Stage 4 Hodgkin’s Lymphoma patient shares her personal story.
In January 2025, Makayla Mackey received news that flipped her world upside down. During an appointment with Rumaisa Hameed, MD, a medical oncologist from the MedStar Georgetown Cancer Institute at MedStar Southern Maryland Hospital Center, she learned the results of her recent CT scan, bloodwork, and bone marrow biopsy—all ordered due to unexplained stomach and back pain that had ultimately landed her in the hospital. The message during this important follow-up appointment was a difficult one to process; at just 18 years old, Makayla had Stage 4 Hodgkin’s Lymphoma.
“I was shocked and confused,” recalls Makayla. “I was having a lot of pain, but I was young. I had just finished my first semester of college at Winston-Salem State University in North Carolina. I had assumed it was something simple that would be fixed with medicine or that would eventually pass on its own. Cancer was the furthest thing from my mind.”
Dr. Hameed gently reviewed Makayla’s test results and explained the various treatment options on the table for consideration. She recommended treatment begin immediately, starting with chemotherapy infusions every two weeks over a period of six months. With support from her family, Makayla tried to set her shock and emotions aside, choosing to trust Dr. Hameed and proceed quickly with her recommended plan of care.
“I knew I needed to just keep going. I stayed focused on beating my cancer and leaning into all of the people around me who were there to support me; my mom and dad, my aunts, and the amazing team taking care of me at MedStar Southern Maryland,” said Makayla. “Dr. Hameed and all of the nurses in the infusion center were so helpful and supportive, and made me feel so cared for every single day.”
Dr. Hameed monitored Makayla’s progress carefully, alongside a full multidisciplinary team of clinical providers whose unified goal was to ensure every aspect of her care plan was connected and that Makayla would feel supported, holistically.
“We collaborate closely to tailor the treatment plan to each patient’s diagnosis and personal needs, and ensure we are doing everything we can to support the patient through the process,” said Dr. Hameed. “Oncologists, pathologists, radiologists, nurse navigators, and social workers—all members of MedStar Health’s weekly tumor board meetings—each play a role, and that team approach makes a tremendous difference for patients like Makayla.”
Makayla’s care providers supported her on the good days as well as the hard days, and encouraged her to remain hopeful with knowledge that each chemotherapy visit marked another step in the right direction. Her final treatment session took place in early July, five days shy of her 19th birthday.
“At that point, my team explained that my follow-up scan would take place in August, which meant a few weeks of waiting, and that was not easy,” said Makayla. “I tried to resume my normal life, as best as I could. My energy started to come back so I enjoyed the summer, went on a few vacations, and took some classes virtually.”
Results from Makayla’s follow-up scan flipped her world upside down once again, but in a much different and better way. Her chemotherapy treatment had worked. She learned that her body was free of cancer, with no evidence of disease presenting.
“I was so excited to get the news,” recalls Makayla. “I had been through a lot, but it seemed like everything was falling into place. I felt like I could finally shift my focus to getting my life back on track.”
Now in remission, Makayla has done exactly that. She moved back to Maryland and transferred to Stevenson University, where she is working to complete a degree in psychology. She spends a lot of quality time with her family and is especially passionate about being in the kitchen; she is a baker and loves making cakes, cookies, and other sweet treats from scratch. And, understanding the importance of continued follow-up by her oncology team, Makayla sees Dr. Hameed on a regular basis for ongoing monitoring and bloodwork.
“Am I worried it will come back? Of course. I think every patient who has been diagnosed with cancer thinks about and worries about that,” said Makayla. “But I am working hard to regulate my emotions and find myself again, as a cancer survivor.”
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