Stargirl light -know the truth about cancer

17/10/2025

🌟 Final Chapter – Awareness & Hope: Know the Truth About Hodgkin’s Lymphoma

After walking this long journey with my brother, one thing became clear awareness saves lives.
What started as a small, painless lump on his neck turned out to be Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, a type of blood cancer that many people know very little about.

So today, we share not just his story, but what every family needs to know. 💜

💜 What is Hodgkin’s Lymphoma?

Hodgkin’s Lymphoma (or Hodgkin’s Disease) is a type of cancer that begins in the lymphatic system the network that helps your body fight infections. It happens when certain white blood cells (lymphocytes) grow abnormally and spread through the lymph nodes, making it harder for the body to fight illness.

⚠️ Common Signs & Symptoms to Watch For:

These can start small and painless that’s why early awareness is so important.

Swollen lymph nodes (often in the neck, armpit, or groin) that don’t go away

Unexplained fatigue or weakness

Persistent fever or night sweats

Unexplained weight loss

Itchy skin or constant rash

Loss of appetite

Cough or chest pain (if lymph nodes in the chest are affected)

💭 If a lump appears and keeps coming back don’t ignore it. Get checked.

🔍 Possible Causes and Risk Factors:

There is no single known cause, but doctors believe certain factors can increase risk:

A weakened immune system

A history of Epstein-Barr virus (the virus that causes mononucleosis)

Family history of lymphoma

Age (most common in young adults and people over 55)

Exposure to certain chemicals

Remember having one or more of these factors does not mean you will get cancer, but awareness helps in early detection.

💊 Treatment Options:

Hodgkin’s Lymphoma is one of the most treatable cancers, even in later stages.
Treatment depends on the stage and overall health, but common options include:

Chemotherapy: Uses drugs to destroy cancer cells.

Radiation Therapy: Targets affected areas to stop cancer from spreading.

Immunotherapy: Helps the immune system fight cancer more effectively.

Stem Cell Transplant: In advanced cases, replaces damaged bone marrow with healthy cells.

💪 Many people go on to live long, healthy lives after treatment like my brother. His journey is proof that there is hope after diagnosis.

💫 A Message from Stargirl Light

To everyone reading this:
Don’t wait until pain becomes unbearable. Don’t assume it’s “just a muscle strain.” Early detection is everything.

We lost Stargirl Light to cancer, but through her memory and her uncle’s victory, we continue to shine a light so others can live. 🌈

💜 Cancer is not a death sentence. It’s a journey one that can end in healing, hope, and purpose.

💬 Takeaway:

Be aware. Be brave. Be hopeful.
Early checkups, emotional support, and faith can turn fear into victory.
Together, we can end the silence and fight cancer with knowledge and love.

🌟

15/10/2025

🌟 Part 6 – Victory and Gratitude

The day finally came the one I had prayed for through every moment of pain, fear, and sleepless night.
It was time for my final scan.

As I sat waiting for the results, my heart raced. I thought of every drip of chemo, every wave of nausea, every time I forced myself to smile when I was breaking inside. And then the doctor walked in, smiling.

He looked at me and said the words that will stay with me forever:

“You are cancer-free.”

For a moment, I couldn’t breathe. Tears filled my eyes but this time, they were tears of joy. I had made it. After all the pain, I was still standing.

I thanked God first for His mercy and strength that carried me when I could no longer carry myself. But deep in my heart, I also whispered:

“Thank you, Stargirl Light.” 💜

Even though she’s no longer here, I know she walked with me through it all. I felt her presence in my quiet moments, her voice reminding me to be strong, her light guiding me through every dark night.

When I wanted to give up, I thought of her fight, her courage, her smile and somehow, I found the strength to keep going.

So this victory isn’t mine alone. It belongs to her too my niece, my angel, my Stargirl Light. 🌟

“She may be gone from sight, but never from my heart.
Her love carried me through the storm and now, I stand in the light she left behind.”

Today, I share my story with pride, hope, and gratitude to remind anyone fighting right now:
You can survive. You can heal. You can live again. 💜

💬 Takeaway:

Survival isn’t just about living it’s about finding purpose after pain. It’s about honoring those who stood with you, even from heaven. Love never dies; it transforms into strength. 🌈

15/10/2025

14/10/2025

💔 My Journey with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma – Part 4

(This chapter is my personal experience)

Stigma, Struggles, and Silent Strength

During chemotherapy, I faced many challenges not only physical pain but also emotional and financial struggles.

There were days when I felt completely alone, misunderstood, and drained not just from the treatment, but from the world around me.

Every chemo session left me weak. I needed at least three to four days to rest and let the medication work through my body so I could regain strength. But rest wasn’t a luxury I could afford. If I stayed at home, there would be no income, and I still had to take care of myself and my children.

So, even when my body begged for rest, I forced myself to go to work.

At first, I thought my effort would be appreciated but it wasn’t.
My boss started talking behind my back, telling others that I was pretending that I didn’t really have cancer. Imagine hearing that when you’re fighting for your life.

One day, he even came to me and said, “Maybe you should stay at home until the chemo is done and come back after you’re better. The work is suffering because of your sickness.”

Those words broke me.
I expected understanding, not judgment.

But I also knew if I stayed at home, I wouldn’t be paid and each chemo session required money. So, I decided to stay strong. I began avoiding him, hiding my pain, and pretending to be fine just to keep my job.

It wasn’t easy, but it made me tougher. I told myself:

“If I can survive this kind of pain both inside and out nothing can break me again.”

That’s when I realized something powerful:

Stigma may isolate you, but it can also shape you into the strongest version of yourself.

So I kept going one chemo session, one day, one breath at a time.
And the journey continued... 💪.

Takeaway:
Not everyone will understand your battle, but your strength will speak louder than their doubt. Keep standing tall. 🙏💜

14/10/2025

🌻 My Journey with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma – Part 3

Finding Strength Through the Pain

The sickness that came after my first chemotherapy was unbearable but as hard as it was, I realized something.

The sickness was there for a reason that’s how the treatment works to fight the cancer.

So I told myself, “You have to be strong.”

For about five to six days, I struggled. I couldn’t eat properly, my body was weak, and even getting out of bed was a challenge. Then, just as I began to feel a little better, it was almost time for the next chemo session.

I was getting chemo twice a month every two weeks.
Each time the next date approached, my heart would sink. The fear would return “I’m going to get sick again…” but I knew this was going to be my life pattern for the next six months.

At that point, I had to be brutally honest with myself.

It’s either chemo or death.

So I chose to fight.

I pushed through one session after another, and by the time I completed three months six sessions I was booked for a PET scan on 5 May.

When the results came back, the doctor smiled and said,

“Almost 50% of the cancer is gone.”

Hearing those words gave me new strength. I felt a wave of hope. I told myself,

“I’m going to finish this treatment, no matter how painful it gets.”

13/10/2025

💪 My Journey with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma – Part 2

Starting Chemotherapy and Facing My Fears

When the doctors told me I needed chemotherapy, I honestly couldn’t imagine myself going through it. I had heard scary things and had no idea what to expect. The thought alone filled me with fear and uncertainty I kept asking myself, “Will I survive this? What will happen to me?”

But the day finally came 28 February my first chemo session.
Walking into that room, I saw other patients sitting quietly, each connected to drips and machines. The sight hit me hard. I whispered to myself, “Is this what it has to be?” Then I took a deep breath and said, “I will make it. I have to make it.”

When the nurse came to start the drip, I silently prayed, “Oh Lord, please be with me.” My hands trembled, but I stayed strong.

After that first session, surprisingly, I felt fine. The next day I even went to work and managed to go through the day. I thought, “Maybe this isn’t so bad after all.”

But then two days later, everything changed.
Suddenly, I felt extremely sick. The nausea hit me, my appetite disappeared, and my body felt weak and heavy. That’s when fear crept back in, and I started doubting myself:

“Maybe I made the wrong decision going for chemotherapy…”

It was a tough moment my body was fighting, my mind was scared, but my heart choosing to fight any 💜

Takeaway:
Courage isn’t the absence of fear it’s walking into the chemo room, praying, and choosing to fight anyway. 🌟

13/10/2025

🌅 My Journey with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma – Part 1

How It All Began

It all started around June 2023 when I noticed a small lump on the right side of my neck. It didn’t hurt, so I ignored it and after a few days, it disappeared. But weeks later, it came back again.

At the clinic, I was told it was just a muscle strain. I believed it. The lump kept coming and going for months, and since there was no pain, I never imagined it could be cancer.

Then, during a trip to Zimbabwe, the lump returned this time painful. I told myself that when I got back home, I’d finally go to the hospital.

In October, I went for tests. At first, doctors thought it was TB, but results came back negative. More tests followed and in November, I received shocking news:

The lump showed signs of Hodgkin’s Lymphoma a type of cancer.

I couldn’t believe it. After losing my niece to cancer, hearing those words shattered me.

A biopsy in December 2024 confirmed it 💯 Hodgkin’s Lymphoma.
I got the results on Christmas Eve the hardest Christmas of my life.

I cried alone, but deep down I whispered to myself:

“This disease will not take me down.”

Later, a PET scan showed it was Stage 4, yet the doctor’s words gave me hope:

“Stage 4 doesn’t mean it’s not curable.”

That night I made my choice

I will fight. I will take chemotherapy. I will live.

Takeaway:
Sometimes the smallest signs can hold the biggest truths. Never ignore what your body is trying to tell you. Early checks save lives. 💜

12/10/2025

🌟 Coming Tomorrow on Survivor Spotlight 🌟

Every survivor carries a story that can light the way for others.
Tomorrow, we share my brother’s incredible journey with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma a story of faith, strength, and victory over fear. 💜

His story is one of pain, courage, and hope proof that even in darkness, light still wins.

✨ Don’t miss it Survivor Spotlight, only on Stargirl Light – Know the Truth About Cancer.

💜

06/10/2025

Life can be heavy, while caring for my daughter, I noticed a lump on my brother's neck---I knew what might come but I couldn't say it out loud.
Coming soon on SUVIVOR SPOTLIGHT a story of courage, hope determination.

01/10/2025

🎀October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month 🎀

Every October, the world comes together to shine a light on breast cancer not just as a month of pink ribbons, but as a reminder of the importance of early detection, support, and awareness.

💡 Did you know?

Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women worldwide.

When detected early, survival rates can be significantly improved.

Regular self-breast checks and screenings save lives.

Awareness is not just about statistics it’s about breaking the silence, supporting those fighting, remembering those we’ve lost, and empowering everyone with knowledge.

✅ This month, take action:

Perform regular self-checks.

Encourage loved ones to schedule mammograms.

Share information you might save a life.

Together, we can turn awareness into action and hope. 💝

27/09/2025

Dear friends 💜

I know I’ve been quiet for a while, and I want to share what’s been in my heart. The past couple of months have been some of the heaviest I’ve ever experienced. August 31, my daughter’s birthday, and September 15, her death anniversary these days remind me of the depth of love and loss I carry every single day.

In the quiet, I’ve tried to keep going, staying busy and caring for my family, but my heart has often been heavy with memories and longing for her presence. And yet, even in the grief, one thing has never wavered: Stargirl Light. This page is more than just a space online it is part of my life, my purpose, and my promise. It is my way of fighting cancer, supporting those on this journey, and raising awareness so no one feels alone.

Today, I take a deep breath and step back into this space, ready to share, reflect, and continue this journey with you. Thank you for your patience, your love, and for holding space with me through the silence. Your support means more than words can ever express.

Together, we honor my daughter, support others, and shine light in the darkest places.

With all my love,
Gladys 💜