Hayley’s story – Hodgkin’s Lymphoma

It still brings me to tears the day I was told I had the big C word. I could not believe it.

I had Hodgkin’s Lymphoma.

I just spent the past year of my life hiking mountains, snowboarding and living! How on earth could I have cancer and literally living and breathing with only one functioning lung without knowing?!

I had a 14cm x 10cm mass in my chest invading my lung. However, I faced it and smashed it.

I stayed as positive as I could through chemotherapy with the amazing help by Lymphoma Australia, to connect me with others going through similar situations and to help answer any questions I had.

I’ll be getting my legs out in March to show myself how far I’ve come and to help those still in treatment know that the fight is worth it!

– Hayley Mark

Join Hayley and other patients and supporters from across Australia during 4-13 March 2022.

Sign up at www.legsout.org.au

Contact Lymphoma Australia Today!

Patient Support Hotline

General Enquiries

Please note: Lymphoma Australia staff are only able to reply to emails sent in English language.

For people living in Australia, we can offer a phone translation service. Have your nurse or English speaking relative call us to arrange this.

Useful Definitions

Refractory: This means the lymphoma does not get better with treatment. The treatment didn’t work as hoped.
Relapsed: This means the lymphoma came back after being gone for a while after treatment.
2nd line treatment: This is the second treatment you get if the first one didn’t work (refractory) or if the lymphoma comes back (relapse).
3rd line treatment: This is the third treatment you get if the second one didn’t work or the lymphoma comes back again.
Approved: Available in Australia and listed by the Therapeutics Goods Administration (TGA).
Funded: Costs are covered for Australian citizens. This means if you have a Medicare card, you shouldn’t have to pay for the treatment.[WO7]

You need healthy T-cells to make CAR T-cells. For this reason, CAR T-cell therapy cannot be used if you have a T-cell lymphoma – yet.

For more information on CAR T-cells and T-cell lymphoma click here.

Special Note: Although your T-cells are removed from your blood for CAR T-cell therapy, most of our T-cells live outside of our blood – in our lymph nodes, thymus, spleen and other organs.

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