In the fall of 2016, my life was forever changed by a cancer diagnosis. For most of my life, I’ve been sort of an outlier, so it shouldn’t have surprised me that I would be diagnosed with a little-known blood cancer in the black community called lymphoma.
My cancer journey began with unintentional weight loss, extreme fatigue, decreased appetite, and a constant feeling that something was lodged in my throat. Over the next few months, I saw two different doctors that looked down my throat and diagnosed me with acid reflux. I took the prescribed medication during this time and still didn’t feel any better, I actually began to have difficulty breathing while trying to sleep.
By now it’s September, and I go see the third doctor who was my PCP and he did something the other two hadn’t, which was order a CT scan of my chest. Later that day, I received a call that there was a mass the size of an eggplant in my chest and I needed a biopsy asap. On September 30, 2016, I received the news no one wants, which is that I had cancer…Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma to be exact.
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The first thought that crossed my mind was: what is lymphoma and how did I get it? Lymphoma is a blood cancer that begins in the lymphatic system when white blood cells called lymphocytes grow abnormally and form a mass.
Doctors do not know what causes lymphoma and to date, there are no routine screenings to detect it.
The biopsy revealed that I had Stage 2b Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma (DLBCL), which is an aggressive subtype and typically affects Caucasian men and those over the age of 60. It also affects people who are overweight and have a high-fat diet or a sedentary lifestyle.
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Absolutely none of these criteria fit me as a Black woman, 46 yrs. old, in great physical shape, low-fat diet, and always on the move. This was yet another outlier moment in my life.
Due to the aggressive nature of the cancer, I was hospitalized while receiving chemotherapy 24 hours a day for five days straight during every
cycle. I endured eight cycles over the course of six months followed by seventeen rounds of radiation.
On my hospital bed, God led me to start the Nicole Cares Foundation, Inc., a 501 (c) 3 nonprofit organization that exists to raise awareness about lymphoma, assist patients and families at diagnosis through survivorship, and raise funds for research and a cure.
Today, I’m cancer-free and using my experience to encourage people, particularly black people, to advocate for their health. You know your body better than anyone including your doctor. If I had not pressed the doctors to keep looking, I would not be alive today. According to Cancer.org, collectively Black people have the highest death rate and shortest survival of any racial/ethnic group in the US for most cancers.
I believe this is largely due in part to accessibility to good healthcare, fear of challenging a doctor, not getting regular checkups, and yes systemic racism. I often wonder why the first two doctors didn’t order a CT scan when I first presented with symptoms. Was it because I was a black woman? I’ll never know but I thank God every day that I didn’t accept the diagnosis and sought a second and third opinion.
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My cancer journey changed the course of my life and placed me on the pathway to my purpose. I believe God allowed this to happen to me to share how He healed my body and allow others to benefit from my journey.
Today I am a motivational speaker, lifestyle coach, consultant, and author. During the pandemic, I created “If I Be Lifted Up,” Coloring Therapy Book for the SOUL! It contains 50+ stress relieving designs with a corresponding bible scripture or positive affirmation on every page.
Initially, I created it for cancer patients, but God showed me that so many people were suffering during the pandemic so it’s for anyone that needs to be uplifted. To purchase a copy, please click here. A portion of the proceeds are donated to the Nicole Cares Foundation.
For more information visit: www.nicolecares.org and www.nicolecbullock.com.
