By Steph Geissinger, Cancer Survivor and Founder, sixdoves, a mission-driven brand delivering comfort and hope to those undergoing cancer treatment.
After my official diagnosis of Non-Hodgkin’s Large B-Cell Lymphoma on August 6, 2019, the next few weeks were filled with appointments, tests, and procedures — all to determine the best path forward for treatment.
At first, I was a wreck. The emotions came in waves — shock, fear, sadness — until one night my husband said something that changed everything. After many nights of crying, he looked at me and said, “It’s okay to cry, but you can’t sulk.”
He reminded me that feeling sorry for myself would only make this already difficult situation harder. That one honest line became a turning point. It shifted my mindset from fear to focus — to control what I could, find the right care team, and fight with everything I had. I knew there would be days when I’d break down, but I also knew I had to get back up and fight.
Searching for the Right Oncologist
I was initially referred to an oncologist within the same health system as my primary care doctor, GI specialist, and surgical oncologist. It would have been the easiest route as all my tests and records were already in that network.
She was brilliant, but something was missing — the emotional connection. Still, I continued seeing her to understand her recommendation for treatment.
She ordered a FiSH test to check for genetic mutations within the B-cells. Thankfully, the test came back negative. Based on my tumor’s location in the small bowel, she diagnosed it as Stage IV and recommended an aggressive inpatient treatment plan called MR-CHOP — five days in the hospital every three weeks for six rounds.
She also suggested I meet with a fertility specialist immediately. Because the tumor was in my abdomen and the chemotherapy could cause infertility, I was advised to freeze eggs before beginning treatment.
An Overwhelming Decision
Two hours after my initial oncologist appointment, mentally drained, I found myself up the road in a fertility clinic presented with two options:
1️⃣ Pay $20,000 out of pocket to go through the egg retrieval and embryo-freezing process.
2️⃣ Risk the possibility of infertility later.
My husband and I had only been married two years. We knew we wanted children one day, but we weren’t planning on it anytime soon. We sat in the doctor’s office in shock, both overwhelmed by how much life had changed in such a short time.
Then, we laughed.
Not because anything was funny — but because there had already been so many tears. Within just seven days, I’d undergone major surgery to remove a tumor, received a cancer diagnosis, met with an oncologist, and now had to make a life-altering financial decision. The only thing left to do was laugh at the sheer absurdity of it all.
In the end, we decided to move forward with the egg retrieval and embryo freezing. We knew that once this was all behind us, we wanted the option to build our family.
Getting a Second Opinion
While waiting to start the fertility process, my husband reached out to Dr. Jonathon Cohen at Emory Healthcare, a professor and Co-Director of the Lymphoma Program. He explained my background and asked if Dr. Cohen would review my case and provide a second opinion.
Dr. Cohen responded within two hours and scheduled an appointment for the following week. Considering his reputation, research work, and busy schedule, we were stunned — and deeply grateful.
When I finally met Dr. Cohen, I immediately knew he was the right oncologist for me. He spent time answering every question and made me feel truly cared for. His PA was equally kind and thorough, ensuring we were fully supported.
After that meeting, I made the decision to switch my care to Emory Healthcare.
A New Plan and Next Steps
The next two weeks were a blur of tests — bone marrow biopsy, echocardiogram, bloodwork, PET scan, and port placement. The hospital started to feel like a second home and on most days I simply felt like a pin cushion.
After reviewing all results, Dr. Cohen recommended R-CHOP chemotherapy instead of MR-CHOP. This version was less intensive — it didn’t require hospitalization or the Methotrexate drug — and was equally effective for my case. I trusted him completely.
We scheduled my first round of chemo for September 9th, 2019, right after Labor Day.
Before treatment began, my husband and I took one last trip to California wine country (Napa & Sonoma) — a place deeply tied to our hearts from our wedding weekend. It was exactly what I needed: a brief escape before the long journey ahead.
Looking Ahead
In the next part of my story, I’ll share what the chemotherapy journey was like — the physical and emotional realities, and how I navigated side effects like mouth sores, dry mouth, hair loss, nausea, and fatigue.
This chapter taught me resilience in ways I never imagined. “Cry, not sulk” became a mantra that carried me through the hardest days — and ultimately inspired what would one day become sixdoves — a brand built to bring comfort, hope, and healing to others going through a cancer journey.
To be continued…
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