Learn the signs of Lymphoma
A small lump above Jess's collarbone was the first sign of her Lymphoma.
There were no other signs or symptoms, she was feeling healthy, going to the gym, playing soccer and running around after her three-year-old. An ultrasound showed an abnormal lymph node which lead to a biopsy.
A few days later Jess got a call asking to come in to the doctor. She shrugged it off saying she had an appointment the following week but the receptionist was insistent she come as soon as possible.
"I knew then things weren't good, I felt like my whole body turn cold," Jess said.
"I couldn't think straight, so I told the receptionist I would call her back.
"I don't know how long I just sat there in shock before I called my husband.
"I was terrified I might have something horrible, and that I was going to die before I could see my little boy grow up.
"My husband calmly told me that I needed to call back and find out what time they wanted me to come in, and he would come with me."
The wait to go into the doctor felt like a lifetime. Jess spent the time thinking about and googling what could possibly be wrong.
"When I heard the words "Hodgkin's Lymphoma" I was actually relieved. I knew I had a good chance to survive," she said.
The treatment would involve both chemotherapy and radiation.
Jess and her family at Legs Out For Lymphoma earlier this year.
"My biggest worries were if I would still be physically able to take care of my son, and whether I would be able to have more children," Jess said.
At that stage the couple had been trying for another baby for more than a year.
"I had only just recently had surgery to remove the endometriosis, ovarian cysts and uterine polyps that had been making it difficult for me to conceive," Jess said.
"The gynaecologist told me my best chance of getting pregnant would be within the six months following the surgery.
"I had been so optimistic I had no idea that two months later I would be sitting in a haematologist's office talking about chemo."
Doctors were happy to delay treatment to allow time to store frozen eggs or embryos for future use but the couple couldn't afford it.
"I was devastated, I thought for sure that I would never have any more babies," Jess said.
"Luckily, one of the wonderful nurses knew that Westmead Fertility Centre will do bulk billed IVF for fertility preservation for people in my situation.
"We were able to successfully store away eight frozen embryos."
When treatment started Jess spent eight hours a day in hospital with her husband by her side.
"When we left I was still feeling pretty good. But later that night I realised I had lost my sense of taste, and my entire body just felt so tired. Over the next few days I started getting mouth sores and I could barely get out of bed. Luckily my next three cycles of chemo were a lot easier, with just fatigue, nausea and hair loss to deal with."
After four cycles of chemo there was no sign of cancer. While there was no more chemo she now had 10 rounds of radiation.
After recovering from treatment Jess was soon back to her normal self and was able to rejoin her soccer team in time for semi and grand final matches. She also got a new job and started her post-graduate degree.
Last year Jess was given the go ahead to start trying to have another baby.
"In February this year we had our first frozen embryo transfer, and I am now expecting our second child, due in early November," Jess said.
Lymphoma Australia is putting lymphoma in the limelight this September as part of the National awareness month.
The month calls for all Australians to better recognise the symptoms of a blood cancer that takes an Australian life every six hours.
