Captain of her high school soccer team, two year member of the Honor Society, and gifted musician, Jessica Powell seemed to have a life that most girls her age can only dream of. That was of course until two years ago, when she first went to her local physician for a yearly physical.
She woke up that morning believing that day was like any other. After practice that afternoon, she was taken to her pediatrician for a yearly exam. During the exam a doctor noticed what he believed to be swollen lymph nodes on the back of her neck. He prescribed Jessica a small dosage of antibiotics and ordered a CAT scan just to be sure it was not anything more serious.
The next day, Jessica’s worst fears came true. The test results showed that the swollen nodes were a result of malignant cells in her neck. She was diagnosed with Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma, one of the most recognized forms of neck cancers.
The next few months were devastating. Fearing that the cancer would soon spread to her trachea or larynx, Jessica soon began heavy treatment including surgical resection and radiation therapy. The results were at first remarkable. Within 3 months, all signs of malignant cells in her nodes were gone; however the predicament was far from over.
The Intensity-modulated radiotherapy, or IMRT, had caused the cancer to spread to three out of the four main appendages of her body. With the effects of radiation and chemotherapy diminishing, Jessica was left with few options.
Jessica soon underwent a major surgery to remove both of her arms as well as her left leg. However, even with this unimaginable procedure, there was still a chance the cancer would soon return.
However, two years, and dozens of physical therapy sessions later, Jessica is in full health. Not only physically, but she now states that she is forever grateful that she was given a second chance at life.
When asked what she learned most from this unbelievable experience, she replied "Never again will I take my life for granted. You only have one life and it is a beautiful thing. Even though I went through some tough times in the past, it makes my life now seem all the better."
From the team at HelpingHandCancer.com, we would like to thank Jessica for inspiring so many others, and would like to wish her the best of luck.