Uploaded August 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
At 30 years old, eight months postpartum, and brand new in a job at a cancer center, Kelsey never once thought the shortness of breath and dry cough she'd been chalking up to "being out of shape" were anything serious. Then an ultrasound to check a bulging vein turned into an ER visit for a blood clot — and a CT scan found something no one was looking for: a nine-centimeter mass in her chest.
Kelsey shares the isolating experience of reading her own primary mediastinal B-cell lymphoma diagnosis on her MyChart before a doctor could tell her, the four days between diagnosis and her first round of chemo, and what it's meant to parent two children under two through stage four non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.
Thank you, Kelsey, for sharing your story to help others.
#cancerpatient #cancersurvivor #patientstories #thepatientstory #cancertreatment #cancerprevention #cancersymptoms
The Patient Story:
The Patient Story is led by a dedicated team of medical, editorial, and video experts, committed to authentically portraying the cancer patient experience. Sharing your story holds transformative power, culturally and personally. We handle each narrative with utmost care, compassion, and scientific rigor.
Our editorial process adheres to the highest journalistic standards, ensuring medically researched, vetted, and fact-checked content. Backed by experienced medical professionals, we offer insights into the latest medical advancements.
Beyond patient narratives, we provide comprehensive coverage of cancer news and medical resources. From symptoms to clinical trials, insurance, finances, and support groups, we offer guidance in a humanized manner.
Chapters:
0:00 – Intro: First Signs of Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma
0:32 – Life Before Diagnosis: New Mom, Nurse & "Two Under Two"
1:03 – Warning Signs: Bulging Jugular Vein & Fainting Episode
2:44 – Doctor Visits, Blood Clots & Getting Answers
4:30 – ER Visit: Discovering a 9cm Tumor Near My Heart
5:29 – Reading "Cancer" on MyChart, Alone
7:26 – Diagnosis Confirmed: Stage 4 Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma
8:29 – Starting Chemo: 96-Hour Continuous Infusion
9:12 – Chemo Life with Two Kids Under Two
11:48 – Losing My Hair: Shaving My Head on Camera
15:21 – Mid-Treatment Scan: Cancer-Free & In Remission
16:26 – Advice for Anyone Facing a Cancer Diagnosis
Join Our Community:
Sign up for our FREE website: thepatientstory.com
Facebook: facebook.com/thepatientstory
Instagram: instagram.com/thepatientstory
Twitter: twitter.com/Patient_Story
TikTok: tiktok.com/@patientstory
To watch more stories like Kelsey's, click here: youtube.com/playlist?list=PLX_-dE9R0W4phC_Aa_GzGXPIPUgaqpa19
At 30 years old, eight months postpartum, and brand new in a job at a cancer center, Kelsey never once thought the shortness of breath and dry cough she'd been chalking up to "being out of shape" were anything serious. Then an ultrasound to check a bulging vein turned into an ER visit for a blood clot — and a CT scan found something no one was looking for: a nine-centimeter mass in her chest.
Kelsey shares the isolating experience of reading her own primary mediastinal B-cell lymphoma diagnosis on her MyChart before a doctor could tell her, the four days between diagnosis and her first round of chemo, and what it's meant to parent two children under two through stage four non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.
Thank you, Kelsey, for sharing your story to help others.
#cancerpatient #cancersurvivor #patientstories #thepatientstory #cancertreatment #cancerprevention #cancersymptoms
The Patient Story:
The Patient Story is led by a dedicated team of medical, editorial, and video experts, committed to authentically portraying the cancer patient experience. Sharing your story holds transformative power, culturally and personally. We handle each narrative with utmost care, compassion, and scientific rigor.
Our editorial process adheres to the highest journalistic standards, ensuring medically researched, vetted, and fact-checked content. Backed by experienced medical professionals, we offer insights into the latest medical advancements.
Beyond patient narratives, we provide comprehensive coverage of cancer news and medical resources. From symptoms to clinical trials, insurance, finances, and support groups, we offer guidance in a humanized manner.
Chapters:
0:00 – Intro: First Signs of Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma
0:32 – Life Before Diagnosis: New Mom, Nurse & "Two Under Two"
1:03 – Warning Signs: Bulging Jugular Vein & Fainting Episode
2:44 – Doctor Visits, Blood Clots & Getting Answers
4:30 – ER Visit: Discovering a 9cm Tumor Near My Heart
5:29 – Reading "Cancer" on MyChart, Alone
7:26 – Diagnosis Confirmed: Stage 4 Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma
8:29 – Starting Chemo: 96-Hour Continuous Infusion
9:12 – Chemo Life with Two Kids Under Two
11:48 – Losing My Hair: Shaving My Head on Camera
15:21 – Mid-Treatment Scan: Cancer-Free & In Remission
16:26 – Advice for Anyone Facing a Cancer Diagnosis
Join Our Community:
Sign up for our FREE website: thepatientstory.com
Facebook: facebook.com/thepatientstory
Instagram: instagram.com/thepatientstory
Twitter: twitter.com/Patient_Story
TikTok: tiktok.com/@patientstory
To watch more stories like Kelsey's, click here: youtube.com/playlist?list=PLX_-dE9R0W4phC_Aa_GzGXPIPUgaqpa19
