Nina Luker's Cancer Journey
- On March 11, 2020, Nina Luker was diagnosed with stage IV diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, a type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma.
- Three days later, New York City went into lockdown because of COVID-19.
- Gardening, meditation, and a regular exercise program helped her make it through lockdown and her chemotherapy treatment.
- Now in remission, she’s studying to become a certified health coach so she can help others through their cancer journey.
On March 11, 2020, Nina Luker learned that she had stage IV diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, a type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma. The diagnosis came as a shock to the then 24-year-old former college athlete. Just three days after she received the devastating news, New York City, where she was living, went into lockdown due to COVID-19. Luker would have to face cancer in the middle of a global pandemic.
Coronavirus is particularly dangerous for people undergoing cancer treatment, which made it especially important for Luker to stay isolated.
Related: People With Blood Cancer Are More Vulnerable to COVID-19: What You Need to Know
Rather than wallow in self-pity, Luker decided to remain positive. While in lockdown, she took up gardening, cultivating eggplant, tomatoes, and cucumbers in her garden. “I found this connection to mother nature and our earth to be so therapeutic,” she says. “It gave me space to be outside and safe from the virus and any social interaction.”
She also began a daily meditation, hoping to overcome the fear that can be ever present after a cancer diagnosis. “Fear is something that plagues a cancer patient’s mind, but if you can work with that fear and become friends with that fear, it will transform your entire journey,” she says.
A TikTok Cancer Journey
Luker chronicled the ups and downs of her cancer journey on a TikTok blog. “It was a way for me to articulate, in my most vulnerable state, what it was like to go through cancer,” she says. Videos of her shaving her head, dancing while getting her chemo treatments, and trying on a new wig quickly gained her a huge following.
Her video blog caught the attention of the Lymphoma Research Foundation, which reached out to her. “I was able to gain a community through LRF that will impact me forever. Their support and encouragement has left me with nothing but strength,” she says.
Related: Recommendations for a Healthy Lifestyle: One Doctor’s Advice for Cancer Survivors
Adopting a regular exercise routine also helped Luker get through those difficult months. “I worked out almost every day, whether it was just a walk or high intensity indoor biking,” she says. “It allowed me to freshen my brain, keep my body moving, and ultimately I think it was one of the biggest reasons why I was in remission so quickly.”
“This Girl is Cancer-Free!”
On August 12, after six rounds of chemotherapy, Luker posted an emotional message on her TikTok page. Wearing a Wonder Woman tank top, she announced, “This girl is cancer free! … Never in my life have I felt like this.” The post has since generated nearly 350,000 likes.
Now that she’s in remission, Luker credits her support system of family and friends with helping her make it through those difficult five months. To pay it forward, she’s studying to become a certified health coach, in the hope that she can help other patients navigate their own cancer journeys.
Non-Hodgkin lymphoma treatment, and beyond
She says her own experience with cancer has left her with a profound sense of gratitude and an appreciation for the little things in life — those simple moments she finds while taking a walk or watching the sunshine filter through the trees.
“This journey taught me more than any other part of my life has ever taught me. I learned what gratitude meant. I gained a new perspective,” she says. “If there’s anything that I’ve learned, it’s that we are innately happy and positive people, and we are here to support one another. And if we can do that, we can really change the world.”
Learn more about SurvivorNet's rigorous medical review process.
Nina Luker's Cancer Journey
- On March 11, 2020, Nina Luker was diagnosed with stage IV diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, a type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma.
- Three days later, New York City went into lockdown because of COVID-19.
- Gardening, meditation, and a regular exercise program helped her make it through lockdown and her chemotherapy treatment.
- Now in remission, she’s studying to become a certified health coach so she can help others through their cancer journey.
On March 11, 2020, Nina Luker learned that she had stage IV
diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, a type of
non-Hodgkin lymphoma. The diagnosis came as a shock to the then 24-year-old former college athlete. Just three days after she received the devastating news, New York City, where she was living, went into lockdown due to
COVID-19. Luker would have to face cancer in the middle of a global pandemic.
Coronavirus is particularly dangerous for people undergoing cancer treatment, which made it especially important for Luker to stay isolated.
Read More
Related: People With Blood Cancer Are More Vulnerable to COVID-19: What You Need to Know
Rather than wallow in self-pity, Luker decided to remain positive. While in lockdown, she took up gardening, cultivating eggplant, tomatoes, and cucumbers in her garden. “I found this connection to mother nature and our earth to be so therapeutic,” she says. “It gave me space to be outside and safe from the virus and any social interaction.”
She also began a daily meditation, hoping to overcome the fear that can be ever present after a cancer diagnosis. “Fear is something that plagues a cancer patient’s mind, but if you can work with that fear and become friends with that fear, it will transform your entire journey,” she says.
A TikTok Cancer Journey
Luker chronicled the ups and downs of her cancer journey on a TikTok blog. “It was a way for me to articulate, in my most vulnerable state, what it was like to go through cancer,” she says. Videos of her shaving her head, dancing while getting her chemo treatments, and trying on a new wig quickly gained her a huge following.
Her video blog caught the attention of the Lymphoma Research Foundation, which reached out to her. “I was able to gain a community through LRF that will impact me forever. Their support and encouragement has left me with nothing but strength,” she says.
Related: Recommendations for a Healthy Lifestyle: One Doctor’s Advice for Cancer Survivors
Adopting a regular exercise routine also helped Luker get through those difficult months. “I worked out almost every day, whether it was just a walk or high intensity indoor biking,” she says. “It allowed me to freshen my brain, keep my body moving, and ultimately I think it was one of the biggest reasons why I was in remission so quickly.”
“This Girl is Cancer-Free!”
On August 12, after six rounds of chemotherapy, Luker posted an emotional message on her TikTok page. Wearing a Wonder Woman tank top, she announced, “This girl is cancer free! … Never in my life have I felt like this.” The post has since generated nearly 350,000 likes.
Now that she’s in remission, Luker credits her support system of family and friends with helping her make it through those difficult five months. To pay it forward, she’s studying to become a certified health coach, in the hope that she can help other patients navigate their own cancer journeys.
Non-Hodgkin lymphoma treatment, and beyond
She says her own experience with cancer has left her with a profound sense of gratitude and an appreciation for the little things in life — those simple moments she finds while taking a walk or watching the sunshine filter through the trees.
“This journey taught me more than any other part of my life has ever taught me. I learned what gratitude meant. I gained a new perspective,” she says. “If there’s anything that I’ve learned, it’s that we are innately happy and positive people, and we are here to support one another. And if we can do that, we can really change the world.”
Learn more about SurvivorNet's rigorous medical review process.
