Hi! My name is Savanna. I am 20 years old, and I am a 2x Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) survivor. After being sick for nearly a year and half my freshman year at college, I was unfavorably diagnosed, Stage IV in November 2017.
I had every symptom in the book. I saw every doctor imaginable, but still wasn’t given a diagnosis. So, I became my own advocate, and took myself to walk-in clinics and ERs until I had an answer.
Upon leaving school to receive treatment, I underwent 5 cycles of BEACOPP chemotherapy and about a month of radiation to my chest. After two cycles of chemo, I was nearly cured. My treatment continued, by May, I was officially in remission. Nine months later, I was devastated to learn that the cancer had returned.
I immediately began two cycles of targeted therapy and salvage chemo. After a clean PET scan in March, I was set to begin the stem cell transplant process. My stem cell retrieval was in early April. After that, I was admitted into the hospital where I received 6 days of high dose chemo.
In April, I had my stem cell transplant. I was recovering in the hospital for about 3 weeks, and now I am continuing to recover from home.
This has been, and always will be the most difficult thing I'll ever battle. I am thankful for my doctors and the medical field for their continued patient care, research and commitment to finding a cure, my family and friends for their support, and to once again be in remission.
Cancer is the worst thing on this planet. I know if we all continue fighting and advocating, we will find a cure, and no one will have to live with this evil.
Savanna
Hodgkin lymphoma (HL)
