Living La Vida Lymphoma: Jodi's Story, Part II

This two-part article was written exclusively for LymphomaInfo.net by Jodi Sykes, a writer and blogger. She is the author of "Living La Vida (Lymphoma)" and other books. She shares her experience with lymphoma and how it inspired her to write.

Click here to read Part I.

After a few months, the lumps began to shrink. By September they were gone, but I continued to take the drugs, with my kidneys and liver being compromised. In July of 2011, my oncologist asked me what I wanted to do. My wish was to stop taking them. By October, I was weaned off of the Cyclosporine and I continue on a maintenance dose of Prednisone.

I still deal with neuropathy, chronic fatigue, memory issues and a spleen that reminds me it’s still there at times. I have issues like everyone else who is dealing with cancer: the struggles with finances, health insurance, treatment plans, etc. I have also been bounced around by the medical community at times because they have never treated anyone with SPTCL before. I feel like a Leper. I’ve gotten frustrated with the system. I wonder how I am going to make ends meet. The list goes on, but in a weird kind of way, I consider cancer a gift.

What I've Learned

“A gift?” Yes, a gift. And I will tell you why:

1. I have found strength that I never knew existed in me.
2. The line “take time to smell the flowers” has new meaning. It was a wake-up call to slow down and savor each moment. I know that it sounds cliché, but I don’t take anything for granted anymore.
3. I discovered that I am braver beyond brave and that I will continue to meet each challenge head-on. I tell others that getting cancer and dealing with the daily ups and downs is just like life itself – ya gotta take the good with the bad!
4. I’ve learned to live the authentic life that I was meant to live – doing what I love, being of service to others and giving back because so many others took care of me when I needed it the most. Time to pay it forward.
5. We will all get through this lymphoma journey together!

My Mission

I will continue to write my daily blog and educate others about lymphoma and how to deal with the daily struggles. If anyone needs some support or advice, feel free to contact me at [email protected]. Although I already published my book, the story continues…