Support Chanel's Battle Against Hodgkin's Lymphoma

Hello, I'm Chanel and I have cancer. I don't usually tell people my business nor do I usually ask for help but It has been a long time getting to this diagnosis. I started feeling pain in my arms, shoulders, hips, buttocks, and upper legs in June 2023. I became very sensitive to cold, especially air conditioning. My PCP thought I had Polymyalgia Rheumatica, which mainly affects adults over 50, but I was 47 and seemed to have the symptoms, so he sent me to a rheumatologist because it is considered an autoimmune disease. I spent the next year on steroids and felt better, not in as much pain. My rheumatologist closed his practice in Phoenix to focus on his practice in Prescott.

In the fall of 2024, I noticed a lump under my jaw. I went for my dental cleaning and exam in November. My dentist thought I should have it looked at since it had been there a couple of months already. I went to see my PCP in January, and he referred me to an ENT doctor. The ENT doctor ordered a CT scan of my neck in Feb 2025, and they found several enlarged lymph nodes as well as a large nodule on my thyroid. In February 2025, I got the nodule biopsied by an endocrinologist, and it was benign. I had a fine needle biopsy of the lymph nodes, and it came back negative for cancer. They sent me to an ENT surgeon to possibly have them removed, but he refused because I was no longer in the care of a rheumatologist.

At this time, I'm also preparing for ankle fusion surgery. I had to have a CT scan for my foot too. I decided to put these things on the back burner until after my ankle surgery was done and the ankle healed enough for me to drive. So, I found a new rheumatologist in August 2025. Dr. Rizwan actually listened to me and my symptoms and said that we were going to rule out as much as possible. He ordered a CT scan of my chest, abdomen, and pelvis. He referred me to a hematologist/oncologist, Dr. Grover. I was able to get in with Dr. Grover the first week in September. He ordered a new biopsy of the lymph nodes with a bigger needle. He told me that the other biopsy is not always very accurate. I had the biopsy on September 9th. Dr. Rizwan's office called me just before I was going to the hospital for the biopsy to make sure I had seen Dr. Grover because the CT scan showed enlarged lymph nodes in my chest.

My results of my biopsy were available in MyChart on Wednesday, Sept 10th. I currently have been diagnosed with stage 2 Hodgkin's Lymphoma. I got my chemotherapy port put in my chest on Sept 18th. I had a bone marrow biopsy on September 22 to determine if it has spread there. If it has, then I will be stage 4. I also had to complete a pulmonary test and echocardiogram to make sure my lungs and heart will be able to handle the chemotherapy. I start my chemotherapy on Oct 6th. I am scheduled for 6 months every 2 weeks.

I am asking for help financially or possibly if you know of a charity that will help with some of my expenses. I don't usually ask for help. I have maxed out all of my credit cards and savings with all these tests, scans, and copays this year. Going forward, every time I see the cancer doctor, nurse practitioner, or physician assistant, I have to pay a copay. Every time I go to chemotherapy, I have to pay for my portion of the treatment.