Before being diagnosed with cancer, I had recently made a big change in my life. I moved off-grid with my three dogs and two cats to Northern Arizona and was promoted to Lead Veterinary Technician at work. At 32 years old, I was full of pride in both my personal and professional life, feeling excited about the path I was on. However, in September 2024, I noticed one of my lymph nodes was swollen. I didn’t think much of it at first, but by December, when it hadn’t gone down, I began searching for answers. The road to my diagnosis took time, but on February 10, 2025, I received the news: I had stage II unfavorable Hodgkin’s lymphoma. At the time, my five animals and I had moved to Phoenix to live with my parents. In the blink of an eye, I went from being independent and self-sufficient to feeling like my entire world had been turned upside down.
Since my diagnosis, I have been on chemotherapy. I’ll soon have my first PET scan since starting treatment. This scan will help determine if the chemotherapy is working and whether it’s possible to reduce the number of chemotherapy drugs I’m receiving. Chemotherapy is incredibly difficult because, at times, you catch glimpses of what it feels like to be healthy again. There are days when I feel like my healthy self again, but then I have to sit in a chair and allow myself to be filled with drugs that both heal and harm. It’s such a challenging cycle, mentally and physically.
Lyss’ LifeList:
- A trip to the beach