A Canadian woman has been left fighting for her life after ignoring telling signs of stage 4 cancer.
Taylor Deanne Roy, 32, had noticed a series of symptoms over a two-year period, but didn’t believe anything sinister was at play.
‘I had extreme tiredness, shortness of breath, itchy skin and random pains for years, but I thought it was nothing to worry about,’ Roy says.
She visited the doctor just in case, but believed her health complications were due to follicular eczema and the other issues were merely a result of aging.
‘For two years I had become extremely tired and out of shape but I thought it was just part of being older. [Then] I started getting random pains that I blamed on myself,’ she recalled.
But in time, she noticed a large lump on her neck in September and asked a doctor for an ultrasound which then led to a biopsy.
A month later, results showed she was suffering from stage 4 Hodgkin’s Lymphoma.
‘On October 2 of this year, less than two months after finding the lump, I received my diagnosis for stage 4 Hodgkin’s Lymphoma that had spread to my lungs and the bones in my spine.
Taylor Deanne Roy, 32, has been left fighting for her life after she ignored a series of symptoms
Results eventually showed she was suffering from stage 4 Hodgkin’s Lymphoma
‘The moment I was told I had cancer it was as if the whole world around me stopped. I felt like nothing was real for a few minutes.
‘All I wanted was to be the best version of myself and start a family. Now, at 32, I’m in the fight of my life,’ she said.
Roy is now undergoing treatment for the condition and has been left plagued with ‘severe pain, nausea as well as exhaustion’.
‘My body is a stranger, betraying me in ways I never thought possible. Simple tasks that I once did without a second thought are now sometimes nearly impossible.
‘The hardest part is losing the independence I worked so hard to build,’ she revealed.
She noticed a large lump on her neck in September and asked a doctor for an ultrasound which then led to a biopsy
She also believes that she may have found out earlier about her disease if she had been more ‘pushy’ with her doctors and not ignored the signs
Hodgkin lymphoma is a type of cancer that affects the lymphatic system. Some of its common symptoms include swelling of lymph nodes in the neck, armpits or groin, fever, tiredness, night sweats, weight loss and tiredness.
By stage 4, the cancer spreads to at least one organ outside of the lymphatic system, such as the liver, lungs or bone marrow. This is in addition to cancer in the lymph nodes.
Treatment for stage 4 Hodgkin lymphoma typically includes six to eight rounds of chemotherapy, possibly steroids and radiation therapy, according to the Cancer Center.
But despite her situation, Roy found support among family and friends – noting they have helped her in every way possible.
‘They’ve shown up in every way they can. From donations to making food, sending me onesies to replace the ones I lost and helping with daily tasks—they’ve done everything. I’m beyond broken—physically, mentally, financially,’ she said.
‘I’ve reached a point where I need to ask for help because sometimes, no matter how strong we try to be, we can’t do it alone.’
According to the Mayo Clinic, Hodgkin lymphoma is a type of cancer that affects the lymphatic system. Some of its common symptoms include swelling of lymph nodes in the neck, armpits or groin, fever, tiredness, night sweats, weight loss and tiredness
Roy is now undergoing treatment for the condition and has been left plagued with ‘severe pain, nausea as well as exhaustion’
She also believes that she may have found out earlier about her disease if she had been more ‘pushy’ with her doctors and not ignored the signs.
‘I wish I had mentioned them to my doctor sooner. If I had been more pushy with doctors, I wouldn’t be stage 4 right now.
‘Advocate for yourself and don’t give up when doctors don’t listen,’ Roy said.
She has also launched a GoFundMe to raise money to support herself and fund her treatment.
As of now, the crowdfunding page has raised $815 CAD out of its $25,000 goal.
