Optimism despite adversity: Denise’s Path through Mantle Cell Lymphoma

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Denise Olson of Urbandale, Iowa was enjoying her retirement when she noticed a concerning lump on her neck. The lump continued to grow over the next few months, prompting a visit to her primary care provider. This began a journey she never expected.

After an initial CT scan and ultrasound in early 2022, Denise was referred to MercyOne Des Moines Medical Center for a needle biopsy. Awaiting the biopsy results, she headed off to Disney World for some much-needed time with her family and grandkids.

While at Disney, dubbed the happiest place on earth, Denise got the call that she had Mantle Cell Lymphoma (MCL) - a rare sub-type of non-Hodgkin Lymphoma.

For being the happiest place in the world and getting that kind of news – I was thankful to be with my husband, daughter, son-in-law and three grandkids to help process the news. We had a few tears, but we got through it and made the best of it,” Denise said.

Two weeks after returning from her trip and receiving her MCL diagnosis, Denise went into surgery to have a left lymph node removed. During surgery, the doctors discovered the cancer had spread to other parts of her body and further diagnosed Denise with stage 4 MCL.

Mantle Cell Lymphoma is a cancer of the lymphatic system and occurs when the B-cell lymphocytes in the mantle zone become cancerous and grow rapidly. Around 70% of people diagnosed with MCL are diagnosed at stage 4 due to its aggressive nature. MCL typically causes symptoms like sudden weight loss, fever or night sweats. However, Denise didn’t experience any of the typical MCL symptoms.

On her 65^th birthday, Denise began chemotherapy treatment under the care of Dr. Tara Graff, a hematology oncologist at Mission Cancer & Blood, a partner of MercyOne. Embracing a sense of optimism and a proactive approach, Denise also opted to participate in a 10-year clinical trial for MCL. She recognized the potential benefits it could offer not only to herself but also to future patients facing similar battles.

My husband asked if I was sure that I wanted to do the trial - I absolutely did. At stage 4 why wouldn’t I do it? Maybe my trial would be the cure or keep me alive long enough that there would be a cure in my future. Plus, this could help other people,” Denise recalled.

By December 2022, Denise was in remission. Regular blood work and CT scans became part of her routine, reassuring her as she navigated life in remission.

However, Denise's journey took another unexpected turn in February 2023 when a PET scan revealed abnormalities in her chest. This led to thoracic surgery and a diagnosis of histoplasmosis, a fungal lung infection.

Now, in remission and enjoying life to the fullest, Denise has a newfound appreciation for each day and refuses to let MCL define who she is. She's even experienced a reduction in her blood pressure medications and chronic migraines, allowing her to savor the simple joys of everyday life. Moving forward, Denise says she will only go to MercyOne providers for her health care needs because of the excellent and compassionate care received throughout Denise's MCL journey.