A Doctor Said He’d Bet His House I Didn’t Have Cancer. He Was Wrong
When I woke up, my left arm was swollen and discolored. I was in so much pain and didn't know what was happening.
The day I was taken to the hospital was a bright morning in July. I had gone for a run, feeling fit and healthy. However, a few miles in, I began to feel unwell, and by the time I returned home, my left arm had swollen and turned purple. I was so disoriented that I fell asleep on the couch. Upon waking, the arm was twice the size of the other.
Together with my boyfriend Cody, I rushed to the hospital, where we spent four hours in the ER. After a blood test, chest X-ray, and ultrasound, the doctor diagnosed me with a deep vein thrombosis in my left arm, extending from my neck to my elbow. Within the same day, another doctor discovered a six-inch mass in my chest during a CT scan.
A lymph node biopsy showed abnormal results, but no cancer was found. I was sent to Duke University for further evaluation and a thoracic surgeon confirmed I had a lymphoma, potentially stage 4. I was overwhelmed with fear and uncertainty about the future, including financial concerns and how to continue my life. My partner, Cody, remained by my side, offering unwavering support.
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