“He Became a Second Daddy to Me!”  The Story About a 20 years Old Patient who Faced to Cancer at a Young age

The colorful everyday life of Muscovite Ana’s student life was suddenly overshadowed by a strange lump that appeared on her neck. The girl immediately paid attention to it and signed up for a consultation. Next, a series of tests and examinations awaited her.

“I was assigned a biopsy, after which the diagnosis became clear it was Hodgkin’s lymphoma. At that time I underwent all the tests and doctor’s appointments in Moscow, and for a second opinion I decided to turn to the A. Tsyb MRRC in Obninsk, my relatives had heard about the Center’s capabilities.”

Hodgkin’s lymphoma is a tumor disease of the lymphatic system, which can occur at any age. However, it is young people aged 15-30 who are more often affected. In 70% of cases, the disease begins with enlargement of the cervical lymph nodes, difficulty breathing and coughing. Patients also observe alternation of high temperature for several days followed by normal temperature, skin itching of varying degrees of intensity, up to intolerable.
Before the consultation, recalls Anya, she was worried and doubtful, she did not understand a lot of things, but it was here, at the A. Tsyb Medical Radiological Research Centre (MRRC), that she was able to find a doctor who answered all her questions about the disease and dispelled her fears. It turned out to be Artem Vovchenko, oncologist at the department of radiation and drug treatment of hemoblastosis at the A. Tsyb Medical Radiological Research Centre (MRRC).
“I am very glad that it was Artem Andreevich who became my doctor. He calmly and with understanding explained everything, calmed me down, supported me and set me up for treatment. I believed unconditionally I had no doubts that I will be cured! I was also pleasantly surprised that a week after the consultation I was prescribed chemotherapy”.

The Department of Radiation and Drug Treatment of Hemoblastosis, where our patient was treated, is one of the oldest clinical units of the A. Tsyb Medical Radiological Research Centre. Here we have accumulated many years of experience in treating patients with the most complex diseases of the lymphatic and hematopoietic system using high technologies.
The girl says that, despite of the nausea and poor health, the most terrible and difficult experience was the loss own hair: “I realize that the process is going on, I am changing, and I will not be the same as I was before the disease. But I was supported by my family, and soon I got used to it. I liked my hair, I bought a lot of different wigs and did colorful makeup under them to create a mood. It gave me strength and distracted me from my illness.”

When asked about her dream, Anya said: “I just wanted to continue living the life I had before the disease. I realized that there were still so many things in the world that I wanted to try”.

Her dream came true! Today, Anya is healthy and continues to lead the active life: finishing her studies, writing her diploma, working, attending driving school, playing sports and spending time with her family and friends. “I live the same life I had before my diagnosis. I’m also very happy that the disease has brought me together with some wonderful new people!”.