The long -term story of this “miraculous” begins in the fall of 2005, Jodie Guerrero, then in his thirties, felt intense pain in the right arm, accompanied by a size in the breast. She consults. But nothing goes as planned.
One year of medical wandering
“”I was told that it was just a reactive lymph node, nothing serious “, she remembers everyday life The Mirror. But his instinct blows him the opposite. She persists and multiplies consultations: 21 doctors, in different clinics, without taking her symptoms seriously. “”I was told that I was a hypochondriac, maybe it was in my head. But I knew something was wrong. “ Does she persist.
Over time, the pain extends on the back, her leg rips, she loses control of her bladder. Exhausted, it sinks into anxiety. “”I prayed to die in my sleep, as suffering had become unbearable “.
Cancer diagnosed at an advanced stage
It was not until September 2006 that the diagnosis finally fell: a non -Hodgkin follicular lymphoma with B cells from stage 4, particularly insidious blood cancer. At this stage, the disease has invaded its bones, compressed a spinal nerve and requires heavy treatments: chemotherapy, radiotherapy then bone marrow transplant. “If we had detected it earlier, I might have avoided these extreme treatments“Said Jodie.
Despite a remission in 2007, she relapses several years later. In 2014, a second cancer was diagnosed: a myelodysplasia. Since then, Jodie has lived under permanent treatment, but does not lose her fighter spirit, as she testifies to her website and her networks. It takes 52 tablets per day, undergoes weekly infusions and suffers from multiple neurological and immune sequelae.
“”My immune system is completely disabled to prevent my donor’s marrow cells from attacking my body. The drugs keep me alive, but also make me vulnerable to everything. “
However, Jodie considers herself happy today to be still alive, twenty years later. A survival she cherishes despite her daily fight.
Cancer with misleading symptoms
One of the most common immune cancers in adults in adults. And yet, it remains little symptomatic in the early stages, which can mislead health professionals. It can cause persistent fatigue, swollen lymph nodes, diffuse pain, night sweats or neurological disorders when it progresses.
“This immune system cancer develops when an error occurs in terms of the manufacture of lymphocytes, leading to the production of abnormal cells”explains the National Cancer Institute.
These cells multiply anarchically, causing an increase in volume of the nodes, the liver, the spleen, even other organs. Follicular lymphoma, from which Jodie suffers, is one of the most common types of NHL, generally diagnosed after 50 years, sometimes at an advanced stage for lack of visible symptoms at first.
Each year, more than 18,000 new cases of lymphomas are identified in France, of which around 80 % are non -Hodgkin. Taken in time, some can be healed with a survival rate greater than 80 %.
Dialogue with his doctor, the key in case of doubt
The story of Jodie also highlights the importance of dialogue between doctor and patient. To avoid falling into diagnostic wandering (and because the patient is the one who knows himself best), Dr. Gérald Kierzek, emergency artist and medical director of True Medical, gave some essential advice in a recent article.
- Document your symptoms : note their intensity, frequency, duration, context of appearance … and do not hesitate to take photos or to hold a newspaper;
- Be clear clearly : Avoid generalities. Favor concrete formulations, such as “long -lived pain in the lower back in sitting”;
- Ask for exams if necessary : ask open questions to assess the need for additional balance sheets;
- Consult another doctor If you don’t feel listened to;
- Be accompanied by a loved one during the appointments;
- Contact a patient association To benefit from advice and testimonies.
Finally, “Do not minimize your symptoms, but keep confidence in the medical process”, recalled Dr. Kierzek. Faced with a rare or silent disease, patient’s alertness can make all the difference. As in the case of Jodie Guerrero, whose perseverance saved her life.