Courtney Liniewski never imagined that a dull, nagging back pain could be the first hint of something far more serious.
For months, she wrote it off as the natural consequence of long hours at her desk—but sometimes the body speaks in whispers we cannot ignore. That quiet discomfort would eventually lead to a life-changing diagnosis that left doctors astonished.
At just 34, Courtney, a mother from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, nearly overlooked warning signs of stage 3 cancer. She had experienced intermittent back pain, sharp and persistent, just below her shoulder blades. “I thought I just wasn’t moving enough because of my job—I spent most of the day sitting at my desk,” she recalled.
By January 2022, new symptoms appeared. She began losing hearing in her left ear, noticed a constantly runny nose, and experienced a startling morning awakening with a loud bang in her head. The next day, her face appeared slightly drooped while at work. Concerned colleagues suspected a stroke and rushed her to the emergency room—but brain scans revealed nothing abnormal. With a history of migraines and anxiety, she was sent home, unaware that her body was signaling a far more serious problem.
A month later, she developed chest pain and shortness of breath climbing just a single flight of stairs. It wasn’t until a vacation to Mexico that the critical clue appeared: a large lump on her neck. “My immune system was clearly reacting to travel or stress, but this time my body finally showed me something,” Courtney explained.
Further testing confirmed Grade 3B Follicular Lymphoma, a rare form of non-Hodgkin lymphoma that usually affects older adults, with an average age of 60. Left untreated, it could have been fatal within weeks. Thanks to timely care, Courtney received life-saving treatment and is now three years cancer-free, though she continues regular check-ups to monitor for recurrence.
Today, Courtney shares her story to raise awareness and encourage others to advocate for their health. “You can’t stop pushing for a diagnosis because cancer care has advanced, and survival rates are higher than before,” she said. “People should know it’s okay to advocate for yourself if something feels wrong.”
Conclusion
Courtney Liniewski’s journey is a striking reminder that even minor or seemingly unrelated symptoms can signal serious health issues. By paying attention to her body, seeking medical help, and standing up for herself, she not only survived but now inspires others to do the same. Her story underscores the life-saving importance of awareness, persistence, and early detection in the fight against cancer.