Fight or Flight: My Lymphoma Story

January 14, 2026•4 min read

Fight or Flight: My Lymphoma Story and the Power of Choice

Wednesday, 11th March 2015.

It’s a date I’ll never forget.

It was just after the Labour Day long weekend, and I was sitting in a specialist’s office expecting answers about my knee pain, something simple, fixable, maybe a quick procedure and I’d be back to my routine.

Instead, the doctor’s words changed my life:

“You have Stage 3 Large Diffuse B Cell Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma.”

A rare, aggressive form of blood cancer.

The pain in my knee wasn’t from a sprain or strain, it was a tumour pressing on a nerve in my lower back.

For a moment, I froze. It was as though my body shut down while my brain scrambled to process what I’d just heard. Then, all I could say was:

“Okay… how do we treat it?”

That was my fight-or-flight response, and I chose to fight.

Choosing to Stay and Fight

When you’re faced with something terrifying, an illness, a loss, a moment that splits your life into “before” and “after”, your body kicks into survival mode.

You can flee or you can fight.

For me, fighting was the only option.

I’ve spent most of my life in and out of hospitals. I’ve faced kidney failure, dialysis, lymphoma, sepsis, and even a kidney transplant. I’ve woken up from surgeries wondering if I’d ever get back to “normal.”

Through every diagnosis and recovery, one thing became clear: resilience isn’t about never falling down, it’s about getting back up again, every single time.

But let me be honest, fighting doesn’t always mean being fearless.

When I was younger, hospitals felt lonely. I was surrounded by people twice my age, facing illnesses I didn’t fully understand. I tried to keep my fears to myself, not wanting to worry my family. I thought being strong meant being silent.

I was wrong.

I learned that real strength means letting people in, allowing others to help you stand when you can’t do it alone.

Sharing My Story Became My Strength

When I wrote my book, I Should Be F’N Dead!, I didn’t do it for attention. I did it to connect, to give hope to anyone fighting something they never asked for. Writing about my journey helped me process everything: the fear, the gratitude, the small moments that shaped me into who I am.

Fighting isn’t just for survival. It’s for everyone watching, to show that even when life feels impossible, there’s always a path forward.

So, if you’re reading this while facing your own mountain, remember this:

It’s okay to be scared. It’s okay to cry. It’s okay to not have it all figured out.
But don’t mistake those moments for weakness, they’re part of the process. With the right mindset and support, you’ll find strength you never knew you had.

Raising Awareness, One Story at a Time

September is Lymphoma Awareness Month, and it’s a cause that’s deeply personal to me. By sharing my story, I hope to help break the stigma around cancer and open up more conversations about what it means to truly live with, and beyond, a diagnosis.

Lymphoma is a cancer that begins in the lymphatic system, the part of our body that helps fight infection. It can happen to anyone. Awareness and early detection save lives, so I want to share what I wish I’d known earlier.

Common Symptoms of Lymphoma

Swollen lymph nodes (neck, armpit, or groin)
Persistent fever or night sweats
Reduced appetite or unexplained weight loss
Constant fatigue
Shortness of breath or a lingering cough
Pain when drinking alcohol
Itchy or irritated skin

If these symptoms last for more than two weeks, please talk to your doctor.
Early diagnosis and treatment can make all the difference.

The Power of Choice

I’ve learned that life after a diagnosis isn’t a finish line, it’s a new beginning. There are ups and downs, relapses and recoveries, moments of hope and heartbreak. But every day, you get to decide how you’ll show up.

You can choose to run.
Or you can choose to fight.

I chose the latter.

And if my story can help even one person choose to fight, to take control, to believe in the possibility of life after pain, then every hospital stay, every scar, every moment of fear has meant something.

Because no matter what you’re facing, you’re stronger than you think.
You’re in control of your life.