Something Special
- Radio host Dan Bongino, 45, says he’s never felt more alive than he does right now during his battle with lymphoma.
- Lymphoma is a type of blood cancer separated by two main categories: Hodgkin Lymphoma and non-Hodgkin Lymphoma.
- Many cancer survivors tell us that they’ve gained new appreciation for life as a result of a diagnosis.
At the beginning of October, Bongino found a 10-centimeter by 7-centimeter tumor in his neck and had a biopsy to see whether it was a cause for concern. He suspected it was a lipoma (a usually harmless fatty tumor) since he's gotten a few of them in the past, but it turns out that wasn't the case. After having the lump removed during surgery, he revealed that he had been diagnosed with lymphoma a type of blood cancer.
Read Morehttps://twitter.com/dbongino/status/1323075374385942528
What is Lymphoma?
Lymphoma is a type of blood cancer that begins in a specific kind of white blood cell called a lymphocyte, which are part of the body's lymphatic system. The lymphocytes multiply and build up in the lymph nodes and other tissues. As they multiply and create an abnormal number of white blood cells, it's more difficult for your immune system to launch an effective attack against invading germs leaving the body prone to infections and other illnesses.
Bongino has yet to disclose what type of lymphoma he has, but the disease is broken up into two main categories: Hodgkin Lymphoma and non-Hodgkin Lymphoma. In order to decide which type someone has, doctors will examine the white blood cells within the body. If they are unable to detect the Reed-Sternberg cell (a giant cell derived from B lymphocytes), then it is classified as non-Hodgkin. If the cells are present, then it is classified as Hodgkin.
Dr. Elise Chong explains why your type of lymphoma matters
New Appreciation for Life During Cancer
A cancer diagnosis can really make you appreciate the little things, and put what’s important in life into perspective. Even though a cancer battle is clearly difficult, this appreciation can be extremely beneficial after treatment and for the rest of your life.
For breast cancer survivor Fernanda Savino, her cancer battle forced her to slow down and take stock of her life. This ended up teaching her valuable life lessons that she carries with her. As a lawyer, Fernanda says she focused solely on her work and didn’t take much time to prioritize her health or the people around her. That all changed after breast cancer. "I started to take care of my health," she tells SurvivorNet. "And be more respectful to my body, to me. I started to exercise more."
Related: Cancer Slowed Me Down Dana Donofree on How Cancer Taught Her to Focus
During treatment, she gained a whole new appreciation for the loved ones who rallied around her. A support system is critical during cancer treatment, and Fernanda says she doesn’t believe she would have been able to fight as hard as she did. “I had all the support … my family, my friends, even the ones that weren't so close, they always were present," she says. I don't know how I would have gotten through all of this without them.”
Breast cancer survivor Fernanda Savino gained a new appreciation for life after treatment
Learn more about SurvivorNet's rigorous medical review process.
