Woman battles stage 4 lymphoma diagnosis

Katie Parrinello was diagnosed with stage 4 primary mediastinal B-cell lymphoma (PMBCL), a type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma, at 29. She was a full-time real estate agent and entrepreneur, a wife, a sister, and a daughter when her life changed dramatically.

Treatment stripped away pieces of her appearance that had felt tied to her identity and personality, including her hair, lashes, and eyebrows. Parrinello received a chemoimmunotherapy combination for aggressive lymphoma, with each cycle keeping her in the hospital for four days of IV fluids.

According to Parrinello, “I just felt like I got rid of either the old version of me or just a part of me that is never going back to that.” The effects of treatment built over time, with the final cycle hitting her the hardest physically.

Diagnosis and Treatment

Parrinello’s oncologist, Dr. Andre Goy, explained that lymphoma is a heterogeneous disease with over 100 subtypes. The first step after diagnosis is identifying the specific subtype and finding a center with experience treating it. In Parrinello’s case, her care team ran genetic tests on the cancer cells and performed a PET scan to determine where the lymphoma had spread.

Dr. Goy said, “You look at the type of lymphoma.” Parrinello’s mass had grown into her sternum and reached lymph nodes in her armpit. Her care team also checked her heart before therapy because some drugs used for lymphoma can affect heart function.

Parrinello had been scheduled to begin chemotherapy at another center, but she switched to Dr. Goy’s team at the last minute.

Halfway through therapy, four days before her 30th birthday, Parrinello reached remission, meaning tests no longer showed signs of lymphoma. Dr. Goy’s team is now studying whether blood tests collected during the first weeks can identify signs of benefit even sooner, which could eventually help doctors determine whether care needs to be adjusted earlier.

For patients like Parrinello, staying active and maintaining a healthy lifestyle is important in tolerating care and regaining strength afterward. Dr. Goy encourages patients to begin making healthy lifestyle changes at diagnosis, rather than waiting until therapy ends.

Parrinello focused on what she could control, switching to a whole foods diet and prioritizing protein, which eased some of her symptoms. She also credits the strength she had built before her diagnosis with helping her get through chemotherapy.

Treatment and Recovery

Parrinello’s experience changed how she plans to live and who she counts on. Her husband, parents, and sister stayed by her side through appointments and hospital stays, supporting her throughout the process. As she recovered, Parrinello was able to return to her work as a real estate agent and fitness studio owner.

She said, “It definitely was a wake-up call for certain aspects of my life, of how to live life moving forward after this, and mostly just seeing who was there for you during this time.” Parrinello’s drive to continue building her businesses remained strong, and she said, “You kind of have to be a little bit delusional, I like to say, and just keep the positivity going.”

According to Dr. Goy, some participants in the SONAR study have shown no measurable residual disease by day eight, which could potentially allow doctors to recognize resistance sooner or identify people who are responding particularly well to treatment. The study collects blood on days 1, 8, and 21 and examines genetic material associated with the cancer, as well as changes in the immune system. The goal is to determine whether those early blood-based signals could eventually allow doctors to recognize resistance sooner or identify people who are responding particularly well.

Life After Treatment

She is now on her third wig, having lost her hair due to treatment. Parrinello’s experience has given her a new perspective on life, and she is grateful for the support of her loved ones throughout her journey.