Darcy McGowan

I was recently diagnosed with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, which is a type of non-Hodgkins lymphoma.  Here’s my story... 


I had noticed enlarged lymph nodes in my neck in October. I had also been losing weight, very tired, not hungry and having night sweats. Anyone who knows me well, knows I was also in the process of a divorce, which in itself is stressful enough. Therefore some of the symptoms I attributed to stress. The court date to finalize the divorce was on November 9th and I could now take care of myself and see why I wasn’t feeling well.  I was seen by my Family nurse practitioner on November 14th. That is where my life changed once again. I was suddenly not the nurse caring for my patients, I had become the patient!!  I underwent many labs, CT scans, biopsy of a lymph node, PET scan and bone marrow biopsy.  


On November 28th, I met with the Hematologist and was told that I have lymphoma. I can’t even put into words what it felt like to hear something like that. 


I went to my first chemo therapy treatment on December 5th  still feeling as if I’d wake up from this terrible dream. But needless to say, it’s not a dream.  It’s my life and my daughters lives for the next 6 months while I receive chemo therapy. I will receive a round of chemo (R-CHOP) every 21 days for total of 6 treatments. 


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