A teen from Albuquerque, N.M., has quite the inspirational story to tell.
According to KOAT -TV, about a year ago Tyler Jenson, a student at La Cueva High School, found a lump under his arm that a CT scan revealed was stage 3 Hodgkin lymphoma. The teen under went chemotherapy and fought like hell to get to where he is today — scoring touchdowns for his school’s football team, winning javelin competitions and rocking a jersey with an important message about his experience: “Caution – Cancer Killer.”
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After treatment, on his first day back at football practice, he broke his ankle.
“Honestly, it’s the weirdest thing ever,” he told KOAT. “That set me back about two months in the season.”
But he made it back on the field and next year will again, as well as play for other sports teams. His experience left him with some wisdom beyond his years, and some advice for anyone else struggling with similar experiences.
“Just one day at a time,” Jenson said. “Live life to the fullest. Just be you. Live free and live for the adventure.”
What Is Hodgkin Lymphoma?
Lymphomas are cancers that begin in a type of white blood cells called lymphocytes. The two main types of lymphomas are Hodgkin and non-Hodgkin. Hodgkin lymphomas typically begin in a part of the lymph system called B cells, according to the American Cancer Society, which make proteins called antibodies that help protect the body from germs.
The disease is rare, but it is the most common cancer diagnosed in teens aged 15 to 19. Chemotherapy and radiation are the most common treatments used for Hodgkin lymphoma, according to the American Cancer Society. Depending on the severity of the disease, the two treatments methods may be used separately or together.
Exercise and Recovery
Jenson’s dedication to staying active and getting back on the field likely helped him with his recovery.
In a previous interview with SurvivorNet, Dr. Sagar Lonial, Chief Medical Officer at Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University, said that while there’s no magic diet or workout routine to follow as you go through the cancer journey, maintaining a healthy lifestyle overall can go a long way when it comes to recovery.
“What I tell patients is, the stronger and fitter you are going into treatment, the stronger and fitter you’re going to come out on the back end,” Dr. Lonial said. “Exercise is important. I’m not saying run a marathon, but certainly walk and be as active as you can. Eat a healthy, well-balanced diet. A multivitamin is probably not unreasonable. But beyond that, I don’t know that there’s any data that says that some strange fad diet has better outcomes.”
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