3 days ago
Cough leads Sunshine Coast woman to rare Burkitt lymphoma diagnosis
Childhood educator Jessie Stott knew something was not right when she could not shake an aggressive cough for more than three months.
Ms Stott, 33, had always led an active and healthy lifestyle.
The Nirimba resident, on Queensland's Sunshine Coast, trained at a gym five days a week, ate a balanced diet, and had no family history of cancer.
She enjoyed her job and was studying nursing.
She and her high-school sweetheart partner, 37-year-old carpenter Lucas Vogelpoel, were even trying for a baby.
But her persistent cough would not go away.
"Doctors kept saying it was a viral infection, but then it kept getting worse," Ms Stott said.
After months of pushing for answers, her doctor ordered a CT scan in March.
It revealed an 80-millimetre growth on her chest — the size of an orange.
She was referred to a surgeon in April but wait times were more than two months.
With the growth pressing on her heart, no diagnosis, and still no real answers, Ms Stott's symptoms worsened.
Then in early May, late on a Friday night, she woke up unable to breathe and with a "tingly" left arm.
"I thought I was having a heart attack," Ms Stott said.
She was rushed to Sunshine Coast University Hospital.
After advocating for herself again while in hospital, Ms Stott received a diagnosis.
It was B-cell lymphoma.
Just a few weeks later she was told the mass had grown by another 20 centimetres.
A biopsy confirmed it was Burkitt lymphoma, an aggressive form of cancer requiring immediate and intensive chemotherapy.
Burkitt lymphoma is extremely rare and known for rapidly expanding.
Ms Stott has since been undergoing intensive chemotherapy.
"We were booked in for an IVF cycle, which we had to forgo," Ms Stott said.
Mr Vogelpoel said it was heartbreaking to give up the IVF.
"But her health is more important," he said.
Ms Stott has four months of exhausting treatment ahead of her, involving 21-day chemotherapy cycles with a seven-day break in between.
She also has three lumbar punctures a week, where medical staff jab a needle into her spine to remove fluid, then inject her with chemotherapy.
"It's very painful," Ms Stott said.
General practitioner Katie Gardner, who is also clinical editor at Country to Coast Queensland, said it could be worth following up with a doctor if flu-like symptoms lasted longer than a week.
"Australians generally report high satisfaction with their GPs," she said.
"But if you feel your concerns aren't being heard or taken seriously, the first step is to raise them directly with your treating doctor, especially if you've noticed a pattern over time or worsening symptoms.
She said people who were still concerned could ask whether further tests or a referral might be appropriate, seek a second opinion from another GP, or call 13 HEALTH (13 43 25 84).
"You know your body best," she said.
"If something doesn't feel right, it's OK to keep asking questions or request additional follow-up."
Ms Stott said pushing doctors for answers saved her life.
"If I didn't keep pushing I'd still be waiting for a diagnosis," she said.
"Most people don't get to hospital until it's too late and their airways are closing.
"People know their own bodies and if you feel like something isn't right, just keep pushing."
