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Patient Story |
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Tammy B. Jackson Evans, GA United States female Living with Hodgkin Lymphoma for 11 years, 6 months Age: 51 On my 40th birthday I had the biopsy which confirmed that I had Stage IIIB Hodgkin!/s disease. My mind was racing out of control since my husband and I have 3 children to raise, ages 16, 5 and 2. I desperately wanted to watch them grow. My disease started with a lump on the side of my neck. It didn't hurt, so I ignored it for about 2 weeks. I finally got tired of seeing it protrude and went to our family physician. After a battery of questions, blood work, and emergency MRI, I knew this was serious. My surgeon said a biopsy was needed to confirm the diagnosis. I have had other scares since completing my chemotherapy (ABVD) and waiting to reach that magical 5-year marker, but I really feel that having faith and having a positive attitude will get me through this. I am the first to admit that, halfway through chemotherapy, I begged my husband not to make me endure anymore. I thought death had to feel better than chemotherapy and cancer. Here I am, in my 5th year, and I am so thankful that my husband and family encouraged me to go on and had strength for me when I had no more. If you or a loved one is suffering with lymphoma or leukemia let them have their crying spells, their "why me spells", their "wanting to give up spells", their "positive attitude spells". All of the changes that come with such a diagnosis are truly hard to understand unless you have been through them personally or have watched a loved-one go through them. I was blessed with a wonderful family and fantastic friends that gave the extra effort to understand cancer and all of its ugliness. Hang in there. Stay focused and God Bless. |
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