32-year-old diagnosed with stage 4 cancer warns of the signs you shouldn’t ignore

Taylor Deanne Roy, a 32-year-old Canadian woman, is currently battling stage 4 Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. She admits to dismissing the disease’s symptoms for years, attributing them to aging and a diagnosed skin condition, follicular eczema. Now, she’s facing a fight for her life and wishes she had been more proactive with her health.

Roy had been dealing with symptoms such as extreme fatigue, shortness of breath, itchy skin, and random pains over a two-year period. Despite these warning signs, she was under the impression that they were nothing serious. “I thought it was just part of being older,” she recalled.

She even consulted a doctor but attributed her health complications to follicular eczema, an existing skin condition. However, her health took a turn when she discovered a large lump on her neck in September. This prompted her to get an ultrasound which subsequently led to a biopsy.

A month later, the results came back. Roy was diagnosed with stage 4 Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, a type of cancer that affects the lymphatic system. The cancer had spread to her lungs and the bones in her spine. “On October 2 of this year, less than two months after finding the lump, I received my diagnosis,” she revealed.

Hodgkin lymphoma can advance to stage 4 when 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. Symptoms often include swelling of lymph nodes in the neck, armpits or groin, fever, tiredness, night sweats, and weight loss.

Now undergoing treatment for the condition, Roy is plagued with ‘severe pain, nausea as well as exhaustion’. “My body is a stranger, betraying me in ways I never thought possible,” she said. The toughest part for her has been losing the independence she worked so hard to build.

Despite everything, Roy has found immense support from her family and friends. They have helped her in every possible way—from donations and preparing meals to assisting with daily tasks. However, fighting cancer has left her drained physically, mentally and financially.

Roy is now using her experience to raise awareness about the importance of not ignoring health symptoms. She regrets not pushing her doctors more and believes that she might have received her diagnosis earlier if she had done so. “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,” she stated.

Roy’s story underscores the importance of taking health symptoms seriously and advocating for oneself in medical settings. Her experience reflects a broader trend of patients often downplaying their symptoms or attributing them to less serious conditions. This can result in delayed diagnoses and treatment, as was the case with Roy’s stage 4 Hodgkin’s Lymphoma.

This type of lymphatic system cancer, according to the Mayo Clinic, commonly presents symptoms such as swelling of lymph nodes, fever, fatigue, night sweats, and weight loss. Unfortunately, these symptoms can often be overlooked or attributed to more common and less serious health issues. By the time it reaches stage 4, the cancer has already spread to other organs outside of the lymphatic system.

While Roy initially attributed her symptoms to aging and eczema, she now urges others to not make the same mistake. She emphasizes the importance of being proactive with health concerns and persisting when doctors don’t listen. This is a crucial reminder for all—early detection can significantly impact treatment outcomes for various diseases, including cancer.