My Hodgkin Lymphoma Story: My First Symptoms that Led to My Diagnosis (Sam's Story)

After feeling extreme fatigue, Sam blamed it on balancing home and work life as a doctor during the pandemic. But after developing a cough and a lump above her collarbone, she was then diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma at 38.

In this story, she voices her frustration over getting a wrong diagnosis, the importance of being honest with your medical team, the chemo treatment she underwent and how she advocated for herself.

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Contents of this Video:
01:42 First symptoms
09:30 Getting the official diagnosis
14:10 ABVD chemotherapy
15:23 Side effects from ABVD chemotherapy and how to manage them
19:05 Complete remission

​#cancerstories #cancerpatient #cancersurvivor #patientstories #thepatientstory #hodgkinslymphoma #hodgkinlymphoma #lymsm #cancerstaging #chemotherapy #cancersymptoms

[karihanes]

My sister had Hodgkins and one of her symptoms was itching under her skin all over. My sister also had trouble breathing due to the large mass sitting between her lungs and on top of her heart and in her last trimester of pregnancy. OB/GYN thought the itching was hormone changes and a new baby nerves. Finally sent her to a dermatologist, the dermatologist sent her to an Internal Med physician. She said I am going to bite the bullet and do a chest xray. There they found the large mass. I believe she was Stage III when diagnosed. She has been in remission for 30+ years. That baby she was carrying is now a family physician.

[carolynnewcomb]

So great that you’re doing well. My dad was diagnosed with stage 4 Hodgkin’s disease in 1985. He turned 80 last Oct 9th and celebrated by skydiving with two of his granddaughters and one grandson!

[dfe]

If only more Doctors understood how cancer patients truly feel, I had breast cancer and it kicked my butt, but what made it harder is I didnt feel like my Dr's were hearing me or listening to me, and that makes a big difference

[JasonCarney.]

She's a doctor. Imagine how frustrating it is for those who are not a member of the system.

[Gerard-Fisher]

I was mocked by my doctor when I reeled off a list of symptoms. I rarely bother my GP, and it takes a lot to drag my carcass there. Needless to say, I've not been back, and i'm managing my own symptoms.

[carolleduc]

I was just 23 in 1969, a newlywed when I discovered an enlarged lymph node in my neck that a biopsy revealed to be Hodgkins Disease. I don’t recall that chemotherapy was even available at the time and in 1970 I had a series of 30 radiation treatments to my neck area and then 15 treatments to my abdomen. I was struck by your comment about treatment toxicity because 27 years later I had breast cancer which was believed to be a result of the radiation. I have had nodules removed from my thyroid which were not malignant and my gall bladder was also removed because of nodules, also not malignant. I was also lucky to avoid the heart issues that radiation often causes. I have also had many squamous skin cancers in the areas of my body which received radiation. A cancer at a young age pretty much insures you won’t be far from the medical community your whole life but overall I am grateful for the excellent care I have received these past 50+ years. I am enjoying a long and happy life with a husband who has always been there for me, and two daughters (one biological and one adopted) and now 4 amazing grandsons. I wish for you the same as you navigate your life’s journey.

[rowanbowyer]

Real fatigue, an unwell fatigue is one of the most awful symptoms to cope with, especially as a working parent, I feel so badly for her and others like her ❤

[monavanderveld]

Being a doctor she knows better what to do then us ! Plus the doctors treat her better then they treat us, asking questions seems like they are bothered, finding best options they send you to some other specialists! Today’s medical system it’s a disaster ! Takes months to just get some appointments in specially with new patients, then to do all the tests and then if you lucky to get a good doctor that pays attention to you ! So many are treating superficial symptoms, they don’t care unless you dying and then they can diagnose you ! Changes need to be made in our medical field, from better trained doctors, to a better patient care ! I’m really glad you are doing ok !🙏😘

[smc]

The way this young woman handled this diagnosis is so admirable. I hope she lives to be a very elderly woman with many beautiful grandchildren. She deserves the very best life has to offer her and I think she will grasp it with both hands.

[MsGail]

I had the same thing in 1992. They operated on my chest to remove the mass and now I have a scar like a heart patient. Then I had 6 months of ABVD, though we had to drop the B halfway through and use prednisone due to its affect on my lungs. No radiation since the mass was removed surgically. I was 31 then, and I’ll be 62 in May, so I’ve doubled my life since then.

[debbieschultz]

You're going to be such a better doctor by going through this. You're going to be more thorough and compassionate to your patients. I'm not saying you weren't before, but this had to change you. I pray you're cured, and you can raise your beautiful children and live to be 99.

[tngal]

I watched this because I had a similar experience with my daughter when she was 18 months old. She had been misdiagnosed over the course of three months by her pediatrician. Finally they did a finger prick and found she had Acute Meyloid Leukemia. We were sent to St Jude that evening, to stay for 6 months of intense chemo. Thank God she is 17 today and doing well, but now we are dealing with what we think are after effects of the chemo she received at such a young age. Now, we are dealing with a new set of frustration because no doctors that we can find can answer our questions because they're not trained in after effects of childhood cancer. I became my daughter's health advocate. It's sad that so many get misdiagnosed. 😢 Thank you for sharing your story and I am so happy you're doing so well. You have a beautiful family ❤️.

[Daisymay]

Thank you for sharing. I’m at the “found a lump in my neck stage.” (Size of a gulf ball). Body aches, fatigue, and a surgeon who denies its cancer, and only agreed to a CT scan. He did not want to biopsy or excise it. Very low energy, is becoming my new baseline over the last 6 months, since I found it. Thank goodness my PCP is advocating with me and agreed to a second opinion if the surgeon maintains his position in plan of care after the CT.

[karenlong]

You are a incredible woman and doctor. I pray that you stay healthy. May God watch over you and your family. ❤❤❤

[karenimran]

I wish you well with your journey and continue to recover, my niece 25 was a nurse was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma, she had a constant cough by the time she was diagnosed she was stage four. She had chemo, radiation, extensive chemo. Stem cell transplant. She then got GVHD chronic . Sadly she passed away at age 30 years old.

[imacurlygirl]

So happy you are doing well!! My father died of Stage 4 Hodgkin's Lymphona 47 years ago at the age of 29. At that time, they did't have the treatments that they have now. You are Stay well!!!

[SnartNik]

You're clearly a special person and incredibly articulate. It's generous of you to share your experience with others. I hope you never have to go through anything like that again.

[heathercamp]

I like how you described the grief of the cancer treatment. I had a double mastectomy for breast cancer and people didn't understand that hardship of not being able to do things I was able to do before, it was very frustrating and demoralizing. You are brave, what a hard thing to experience.

[becallen]

My dad had a mass in his collar bone. he went to a chiropractor and they found it and advised him to go the doctor. He was diagnosed with Hodgkin's Lymphoma.

[helen]

I made a similar experience of feeling being labelled as anxious patient for asking questions /wanting to understand risks related to medical procedures that I had to go through at the time.