Dizziness and a Swollen Face Were Hiding a Cancer Diagnosis! “There was a mass in my chest"

Atiya was a busy working mom of two, balancing a full-time career and a big extended family, when a lingering cough and a puffy face became impossible to ignore. She chalked it up to flu season and exhaustion, until she blacked out at her front door and landed in the ER. What followed was a diagnosis of primary mediastinal B-cell lymphoma, a rare form of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, and a treatment journey that took her from chemotherapy at home to proton radiation in Philadelphia. In this @thepatientstory, Atiya shares how she learned to advocate for herself, ask hard questions, and find her people along the way. Thank you, Atiya, 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: 00:00 Atiya's Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma Story (PMBCL) 00:49 Early Lymphoma Symptoms: Lingering Cough, Fatigue & Facial Swelling 02:29 Fainting Spell & Emergency Room Visit 05:13 Chest CT Finds a Large Mass: Superior Vena Cava Syndrome 08:41 Biopsy Results & Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma Diagnosis 10:14 Starting R-CHOP Chemotherapy & Port Placement 11:38 Feeling Isolated & Getting a Second Opinion 13:30 Stage 2 Bulky PMBCL: Switching to R-CHOP-14 16:16 Deauville 4 PET Scan Results: Active Disease or Inflammation? 18:40 Proton Therapy for Lymphoma at Penn Medicine 20:53 Mental Health, Cancer Coaching & Ringing the Bell 24:03 Lessons Learned: How to Advocate for Yourself as a Cancer Patient Join Our Community: Sign up for our FREE website: https://thepatientstory.com/ Facebook:   / thepatientstory   Instagram:   / thepatientstory   Twitter:   / patient_story   TikTok:   / patientstory   For more non-Hodgkin lymphoma stories, click here:    • Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma