32-Year-Old Father-Of-Two From Omaha, Nebraska Beats Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma and Gets the Job of His Dreams

At urgent care, Juszyk got an X-ray. The results turned his world upside down. "’Nope, you don’t have pneumonia or bronchitis," the doctor told him. "You have a large mass in your chest and you need it checked out immediately."

Further testing revealed that Juszyk had non-Hodgkin lymphoma. The blood cancer had resulted in a large tumor that was pressed against his heart. “It really went from, ‘Yeah, I’m going to get checked out and still feeling great, just got the call the day prior I was going to be on the fire department and start the academy class and then having that happen,’ was a complete gut-punch,” he told KMBC News.

Over the next six months, Juszyk underwent six rounds of chemotherapy. Through the toughest moments in his treatment, Juszyk kept his eyes on the prizehe pictured his name embroidered on his firefighting gear.

The Omaha fire department promised that he could join and begin training whenever he was ready.  "I had my family, but there was this added extra bonus of, ‘Hey, I can get this dream. It is still attainableI just have to fight through it all,'" he said.

Last June, Juszyk got the go ahead. "Yep, you are cleared. You are good to go," his doctors told him. Juszyk called it "a dream come true to be on the Omaha Fire department." But the victory is about even more than "the best job in the world." It's about Juszyk's ability to fight through whatever obstacles life throws his way. He said it is "just an amazing feeling to know I got through this and feel like that I can get through anything."

Speaking to his daughters, the Omaha community, and anybody fighting a similar battle, Juszyk focuses on the importance of holding on to hope for a better future. "Try to stay positive," he said. "Even in the downest, darkest times, you have to try to find that glimmer of hope and hold onto it and let grow."

Understanding Lymphoma

Lymphoma, in general, is a type of blood cancer. Blood cancers can affect the bone marrow, blood cells, lymph nodes and other parts of the lymphatic system.

More specifically, lymphoma is a cancer of the immune system that begins in the white blood cells called lymphocytes. Lymphoma begins when lymphocytes develop a genetic mutation that makes them multiply much faster than normal. This mutation also forces older cells that would normally die to stay alive. From there, the quickly multiplying lymphocytes collect and build up in your lymph nodes, the small glands in your neck, armpits, and other parts of your body

What Kind of Lymphoma Do You Have? Why Your Type Matters

There are more than 40 different types of the disease, but Hodgkin lymphoma and non-Hodgkin lymphoma are the main two sub-categories with the latter being much more common. The type of white blood cells linked to the disease determines the distinction. If doctors are unable to detect the Reed-Sternberg cell a giant cell derived from B lymphocytes then it is categorized as Non-Hodgkin lymphoma.

You might be at a higher risk if you:

• Have been infected with the HIV or Epstein-Barr virus
• Had an organ transplant
• Have a family history of lymphoma
• Have been treated with radiation or chemotherapy drugs for cancer in the past
• Have an autoimmune disease

Signs of Lymphoma

One thing to note about lymphomas is that this type of cancer often creeps in quietly, without symptoms. And even when symptoms do show up, they don't necessarily point directly to cancer. In a previous interview, Dr. Elise Chong, a medical oncologist at Penn Medicine, explained that lymphoma symptoms could be difficult to detect.

Sneaky Lymphoma Symptoms Often Lead to a Late Diagnosis

"The symptoms of lymphoma, especially if you have a low-grade lymphoma, often are no symptoms," Dr. Chong explained. "People say, but I feel completely fine, and that's very normal."

People with lymphoma do not always have symptoms, but common ones are:

• Swollen glands in your neck, armpit or groin
• Fever
• Chills
• Night sweats
• Unexplained weight loss
• Feeling tired
• Swelling in your stomach

No matter what, it's important to communicate anything usual happening to your body with your doctor. Even if you think there's nothing to worry about, it's good to rule out the possibility of more serious issues.

Contributing: Abigail Seaberg

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