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A Profile of Hope: Drema's Story
 
In her own words . . .

I had noticed a knot by my ear and went to the doctor to have it checked out. The doctor did not think it was serious. Then I had another knot come up on the other side of my head, in almost the exact same place. The doctor decided to have it biopsied. I think this was around Christmas of 2000. When he got the results, he called me in to explain that is was indolent non-Hodgkin lymphoma and referred me to an oncologist.

The oncologist did a bone marrow biopsy, PET scan and every other test you can imagine. It turns out it wasn’t in my organs or bone marrow, so he decided to do “watchful waiting” until treatment became necessary. I was in watchful waiting for about five years and then in 2005, a nodule came out on the left side of my neck. The doctor ran a CT and PET scans. They decided it was time to treat and I started on chemo.

My first chemo treatment made my jaw hurt and sore to where I couldn't open my mouth very well. I remember because it was around Mother’s Day and my husband and son had taken me out to dinner and all I could eat was mashed potatoes! The other treatments had different side effects. I had pain in my joints and bones. One side effect I never had was the nausea and vomiting. The doctor gave me some “swish and swallow” type of mouth wash that helped with the mouth sores.

"I actually did so well on the chemo that I only needed four of the six treatments and I was able to work while I was on the chemo. I only missed seven days the whole time I was on chemo. In my work I care for the elderly and I had one woman say to me when I was going through treatment, “I’ve never been around someone that has cancer”, and I said, “Well, I’m still the same person.”

Now I am feeling wonderful! It's been almost six years that I have been in remission. I still go every six months for a check up. I like to go on the internet and the LRF website to see what is new in treatment and what progress is being made against lymphoma.

I’ve learned to stay positive and not to get depressed and give up. I look forward to each day. It's all a battle of the mind. It was wonderful to have so many people supporting me, my family, my church and my pastor. I had one woman from my church who sent me a card every week when I was in treatment. It made me feel so good to know someone was thinking of me. I then did the same for another friend when she was undergoing treatment for cancer.

Having lymphoma has made me take advantage of each day I have. I care more for people and their well being. I have worked with elderly patients that have had cancer and I can understand where they are coming from. I like to encourage others not to give up and I hope my story helps do that for other lymphoma patients.