healthmedicinet

A Florida guy confessed that his slight flu-like symptoms were cancer.

Michael Cramer, 21, ignored his weariness and lack of appetite. He assumed he was simply sleepy or had acquired a sickness.

His health quickly deteriorated, and in July 2020, he was diagnosed with lymphoma. His father had died of the same disease four years before.

“When I first heard the words cancer, I was shocked,” said Mr. Cramer v NeedToKnow.co.uk.

Mr Cramer said he felt unprepared for the side effects of cancer treatment, including chemotherapy, a bone marrow transplant, radiotherapy and radiation

Mr. Cramer’s father, Patrice, died of the disease in May 2016 at the age of 61.

“It was terrible to hear the words ‘lymphoma,’ because that’s what killed my father,” said Mr. Cramer.

“The doctor also tried to protect me, but after doing my own research online, I found that the survival rate was only 15 percent.”

Lymphoma is a cancer of the lymph nodes, the body’s disease-fighting network, which includes the spleen, bone marrow, lymph nodes, and thymus gland.

There are several subtypes of lymphoma, but the two most common are non-Hodgkin and Hodgkin.

Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma can appear anywhere in the body, but is usually first noticed in the lymph nodes around the patient’s neck. It affects about 80,000 people in the United States each year, as well as 14,000 in the United Kingdom.

Before being diagnosed with cancer, Mr. Cramer spends much of his time windsurfing and sailing. Now chronic conditions of treatment have made physical activity difficult

Hodgkin lymphoma starts in the white blood cells. This type is less common, with about 8,500 diagnoses in the US per year and 2,000 in the UK.

According to the American Cancer Society, survival rates for both subsets can vary widely. Nearly three-quarters of those with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma survive beyond five years when the cancer is detected at an early stage. Once the disease has spread, more than half will live more than five years.

In Hodgkin lymphoma, 80 to 90 percent of patients are expected to survive beyond five years.

Typical symptoms include swelling in the armpits, neck or groin, night sweats, weight loss, itching, shortness of breath and cough.

Mr. Cramer felt unprepared for the side effects of cancer treatment and after chemotherapy, a bone marrow transplant, radiotherapy and radiation, he developed chronic graft versus host disease (GVHD).

GVHD is a complication of an allogeneic stem cell transplant, in which donated stem cells replace unhealthy stem cells. In Mr. Cramer’s case, the donor stem cells attacked his major organs.

He will need “several years” of treatments, including extracorporeal photopheresis, which prevents the white blood cells, called lymphocytes, from attacking the body’s immune system.

Mr. Cramer also developed osteoporosis, which reduces the mineral density and mass of the bones, weakening them and increasing the risk of fractures.

Cancer drugs also caused avascular necrosis, which reduces blood flow to the bones. This kills bone tissue. The condition makes it difficult for him to exercise, lift heavy objects, or even climb stairs.

‘All my bones and joints have been destroyed by the treatment. My knees, elbows and shoulders are in so much pain,” said Mr. Cramer.

“Cancer and its complications are much more complex than I previously thought.”

Ashlee, Mr. Cramer’s mother, gave up her career to take care of her son full-time. “My mother is the only reason I got through it all, she never left my side even during my darkest moments – she lifted me up, kept me going and is my inspiration,” Mr Cramer said.

Mr. Cramer’s father, Patrice, died of lymphoma in 2016 at the age of 61. Mr. Cramer used his father’s memory to keep fighting through the treatment. ‘[My siblings] already lost their father to cancer. I can’t stand them losing their brother,” he said

Despite these complications, Mr. Cramer used his father’s memory to keep fighting. He passed for his siblings, Steven, 23, and Jennifer, 19.

‘[My siblings] already lost their father to cancer. I can’t let them lose their brother,” said Mr. Cramer.

In addition, his mother, Ashlee, 51, gave up her career to take care of him full-time.

“My mother is the only reason I got through it all, she never left my side even during my darkest moments – she lifted me up, kept me going and is my inspiration,” Mr Cramer said.

After three months of treatment, he no longer had any signs of cancer.

Despite the lasting effects of his treatment, Mr. Cramer is currently in remission and says the daily pain aside from being alive is reward enough.

“I’m still in treatment two to four days a week. Life is tough, but I’m still in remission ? I’m just really grateful to be alive,” he said.

“My advice to others is that life is short – live it to the fullest and tell anyone and everyone you love that you love them.”

“Do what makes you happy as often as possible, appreciate what you have and don’t compare yourself to others – be thankful for your health.”