19-year-old Cancer Survivor Recounts Brave Fight Against Dreaded Ailment

Matilda Omonaiye/

A 19-year-old blood cancer survivor, Elsie lgberaese, has recounted her brave but harrowing battle against the deadly disease.

lgberaese, a student of University of Georgia, US, shared her experience in an Instagram post via elsie_igb.

According to her, the battle began in November 2020 when she was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma – a type of blood cancer that attacks the lymphatic system.

Over the next eight months, she underwent three surgeries, four cycles of chemotherapy and three rounds of radiation, before being declared cancer free.

Read full post below:

In November of 2020, I was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma—a type of blood cancer that attacks the lymphatic system. After 8 months, 3 surgeries, 4 cycles of chemotherapy, and 3 rounds of radiation, I am so blessed and happy to say that I am cancer-free!!!

This journey was definitely crazy, to say the least, but I thank God that I made it through. Now, I want to take the time to tell my story in hopes that it will educate and help others.

In 2016, my junior year of high school, I started experiencing the first symptoms that would eventually bring me to a cancer diagnosis 4 years later. It all started with a swollen lymph node in my neck and persistent physical fatigue quickly followed.

After numerous visits to multiple doctors, I was left without a real explanation or solution. Instead, I was reassured that I was “young and healthy” and encouraged to get more sleep and take more vitamins. After 4 years, my immune system and physical condition continued to worsen.

Finally, after a tough battle with Covid in Fall 2020, I sought answers to the ongoing symptoms I had been enduring. Many doctor’s, hospital and ENT visits later, I underwent an open biopsy which confirmed I had Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. I was just 19 years old living life and carrying out my dream of being a collegiate athlete, so this cancer diagnosis was completely devastating.

However, through my faith in God and the unwavering support from my wonderful family, friends, coaches, teammates, and doctors, I was able to get through treatment one step at a time. Now, after finishing chemotherapy and radiation, my scans are completely clear, and I am officially cancer-free!!

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