A 32-year-old woman who has been diagnosed with stage 4 cancer says she ignored early signs because she thought they were part of “getting older” and eczema-related. Taylor Deanne Roy experienced extreme tiredness, shortness of breath and itchy skin for a couple of years before her “whole world stopped”.
She had already been diagnosed with follicular eczema and she thought her random pains were nothing to worry about. But after discovering a large lump on her neck, she visited her doctor for an ultrasound. And when the results of a biopsy came back, doctors told Taylor that she had stage 4 Hodgkin’s Lymphoma.
The cancer had also spread to her lungs and the bones in her spine. “I have been struggling for three years with itchy skin that was diagnosed as follicular eczema,” Taylor said. “For two years I had become extremely tired and out of shape but I thought it was just part of being older.
“I started getting random pains that I blamed on myself. The lump on my neck is when I finally began to be taken seriously. On October 2 of this year [less than two months after finding the lump] I received my diagnosis for Stage 4 Hodgkin’s Lymphoma that had spread to my lungs and the bones in my spine.
“The moment I was told I had cancer it was as if the whole world around me stopped. I felt like nothing was real for a few minutes. I said thank you and left and as I drove home I had a complete breakdown. All I wanted was to be the best version of myself and to start a family of my own.
“Now, at 32, I find myself in the fight of my life.” Taylor says she experiences “severe pain, nausea and exhaustion” all the time and some days she struggles to get out of bed. She said: “My body is a stranger, betraying me in ways I never thought possible. Simple tasks that I once did without a second thought, are now sometimes nearly impossible.
“The hardest part is the feeling of losing myself – losing the independence I worked so hard to build. This isn’t how I saw my life turning out.”
Just a few months before Taylor’s diagnosis, an electrical fire broke out at her home. She lost both her house and all of her personal belongings. Throughout this time, Taylor says she has been showered with endless support from her family and friends. She said: “My friends and family have shown up in every way they can, whether it’s donations, making food for me, and showing up with a cupcake on my birthday.
“They have also sent onesies to replace the ones I lost in the house fire, and sent me other comfort items. They’ve done my laundry, helped me get around and checked in on me constantly. I’m beyond broken – physically, mentally, financially. I’ve reached a point where I need to ask for help because sometimes, no matter how strong we try to be, we can’t do it alone.”
Taylor hopes to beat her illness and come out on the other side so that she can continue with her life. According to Cancer Research UK, almost 85 out of 100 people (almost 85%) will survive for five years or more after being diagnosed.
She now uses her TikTok account to share her story, and help others to become more aware. In a post about the symptoms she ignored, she said that she wished she’d mentioned them to her doctor sooner. Taylor added: “I think the most I can do with my circumstances is spread enough awareness to people to advocate for themselves and not give up when doctors don’t listen.
“If I had been more pushy with doctors, I wouldn’t be stage 4 right now.”