When 36-year-old Alexandra Cummings started experiencing a range of symptoms earlier this year, she attributed them to a host of factors. Perhaps it was the stress of starting a new job or perhaps seasonal allergies. But one thing she never imagined it would be was cancer.
Cummings, of Albany, New York, first noticed symptoms in March 2024, telling Newsweek that she suffered with "mental fog and a low-grade fever."
For the most part, she tried to forget about them and get on with her normal life until she discovered a symptom she couldn't ignore. In May, Cummings was diagnosed with a blood clot in her leg, which started in her ankle before moving up to her calf.
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"I went to urgent care for the pain in my leg, which got so bad that I was unable to walk. They didn't give a reason and didn't run a blood panel; they simply diagnosed it as a blood clot and advised me to follow up with my primary care doctor," Cummings said.
As a result, she was placed on blood thinners, and she said that her symptoms got "progressively worse" after. She experienced blurred vision, fatigue, a constant headache, swollen lymph nodes, and night sweats.
Still, she blamed the new medication and some life changes for the side effects.
"There were a couple of different factors that I attributed the symptoms to," Cummings said. "I started a part-time job in addition to my full-time one and I was learning a new role in a new field. I assumed that the mental fog was a result of over-taxing myself in both jobs."
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Cummings added: "With the night sweats, I've always slept hot, and the weather was just starting to get warmer. I assumed that I was just acclimating to the summer and didn't think much about it. Swollen lymph nodes have popped up from time to time throughout my life during periods of stress or when fighting a virus. I dismissed those as a result of fighting off the blood clot."
Finally Getting a Diagnosis
As the weeks passed, Cummings was consumed by the difficult symptoms she was enduring. Eventually, her boyfriend, Jesse, insisted that they were "more serious" than she thought and took her to the emergency room.
A full blood panel was done, and within hours, Cummings learned that the situation was far worse than she imagined. She was told that she had an incredibly high white blood cell count and there was likely only one thing it could be: leukemia.
She was immediately taken to another ward for more tests and a bone marrow biopsy, before being diagnosed with the rare blood cancer, acute lymphoblastic leukemia, which accounts for less than 1 percent of all cancers in the United States.
"The most intense feeling I had was worry. I cared for my mother through her cancer diagnosis and ultimate passing in 2019—was my fate the same? How was I going to tell my friends and family this horrible news?" Cummings told Newsweek. "It's cliché, but life is short and none of us know when we'll meet our end. The best you can do is greet each day with a positive but realistic attitude."
It can be easy to look back and see all the signs on reflection, but Dr. Shoshana Ungerleider tells Newsweek that this type of leukemia can be very difficult to identify.
Dr. Ungerleider, a board-certified internal medicine physician, said it's entirely understandable why Cummings overlooked her symptoms because it's easy to assume they're something more common.
"Typically, patients may experience fatigue, weakness, and shortness of breath, easy bruising or bleeding, frequent infections, and persistent fevers. Other symptoms can include bone or joint pain, swollen lymph nodes, and unexplained weight loss," Dr. Ungerleider said. "It's crucial to pay attention when symptoms persist or worsen over time, especially if they seem disproportionate to their presumed cause."
She advises anyone who is concerned to err on the side of caution and speak to their healthcare provider. Usually, it's much less severe, but it's best to be in the know.
Using TikTok To Share Her Story
While undergoing chemotherapy, Cummings has been posting about her experience on TikTok (@sagegalexy) to urge others not to take their health for granted. She said it's been "an incredible outlet" to connect with others and be open about her shock cancer diagnosis.
"The majority of the reactions have been positive and encouraging. I love hearing from others who have gone through chemo and I get so many comments from people saying they're praying for me and wishing me well, which is remarkable," Cummings told Newsweek. "Not only do I get to share my perspective, but I also get to demonstrate how one can go through difficulty without killing their spirit."
Battling Through Chemotherapy Treatment
Cummings began chemotherapy almost immediately, leading to a 28-day stint in hospital. She's also had eight lumbar punctures and spinal chemotherapy in this time.
"When I was first diagnosed, my bone marrow was 97 percent cancer. As of the end of cycle 1 part A, my bone marrow was down to 1-2 percent," she added.
However, she isn't out of the woods yet as doctors have warned Cummings that the next step is likely to be a stem cell transplant, but it's yet to be confirmed.
For now, Cummings hopes to show people the importance of listening to their body and not ignoring any symptoms, regardless of how minor they might seem.
"I felt like I was in the prime of my life and enjoying the fruits of all that I had worked for: a happy relationship, a fulfilling career, financial security, and a positive future. There was a moment in April when I stopped to consider how fortunate I was and how perfect I felt my life was," she said.
Cummings continued: "No one wants to think there's something wrong, especially when otherwise happy and healthy. That's not to say that we should second-guess every ache and pain because of a potential life-threatening illness, but I would caution everyone to stay on top of their health, pay attention to how they feel, and be upfront with loved ones about any new or changing symptoms."
While 2024 certainly hasn't played out how she hoped, Cummings remains grateful to her friends and family, particularly her boyfriend. "I owe a lot to him for encouraging me to go to the emergency room and not taking no for an answer," she told Newsweek.
Even after a difficult few months and an uncertain journey ahead, she takes strength and encouragement from her loved ones.
"Life is beautiful and hard, and we have to take comfort in knowing that the bad times won't last, just the same as the good times won't," Cummings said.
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