Paola Arevalo beats Hodgkin Lymphoma with positive determination

Paola Arevalo’s diagnosis of Hodgkin lymphoma came out of nowhere. One day, 17-year-old Paola was a carefree teenager who loved twirling in her high school band, and hanging out with friends. The next day, she found herself as a patient at Children’s Hospital New Orleans. 

“I was getting out of the shower and my mom noticed a lump on my neck,” Paola recalled. “I had never noticed it before and there it was!” 

At the end of January 2024, Paola’s mother, Vilma, took her to a pediatrician in New Orleans, who immediately referred them to Children’s Hospital New Orleans for emergency care. 

As soon as they arrived, Paola was admitted, and three days of tests and scans began, including a biopsy of the lump. “It was a whirlwind,” Paola said, recalling how she and her mom reacted with tears. 

The lump on Paola’s neck turned out to be a swollen lymph node. Paola was diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma, a cancer that affects the body’s lymphatic system which, in turn, compromises the immune system. This rare type of cancer occurs when there is an abnormal amount of a specific white blood cell – B-lymphocytes – in the lymph nodes and throughout the body’s lymphatic system.  

“In a million years, who thinks they are going to hear they have cancer? We both started crying. We were in shock and we didn't know what to think,” Paola said. “But once I got over the initial shock, I made the decision I wasn’t going to die.” 

When Paola met her hematologists/oncologists, Zachary LeBlanc, MD and Christian Nieves, MD at The Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders at Children’s Hospital New Orleans, her resolve was further strengthened. “I decided then and there that I was going to beat cancer with their help,” Paola said. 

Paola underwent chemotherapy for her Hodgkin lymphoma every two weeks in the Infusion Center. The treatments were intense, but Paola remained determined to fight through them with the support of her medical team and family. 

Paola not only felt hopeful about the care she was receiving at Children’s Hospital New Orleans, but her positivity was reinforced by Dr. LeBlanc. “He kept me motivated to keep going, even on bad days,” Paola said. “And having Dr. Nieves speak Spanish made a big difference — my parents could fully understand everything that was happening, which was great.” 
 

Most importantly, the doctors and nurses, especially Bailey, made Paola feel like a “regular person.” 

“To them, I wasn’t just a cancer patient. When I came for chemotherapy, they would ask me about my day and talk to me about things unrelated to my cancer,” Paola added. “That made a huge difference to me.” 

But the doctors were also committed to making sure all questions from Paola, her mom, and dad, Pablo Arevalo, were answered.  

This was especially important for Paola because she was isolated from friends during her chemo treatment which began on February 15, 2024 and continued every two weeks through May 2024. “I didn’t have to stay in the hospital, but I couldn’t go to school,” she said. “Mom didn’t want me to be around other people because she didn’t want me to be sick.” 

Paola made the most of her downtime, when she wasn’t feeling too fatigued from chemo treatment, by practicing her twirling and by “painting her feelings.” She said she would think about where she wanted to be and paint flowers, sunsets and beach scenes to comfort her. 

She also found comfort in the nurses at Children’s Hospital. Paola knew as soon as she heard the word “cancer” that she was going to lose her hair. “I had a huge afro and I loved it. My mom encouraged me to embrace it so after the first chemo treatment, I shaved my head,” Paola said. “Nurse Bailey almost felt like she was one of my friends. When I felt upset about not having hair —which I did, a lot—she was always there to comfort me.” 

From the moment she heard she had cancer, Paola said she dreamed about ringing the bell at Children’s Hospital – a signal to all that she had beaten cancer. On June 13, 2024, she rang that bell as hard as she could. 

“I felt so proud of myself. This is what I had my eye on from the beginning. This is what I wanted for myself and I achieved it,” Paola said. “I kept a positive attitude and ate lots of healthy food. I wanted to get better, and Dr. LeBlanc and Dr. Nieves helped me make that dream a reality.” 

Now, Paola is focused on graduating high school – go Class of 2025!  She is also excited for the year ahead. All the twirling practice she did during recovery paid off; she is now a majorette! She will continue to be in the school band and plans to join the track team. 

Paola loves spending time with her family, including her sister, brother, and grandmother. She is especially grateful for her parents, who helped her stay positive every day throughout her treatment. 

These days, Paola loves her new hairdo. “It’s a cute pixie afro and I love it even more than the style I had before cancer,” she said. “Proof that everything works out the way it’s supposed to in the end.” 

For more information about Children’s Hospital New Orleans Oncology Services, please visit: https://www.chnola.org/services/hematology-oncology/oncology-services/