Hodgkin's Lymphoma Survivor Story: How I Found Out I Had Cancer, Jason (Pt. 1/3) | The Patient Story

Jason was on vacation when he scraped himself on his leg. The healing didn't feel right. As someone who's dealt with asthma his whole life, his breathing was also getting worse. After waking up one night with a swollen face, chest, and arm ("the size of Popeye's"), he went to the emergency room.
Not 24 hours later, he would be diagnosed with stage 2A classical Hodgkin's lymphoma. Here is our video interview series with Jason, who shares everything from getting diagnosed, going through chemotherapy, and navigating quality of life issues.
Video 1: How I Got Diagnosed
Video 2: Going Through Treatment & Side Effects
Video 3: Reflections on Life with Cancer
Soon, you can find Jason's full story live at: www.ThePatientStory.com/cancers/hodgkin-lymphoma/

[@dondressel452]

My ex father in law was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s in the early 60’s in his early 20’s
Because this was in the early 60’s they gave him 6 months to live
He beat it back then which was pretty much a miracle because there wasn’t much in the way of treatments back then
He was treated with cobalt treatments
I could still see the burns on his neck because of the treatments
He passed away on his 83rd birthday
So stay strong because treatments have gotten much better over the years

[@ThePatientStory]

Don, these words are so true - treatments have improved exponentially. So grateful for the research that's been done! So glad your FIL was able to live such a long life. Thank you for sharing. -Stephanie

[@dondressel452]

@@ThePatientStory thank you for your reply
One thing I didn’t mention was I lost my wife to a sarcoma in her spine in 1989
It was a secondary cancer from radiation therapy she received from fighting Hodgkin’s disease herself
Now fast forward 30 years later I’m fighting cancer in my bones
It’s actually prostate cancer 4th stage
I’m doing well after 18 months of treatment
I’m on a very expensive medication called zytiga
Thank God my insurance covers it except the 10 dollars co-payment I have every month
My oncologist told me that I could have quite a few more years left
I’m 64 and I hope he’s right
Thank you again
Sincerely Don Dressel

[@shahdhazim2621]

@@dondressel452 hello I have question do you know if hoghkin lymphoma is hereditary? My husband’s mother was diagnosed at 46

[@RossIsFine]

Love you all! ❤❤💜💜

[@ThePatientStory]

Thanks for the kindness!

[@taylorbates5669]

It took them 2 weeks from the initial hospital admission to diagnose a patient with a 10cm mass in his chest? That seems pretty dang delayed. I recently went through a lymphoma scare. I had almost every result back within two days. Granted I am lucky enough to go to Cleveland clinic, but still.

[@janereinhardt4715]

My dad had that intense itching. What he did was take insanely hot showers, which would stop the itching for an hour or 2. He had non-hodgkins lymphona, diffuse, large, B cell.

[@isaelbf]

Men ,I also alway thought I was going to get cancer, and Hodgkin lymphoma showed up at 30 .

[@ThePatientStory]

I am so sorry to hear about your Hodgkin diagnosis. I got my non-Hodgkin diagnosis at 31. Please know that you are not alone. If helpful, we come out with more cancer patient stories every week. If you subscribe, you will get notified. We also have stories here: www.thepatientstory.com. Hope any/all of it is helpful. ❤️Stephanie