I’m honored to be featured on Blood Cancer United.

When I first went to urgent care, I thought I had a hernia.

I was 37. Tired. Run down. Recovering from what I thought was shingles and the flu. Cancer never even crossed my mind.

But my body knew.

After weeks of appointments and being told it was probably nothing, I kept pushing. I kept asking questions. I trusted that small voice that said something was not right.

By early May, I had my answer: diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, DLBCL.

What I thought was a hernia was actually a cancerous lymph node.

I had just gotten on Medicaid, almost by accident, and that simple step gave me access to the scan that caught it in time. That moment changed everything.

Now I am in recovery. Rebuilding. Slower. Softer. Stronger.

I have learned that asking for help is brave. Trusting your body is powerful. Advocating for yourself can save your life.

If sharing my story helps even one person push for answers, it is worth it.

You can read my full story on Blood Cancer United. 💚