On September 29th, 2022, I was diagnosed with cancer: Stage 3, Hodgkin's Lymphoma (HL).
Hodgkin's Lymphoma is a type of Lymphoma that specifically targets the lymphatic system, which is part of the body's germ-fighting immune system. What this looks like on scans and sometimes to the naked eye depending on the size, are swollen lymph nodes. The largest one and first to be noticed was the swollen lymph node on my neck. (His name is Lewis. Lewis the Lymph node).
There are 5 stages. Stage 1 is the lowest and Stage 5 is the highest. Of the five stages, I am classified right in the middle as Stage 3. Stage 3 essentially means that there are problematic lymph nodes/masses both above and below my diaphragm. Symptoms have included difficulty swallowing, night sweats, coughing or wheezing, weight loss, and shortness of breath. These are also a direct link to my lungs currently being accessed as operating at 50% total capacity due to the masses.
There is no rhyme or reason and it is unidentified why individuals (most common are young adults ages 15-29 or older adults 75-79) contract HL. It is not genetic and a person cannot catch HL from another individual.
As of now I am scheduled to undergo 6 months of ABVD Chemotherapy treatment.
Learn More Here:
https://www.lls.org/lymphoma/hodgkin-lymphoma
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