I had SYMPTOMS for YEARS - Rachel | Stage 4 Hodgkin's Lymphoma | The Patient Story

Rachel was diagnosed with stage 4 Hodgkin lymphoma. She had symptoms for years like gradual weight loss, fatigue, recurring illnesses, rashes and nosebleeds. But doctors brushed it off and misdiagnosed her with eczema. But Rachel knew in her gut something was wrong.
She was initially hesitant to undergo chemotherapy but after learning she would only have 6 months to live without it, she agreed to start treatment. In this cancer vlog, she shares coping through chemo side effects, processing the reality of remission, and the importance of listening to your body.
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#hodgkinlymphoma #lymphoma #lymphomasurvivor #hodkinslymphoma #lymphoma #chemotherapy #cancersurvivor
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The interview has only been edited for clarity. The interview has only been edited for clarity.
I was Given 6 Months to Live - Rachel | Stage 4 Hodgkin Lymphoma | The Patient Story
• I had SYMPTOMS for YEA...

[@studiohost]

My Dr actually said to me “so ,you say that you have a lump on your neck “ . When it was the size of a half dollar and protruding. She didn’t even look for or touch my neck . I left confused. Went to a specialist and started chemo 2 weeks later followed with radiation. Gotta self advocate folks . Treatment was , well , what it is . Two plus years cancer free now . Love all of you, hang in there .

[@susanford2388]

I am sorry you were not listened to & had to make another appointment with a specialist. We are all precious but we are not all treated as we should be by the medical profession or professionals. Thank you for sharing

[@imalrockme]

You have to denounce that doctor, on social media etc., it's about prevention and stopping him/her from harming patients!

[@staceyloke9872]

i had HL as well. they found the mass in my lung bc i was rear ended. even with a lemon in my lung it took 8 months to diagnose. that’s ridiculous. the hair is so real. it’s devastating. and i had terrible terrible depression post chemo. and the guilt. bc why was i sad when i also had a complete response? i didn’t have access to mental health. i probably needed it. glad you’re well

[@julesreinhart]

I lost 15 pounds unexpectedly within a few months. None of my doctors seemed concerned except for one who I was seeing for hip pain. She finally decided I needed to have an MRI on my hip and this started my journey with a rare blood cancer.

[@denisebaines9816]

Yeah I got told I was lucky loosing weight !!! Always been slim but I was skin & bone . Walking around with stage 4 blood cancer . Practicing GP s need to practice harder !!!! Shout louder if their not listening !!!! You know your own body good your speaking out about what happened to you . The hair loss is dreadful feel your pain . Take care ❤

[@susanford2388]

thank you for sharing your story. Indeed, individuals can tell if there is something wrong plus our instincts tell us, with regards to the NHS they work so very very hard & are dealing with many different people each & every day. I lived in the UK & left in 1997 I told my doctor there was something wrong & he didn't even ask me to take my coat off. He told me if all his patients were as fit as me, he'd have no patients. I was not listened to, then went back a week later & the other doctor just looked at my ashen face & picked up for the phone to make me an emergency hospital appointment. I was suffering from an ectopic pregnancy & had a subsequent miscarriage. I am glad you were finally listened to & applaud your telling your story. Bravo you & I sincerely hope you are now having the best time in your life with your family.

[@bohochic2459]

Rachel, Thank you for being so transparent with your story. I deeply respect and admire your honesty about everything that you shared, including how you felt about losing your hair. Everything you felt and feel matters. An incredibly raw, vulnerable and inspiring journey that you have been on. You are a beautiful woman with a beautiful soul. Heartfelt healing hugs, prayers and love. 🩷🙏🏻🩷

[@islandbirdw]

Thank you for your unflinching honesty here. I’m glad your doing better now.

[@reginacarrithers4454]

I'm so sorry you've had to endure all this simply bc your Dr didn't care enough to run tests in the beginning. This has happened for many years and continues to happen with younger people. It's not only heartbreaking, it's sickening. I'm praying for you and your family.

[@fcktwr5462]

Thank you for telling your story in such a detail. It really helps. God bless you and your family ❤😊

[@williamparker1085]

i had a prostate cancer scare this year at almost 76 and i believe our reaction to any serious diagnosis has a lot to do with our age when it happens

[@Heavyisthecrown]

18:58 omg how beautiful! What a voice! I love that song! God bless ❤

[@mistiedwyer4319]

I totally know how you feel 😣I’m currently doing ABVD for stage 2B Hodgkins Lymphoma, I don’t wish it on anyone. I’ve lost my hair which was awful! I’m having lots of the side effects you had Rachel 😢I’m so glad you are doing well ❤

[@claireashley427]

How are you doing currently? Praying for you!❤🙏

[@Stephanie-n1f]

Thank you for your story. My doctor treats me like this. Now waiting for stomach surgery. Keep fighting

[@barbaradw9969]

The things you are talking about are things that I will be addressing with my family/GP tomorrow. I did have blood work last week. I don’t want to hear, “keep an eye on it”. I have been keeping an eye on most of my symptoms for about 18 months !! How long am I supposed to keep an eye on everything. I know right now, that IF I GET ANY OF THOSE ANSWERS, I will probably NEVER bring up ANY of mySymptons again. To anyone. I shared everything 2 weeks ago with my therapist. She was the one that insisted I keep this appointment.

[@helentaylor7132]

Don't ever go silent. Take a short break and try again. Ask questions like why is this just still being watched instead of acted on now? There may be a reason and ask for it to be explained.

[@cakesinspace3194]

how are you doing now? I dont really have any synptoms, but I have had some lymph nodes swollen for about a year, they are soft and moveable and havent gotten bigger, but they wont go down

[@barbaradw9969]

@@cakesinspace3194 I still have the same symptoms. I don’t have another Doctors appointment until September. I am going to enjoy my Summer, going out of the Country. When I return, depending on how I am, or IF I happen to share any of what I have been thru with my daughter, I may or may not try and follow up on any of it. That’s how I am feeling today.

[@jensen893]

​@@barbaradw9969go private!!

[@elainerobertson1988]

Praise God this is a wonderful and honest testimony. I’m going through the slow investigation stage.

[@MargaretCorral-m8j]

congratulations, you are going to been OK. you family need you 💯 😅

[@paulatim205]

Thank you for sharing your journey! So grateful that your treatment has been effective! I really appreciated how you described the SEs from your chemo treatments. They are TRAUMATIC. YET, as you noted: "Apart from the side effects, everything went well...." A message of hope! 🙏

[@char3474]

Thank you for sharing. You are an inspiration!

[@nanadanarocks]

Thank for sharing your story! Beautiful testimony… and encouraging ❤ doctors appointments are discouraging to me. But I am learning to trust God.

[@williamparker1085]

you cannot leave your well being just to doctors, too many of them are poor diagnosticians

[@erikagough683]

Your health history is so similar to mine always sick stuff going on with my body, even the miscarriage and I think I might have cancer. Thank you for sharing your story really helps ❤

[@magdavanderlith925]

All I hope for you is that the rest of your life is going to be 1 million times better than the years you had to suffer so much!!!😊❤

[@LilTrunksFr]

I was told it's just menopause. And that the doctor say I don't feel anything, and you don't have cancer. I lost 56 lbs, excruciating pain, chest pain, swollen lymph nodes. The kicker they cancel my appointments after I have been waiting 3 to 4 months. And now I am on the 4th year of them playing Russian roulette.

[@sonyaskogstad3849]

Your story is very sad and so familiar as so many people I watch on here have that same response from doctors not taking their symptoms seriously and I had it with a brother myself who was fit healthy and over a winter kept presenting at the doctors to be continually told he had the flu when he felt inside it was more than that but he was waiting for his retirement at the end of winter to get it checked properly and sadly he had cancer and was stage four at diagnosis and if his doctor had taken him seriously and investigated further I felt he would still be alive now. He was an international pilot captaining my countries largest plane so I could see his reasoning for waiting that few months to retirement but it went against him and subsequently he has passed.

[@barbaradw9969]

At least you have a husband to help you. My husband passed away from Cancer 6/22. My children live in another State & our daughter in another Country. Depending on Diagnosis & prognosis, they may or may not ever know.

[@ryans413]

Drastic weight loss is a big one because the body’s immune system is being stressed and that causes weight to drop drastically.

[@JuliaSantana-Forty]

May God bless you always!!❤🙏🏻

[@calicowest]

I'm in the U.S California, I have not experienced any pain nor any concerns about however, My medical clinic last year was trying to scare me with possible breast cancer which was a cysts, and given ultrasound of my breast, kidney and liver. No cancer markers in my blood, I eventually not going to their scheduled medical appointment.

[@HopeofGlory-qx4lk]

There is healing in the Name of Jesus! Be thou made whole! 🕊️

[@skyeblu1722]

Oh please!

[@cozmarine7771]

Love your voice

[@natural4lifemiss]

Having a dull ache under my left rib they have found nothing, but i inow something is wrong.Periods all messed up and throwing up periodically like come on!

[@ssmccue]

Please research spikes in young adult cancer / nanoplastics.

[@michelleheal8419]

It definitely gives you a new outlook on life 1:47 that's for sure 😊

[@amandah823]

We need a root and branch review of primary care. It seem like heresy to ask if we need it, but it’s purpose is no longer clear. It’s serving as a very expensive gatekeeper to needed tests and treatment.

[@carolineszepessy5331]

Yes pregnancy does exacerbate its lot it thrives on it!

[@deanawells4395]

You come out of a traumatic event and you can’t feel anything for awhile….you are in shock and need to process everything.

[@ElizaPurest]

❤

[@lindamcsorley8703]

She states her chemo regime was ABVD. Typical 1st line treatment for Hodgkins Lymphoma.

[@yellowyellowyellow7894]

Doctors should stop always assuming the best

[@reginacarrithers4454]

Boy oh boy... your Dr should be scared...and you should SUE.

[@helentaylor7132]

She's in remission right now. Really can only sue if she dies prematurely...for delay/failure to timely diagnose.

[@Babyboffa2018]

We're not as litigious as Americans.

[@pamjohns1520]

🩷🙏🙏🙏

[@ScalesOfLife]

Yeah sucks. Dr’s think they know our bodies better than we do. So sorry

[@daughterofdarkness8281]

In the age of internet, couldn’t you look up your symptoms? Itchy rash is a typical symptom of lymphoma.

[@reginacarrithers4454]

You must mean Non-Hogkins Lymphoma. Hodgkin's Lymphoma is the one that's curable 85% of the time. The NON, is not.

[@Boozeblues]

Wrong

[@crocadoodle7101]

This story is a bit confusing as Rachel says she has had Hodgkins lymphoma and the title also supports that. But as she tells her story a little blue banner shows up a few times by her right side (left side of screen) and each time it says non Hodgkins lymphoma. So, though her story was interesting and she thankfully responded very well to treatment, I am not sure what her diagnosis was.

[@tangho]

I had the same thoughts exactly. I had stage 2 and I heard stage 4 Is above 90% cure rate. I can't imagine stage 4 having 6 months to live my goodness . anyways God Bless her

[@janerichards2951]

I think its the other way around. NHL is treatable and curable. HL is tougher. My mum aged 76 has survived NHL. Rachel's story resonates with me because of my mum. Good luck, Rachel. Xx

[@sabrinar.3917]

You're actually wrong.