Lauren, Diffuse Large B-cell Lymphoma Survivor

Throughout 2011, I had been experiencing chills, fevers, coughing fits, congestion, and upper back pain. I had also noticed a lump on the left side of my collar bone. However, it was not until I saw a new primary physician in August 2013 that I finally had a biopsy. After the biopsy, my dad and I met with my doctor, and she informed us that I had a form of non-Hodgkin lymphoma.

I was in complete shock, and I was so scared. I didn’t know what lymphoma was, but I knew it was something serious. I used my phone to search “lymphoma.” I heard my doctor talking, but I was not listening. When I saw that my “condition” was a form of cancer, my stomach dropped. After I re-read the definition of lymphoma, I began to cry.

That following Friday, my mom, my dad, and I met with the surgeon who performed the biopsy. He provided the “official” pathology report and the haunting phrase, “Lauren, my diagnosis is that you have diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL).” I felt like crying, but I had no more tears. My doctor recommended that with my diagnosis of stage three DLBCL, I start a chemotherapy regimen right away.

That Tuesday, I was admitted to the hospital with a high fever and heavy coughing. Before I could begin my chemotherapy regimen, we had to alleviate my cough and fever. After complications inserting my PICC line, my medical team determined that it was best to insert a port into my chest to more easily administer my medications. Once again, complications came to the forefront as I developed a hematoma on the right side of my chest – the location of the port lines. I will say throughout all of this, my doctor and the medical team were fantastic, which was really comforting.

Ultimately, I could begin the EPOCH (etoposide, vincristine, doxorubicin, cyclophosphamide, and prednisone) chemotherapy regimen. The treatment was very tough, and I was miserable. After six rounds of treatment, my healthcare team decided that I needed a stem cell transplant.

Leading up to the stem cell transplant, I received a “super” dose of chemotherapy – 21 bags. This was the worst hospital stay I could ever imagine. There was nothing I could do. I had to tough it out, and I did. It was all worth it though, and I am thrilled to say that I am in remission. This is what we were hoping for! The window for full, unhindered remission is five years. So, with a new nutrition and exercise regimen, my focus is to maintain a more positive outlook on life.

Thinking back on this journey, it seemed like everything happened so fast, but it felt like an eternity. Lying in a hospital bed with a diagnosis of cancer leaves you with time to think, and I used that time to do some soul-searching, which put the trivialities of life in perspective for me.

I knew I wanted to give back, and in fact, I started while I was still in the hospital. There was a woman in her mid-fifties who had received a similar diagnosis as mine. She was under the impression that her diagnosis was a death sentence. I was still bald then, but I was optimistic and already on the road to recovery. My dad met with her family and asked if I could come say hello to this woman and share my experiences. When I walked into her room with a bounce in my step, her jaw nearly hit the floor! How can she have what I have, she asked? I wanted to exude hope for this woman and I believe I did just that. Since then, I have been sharing my challenges and story as often as possible with family, friends, and strangers and am a proud Ambassador for the Lymphoma Research Foundation.

My advice to anyone who is newly diagnosed with lymphoma is to not read the internet in an endless search about your disease – it will drive you crazy because there is just so much information, and it is hard to know what is accurate. The more I researched, the more I found out that I was researching the wrong medications and the wrong regimens. That is why the Lymphoma Research Foundation is so helpful – because you can find all the information you need for your lymphoma diagnosis, and you can be sure it is all up to date and accurate! I would also say to someone dealing with lymphoma that no matter how hard it gets, you should hang in there because you are worth it – to you and to those who love you. My new happy word is PERSEVERE…just look at me and know that there is hope!