay. Then after that I finally was able to see a heart and lung specialist and this doctor was the doctor who emitted me to the hospital right away. I had to get my right lung drained then after that procedure I had to get tons of scans, and tests done to figure out why my heart kept beating so fast.
After all of my scan results, the doctors said that I needed an emergency surgery to remove fluid surrounding my heart, drain the rest of the fluid inside of my lungs and there was a huge mass resting on my main arteries leading to my heart causing major problems. They had to do a biopsy as well. After my emergency surgery I woke up with a chest tube inside of me, not knowing that I was going to have one prior before that operation even began. One day later, I was diagnosed with lymphoma.
Procedure after procedure, living at the hospital every two weeks, staying away from society to avoid getting infections, pills, shots, chemotherapy, and pain, was my life for four months. As a 24-year-old I thought my life was over. But after my fourth round of chemo the doctor said my lymphoma was gone. Having faith is everything!
I joined Light The Night Walk not only walking for myself but for others who are currently going through it and battling lymphoma as well. I now know what it feels like to have cancer and so I'm able to sympathize and can relate to others. I am hoping that we will soon find a cure for all blood cancers once and for all.