Celebrating Survivorship: Jennifer Lingo
I remember diagnosis clearly. I was sitting in the UCSF doctor’s office of a man I had not met before; a physician I was referred to. I had first gone to a doctor on my Blue Cross Insurance list, who mentioned lymphoma and referred me to UCSF on Fillmore Street in San Francisco, close to where I was living at the time.
Later, it was UCSF Medical Center and Hospital on the huge hill above the City with a view all the way to the bay from the 5th Floor, Hematology/ Oncology. The doctor examined me and said you will need tests. When the results came back he patted my knee and said, “You have Cancer”. I had to fight for admission to my next doctor.
Almost denied because of my cheap insurance, I spoke harshly to the admittance worker. Fortunately, with my brother's friend's help, I was referred to UCSF Medical Center where the physician referred me to a hematologist/oncologist, Dr. L.
He personally saved me by getting me out of many troubles and providing the best treatment possible. Let me not forget my family who suffered and attended many, many, long waits for appointments and tests, then tensely stayed with me to see if the treatment worked.
The first treatment approach was a standard regimen of chemotherapy over 6 months. Then a year following completion of treatment, my Hodgkin’s lymphoma came back with a vengeance even after clear scans the year before. I went through more chemo which was not effective, followed by high dose chemotherapy in the hospital with almost no amount of immunity left. Radiation was done to the chest area with a specialized laser and finally an autologous stem cell transplant that was successful.
They almost didn’t harvest enough of my own stem cells to do the treatment but it was just enough. The talk before treatment called out a 40/60 chance of surviving the procedure. A long slow burn recovery followed. With disorientation to regular life and building stamina and strength slowly over time, I was able to fully recover.
I did have one more medical issue, a knee infection due to low immunity required an operation affecting the patella. However, I did not contract the disease that was originally diagnosed, San Joaquin Valley Fever. Strange what happens when the body declines.
In the end, I chose life. The support of family and a miracle worker physician was more than I can repay. Every decision and next step included my family being there, care-taking and doing everything possible for a positive outcome. I enjoy such good vibrant health today (15 years later) and a full life. I could not be more grateful. Thanks for listening; I wish every Cancer Warrior and Survivor, the best possible outcome and all the best things in this life.
Peace & Love, Jennifer Lingo
