Madison G., from Orlando, Florida, was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma during her freshman year of high school. Although her father had experienced non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma before she was born, the disease was not something she was overly familiar with. The first signs appeared when she noticed a swollen lymph node in her neck, which was initially dismissed as not serious. However, 5 months later, as the lump grew and became painful, Madison sought medical attention. After several tests, including a CT scan, her diagnosis was confirmed.

At the time of her diagnosis, Madison was 15 years old and found herself in shock, especially as the news came suddenly while she was preparing for a birthday celebration. The sudden hospitalization and treatment brought significant disruption to her life, as she began a regimen of ABVE-PC chemotherapy. Her first day of treatment was particularly difficult, as she had an allergic reaction to one of the drugs, causing her to go into anaphylactic shock. This experience, coupled with the physical side effects of chemotherapy, like severe nausea and bone pain, added to the emotional and mental challenges of her treatment.

One of the hardest aspects for Madison was losing her hair. Although she had anticipated this side effect, she found it more emotionally difficult than she had expected. Cutting her hair and watching it fall out left her feeling unrecognizable and insecure, particularly as her peers made comments, both in person and online, about her appearance. Wearing head wraps to school helped, but the changes in her appearance took a toll on her self-esteem.

Despite the physical and emotional strain, Madison found comfort and strength in her family, especially her mother, who became her closest support. Over time, as her treatment progressed and scans showed no evidence of disease (NED), her outlook improved, and she began to regain a sense of hope. She finished 4 cycles of chemotherapy and then underwent radiation (proton therapy) for 14 days, finding it easier to manage than chemotherapy, although it still came with its own side effects.

The experience left a lasting impact on Madison’s mental health, particularly as she returned to school and tried to reintegrate into normal teenage life while still facing the challenges of being in remission. She became more empathetic and motivated to help others, deciding to pursue a career in nursing after seeing firsthand the impact nurses had on her care.

Madison is now in remission, and while she acknowledges that her experience with cancer will always be a part of her life, she has moved forward, attending Florida State University, enjoying college life, and advocating for cancer awareness.