TV presenter Michelle Lovegrove reveals health battle after ‘little’ shower discovery
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When we think of our daily routines, a shower is often just another part of our day.
But for TV news presenter Michelle Lovegrove, a routine shower became a life-altering moment when she discovered a 'little lump' that would lead to a life-altering discovery.
This story is a stark reminder for all of us to be vigilant about changes in our bodies.
Michelle Aleksandrovics Lovegrove, a respected journalist, found herself facing a daunting battle with Angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma, a rare and aggressive form of blood cancer.
She initially discovered the lump in the shower and dismissed it as a cyst.
'It didn't hurt, it moved around, there was no swelling, and it wasn't red,' Lovegrove said.
'I thought, "This is weird," and I thought it was a little cyst. I said, "I'll keep an eye on that," and promptly forgot about it.'
However, the lump grew to four times its size in just five days, a shocking and rapid change that prompted her to seek medical attention.
Lovegrove ‘got really worried’ and still couldn’t believe the lump was cancer, as she thought it was the symptom of a hernia.
'I had other definable signs such as incredible drenching night sweats—to be honest, I put down to menopause—crushing fatigue, which I put down to other stuff and then later incredible itching,' she said.
After her doctor booked her for an ultrasound, CT scan, and core biopsy, Lovegrove was diagnosed with stage 4B Non-Hodgkin’s T-cell lymphoma and was put on chemotherapy treatment
The journey from discovery to diagnosis is a harrowing one, and Lovegrove has bravely chosen to share her experience through a series of videos on her YouTube channel, Changing Life with Lymphoma.
Lovegrove’s treatment included six rounds of ‘pretty aggressive chemo and a lot of other meds’.
Since the lymphoma is ‘stubborn’ and has an 80 per cent relapse rate within the first 12 months, she mentioned plans for additional chemotherapy and either a stem cell or bone marrow transplant.
Lovegrove advised anyone who notices any bodily irregularities, even if it is ‘as simple as a little lump’.
‘All I want to say is that it was as simple as a little lump… I am so glad I went to the doctor,' she said.
'So if there is anything wrong, you are your best advocate. You know your body the best. Get it seen to your satisfaction because no one is going to look after you like you will.'
Her friend and former colleague, Dr Florencia Isabel Melgar Hourcade, has set up a GoFundMe to help with the medical costs associated with her treatment and recovery.
‘Let’s get behind an extraordinary woman!' Dr Hourcade wrote.
'Michelle’s personal story is now about the toughest battle of her life, and she needs your help!'
As of this writing, the GoFundMe campaign has received 50 donations, totalling $5,770. The campaign aims to reach $30,000.
In one of her videos, Lovegrove had her friend shave her hair to a buzz cut.
'Like many other women, I don't wish to see hair all over my pillow. I don't wish to be pulling out handfuls of hair,' she said.
You can watch Lovegrove’s video below:
Credit: Changing Life with Lymphoma / YouTube
Cancer is a common fear among people, and the path to overcoming it adds to the difficulty of the journey.
In a previous story, a former TV actress shared a deeply personal and challenging health diagnosis of a certain type of cancer. You can read more about her story here.
What do you think about this story, members? Let us know in the comments below.
But for TV news presenter Michelle Lovegrove, a routine shower became a life-altering moment when she discovered a 'little lump' that would lead to a life-altering discovery.
This story is a stark reminder for all of us to be vigilant about changes in our bodies.
Michelle Aleksandrovics Lovegrove, a respected journalist, found herself facing a daunting battle with Angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma, a rare and aggressive form of blood cancer.
She initially discovered the lump in the shower and dismissed it as a cyst.
Michelle Lovegrove discovered a lump, which led to a diagnosis of stage four cancer. Credit: @MJLovegrove / Twitter
'It didn't hurt, it moved around, there was no swelling, and it wasn't red,' Lovegrove said.
'I thought, "This is weird," and I thought it was a little cyst. I said, "I'll keep an eye on that," and promptly forgot about it.'
However, the lump grew to four times its size in just five days, a shocking and rapid change that prompted her to seek medical attention.
Lovegrove ‘got really worried’ and still couldn’t believe the lump was cancer, as she thought it was the symptom of a hernia.
'I had other definable signs such as incredible drenching night sweats—to be honest, I put down to menopause—crushing fatigue, which I put down to other stuff and then later incredible itching,' she said.
After her doctor booked her for an ultrasound, CT scan, and core biopsy, Lovegrove was diagnosed with stage 4B Non-Hodgkin’s T-cell lymphoma and was put on chemotherapy treatment
The journey from discovery to diagnosis is a harrowing one, and Lovegrove has bravely chosen to share her experience through a series of videos on her YouTube channel, Changing Life with Lymphoma.
Lovegrove’s treatment included six rounds of ‘pretty aggressive chemo and a lot of other meds’.
Since the lymphoma is ‘stubborn’ and has an 80 per cent relapse rate within the first 12 months, she mentioned plans for additional chemotherapy and either a stem cell or bone marrow transplant.
Lovegrove advised anyone who notices any bodily irregularities, even if it is ‘as simple as a little lump’.
‘All I want to say is that it was as simple as a little lump… I am so glad I went to the doctor,' she said.
'So if there is anything wrong, you are your best advocate. You know your body the best. Get it seen to your satisfaction because no one is going to look after you like you will.'
Her friend and former colleague, Dr Florencia Isabel Melgar Hourcade, has set up a GoFundMe to help with the medical costs associated with her treatment and recovery.
‘Let’s get behind an extraordinary woman!' Dr Hourcade wrote.
'Michelle’s personal story is now about the toughest battle of her life, and she needs your help!'
As of this writing, the GoFundMe campaign has received 50 donations, totalling $5,770. The campaign aims to reach $30,000.
In one of her videos, Lovegrove had her friend shave her hair to a buzz cut.
'Like many other women, I don't wish to see hair all over my pillow. I don't wish to be pulling out handfuls of hair,' she said.
You can watch Lovegrove’s video below:
Credit: Changing Life with Lymphoma / YouTube
Cancer is a common fear among people, and the path to overcoming it adds to the difficulty of the journey.
In a previous story, a former TV actress shared a deeply personal and challenging health diagnosis of a certain type of cancer. You can read more about her story here.
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