Danielle's Words

Name: Danielle Flores

Age: 16

1.      How old were you when you were diagnosed with stage 4 Hodgkin’s lymphoma?

“I was 15. I turned 15 in March and I got diagnosed in August.”

2.      What were your first thoughts/reactions when you heard the news?

“I was mostly mad because I wouldn’t be able to go to school. I had just made varsity cheer, so I was bummed I couldn’t continue that.”

3.      Can you explain the treatment you went through?

“I did six cycles of chemotherapy, which is injected into me. It’s a liquid and they put it through an IV. After, I did two of radiation. The chemo made me lose my hair and gave me other side effects like nausea and joint pain.”

4.      Explain some of the challenges you had within yourself.

“During radiation I lost twenty pounds because I couldn’t keep anything down. I kept throwing up from the radiation being on my stomach. I think the biggest challenges I had were definitely losing my hair and not feeling good to go anywhere. I gained a lot of weight during chemo because I had to take steroids to keep my immune system up, but then I lost it during radiation.”

5.      How did you deal with those challenges?

“I just tried to think positive and tell myself that it wasn’t going to last forever. There are other kids going through much worse types of cancer.”

6.      What did you know about Hodgkin lymphoma before you were diagnosed with it?

“I didn’t even know what I was honestly. I didn’t know there were so many different types of cancers.”

7.      How did your family impact your recovery?

“They all helped me feel better by texting me often, asking how I was feeling, and inviting me to hang out if I wanted to talk. My grandma helped me a lot too. She helped take me to radiation because it was in San Diego every day for two weeks straight. She even offered to shave her head when I lost my hair.”

8.      How did you keep yourself connected with friends and loved ones?

“I didn’t really worry about talking to my friends because I wasn’t feeling up to hanging out or trying to talk to anyone. I definitely learned who my real friends were.”

9.      What are some hobbies you discovered and pursued during your recovery?

“I learned how to crotchet and I really got addicted to it for a while. I have a ton of unfinished scarves and yarn in a bin. I also read a lot.”

10.  Now a year later, what can you tell me about your experience having Hodgkin lymphoma? What did you learn?

“I learned that I shouldn’t take life for granted and not to just think of people who look different because they have a disease are strange. I used to not think that cancer could happen to anyone. It opened my eyes to see that it can. And I think everyone should be aware of it. I remember being in a restaurant with my beanie and people were staring at me like I was super strange. I didn’t like it. So I definitely learned to not judge people because they’re different. To try to understand and know what they’re going through personally instead.”