I was diagnosed with Burkitt lymphoma (BL) when I was 21 years old. It was the summer going into my senior year of college, and I had just returned home from a semester abroad. I assumed the stomachaches I was experiencing were because of the food and drinks I had while enjoying my time in Europe. I was actually told I had H. pylori and started antibiotics that were supposed to alleviate the stomach pains. But then a lump on my neck appeared, and I thought the worst. Well, I was "young and otherwise healthy," so the doctors didn't seem all that concerned, and they definitely didn't think the stomachaches had anything to do with the lump. After the pain and nausea worsened, my parents and I decided that we needed to go to the emergency room. Within 24 hours, I was diagnosed with BL and started aggressive chemotherapy. The scans showed tumors in my neck, breasts, and stomach. I went through exactly six months of chemotherapy and was told I was in complete remission.
My world had turned upside down, but from that moment of diagnosis, we were given a plan of treatment that had a very high success rate. My family and I never questioned IF I would beat the cancer, it was only a question of when I would. Having that confidence is something I can only attribute to The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS). I am so thankful for the research and advancements that LLS has helped with over the years to make my cancer curable. And I hope to see a day where all who get diagnosed with cancer have the medicine and opportunity to be cured.
Kristen
Burkitt lymphoma (BL)
