By Max Wexler
Lauren Leonardo was living what should have been an idyllic life when she received a shocking diagnosis of stage 2 DLBC non-Hodgkin lymphoma. The then 22-year old got the news in July 2020 while living in Hawaii with her long-term boyfriend Timm.
Read MoreDespite this great news, Leonardo’s story was full of hardship, especially in the months leading up to her diagnosis. According to a series of posts made on her TikTok account, @hellolaurenleo, she had to fight to have doctors take her seriously despite progressively worsening symptoms. Leonardo stated that she had been experiencing such severe difficulty swallowing that food and medicine had to be crushed up for her. Doctors had repeatedly dismissed her case until she developed a visible lump near her throat. She was then referred to an ear, nose, and throat specialist who further assured her that she was fine after performing both a biopsy and a scan.
Finally on July 27, 2020 Leonardo ended up in the ER because she was having trouble breathing. An ER doctor noticed something concerning on a previous scan that had been done by the ENT. This is what led to her finding out she had cancer.
Leonardo can now be seen on social media constantly encouraging her followers to fight for themselves if they think something is wrong. The resilience she has displayed throughout her harrowing journey is inspiring.
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