Lynda's Personal Story as a Cancer Survivor

My story begins: Thinking back It was in 1996, I had just turned 38, I had this terrible cold and blocked ear off and on. After taking over the counter medicines for weeks with no change, off to the doctors I went thinking that maybe I needed something stronger. They had put me on three different antibiotics over a six week span, still no improvement. By this time we figured I needed to seek help elsewhere, I had become very weak.

Went to a bigger city (teaching hospital this time) looking for some answers. Would you believe the first thing that they did was blood work! Now we knew I was in the RIGHT-PLACE. I don't think it took an hour for the results: Leukemia! You are not going home, there are more tests needed. We found out it was AML, started treatments the next day. I had a month of chemo. Three weeks home, back in again, two more times. Then in July I had a BMT, my sister was my donor. Although there have been bad times: I do believe I have been blessed. I no longer take life for granted, it is to be enjoyed and treasured to the fullest. I truly think if not for cancer I would have missed out on these feelings. For that I will always be thankful!

Lynda in Florida, USA