Nurse who beat hard-to-treat cancer says she stayed strong by thinking of herself as a 'survivor'

Meet Zipporah Washington, a 34-year-old nursing graduate who has turned the odds in her favor against non-Hodgkin lymphoma - a rare and aggressive form of cancer that required a customized treatment plan. The once-threatening diagnosis became a distant memory for Washington after she underwent chemotherapy and medical monitoring at Temple University Hospital.

In an interview with Philly Voice, Washington shared how thinking of herself as a "survivor" helped her cope with the news of her illness. Initially, doctors had suspected a cyst in her chest before discovering the invasive tumor in her heart - a condition that is relatively rare but can be life-threatening if left untreated.

Washington's journey to recovery was nothing short of remarkable. After graduating with honors from her nursing program at Lincoln Tech, she began chemotherapy and treatment under the care of a multi-disciplinary team led by oncologist Dr. Michael Bromberg and cardiologist Dr. Eman Hamad. The unique combination of treatments and close monitoring ensured that Washington's heart function remained stable throughout her seven cycles of chemotherapy.

In June, Washington celebrated completing her cancer treatment with her family, including her two young sons, and marked another milestone as she graduated from nursing school. Her recovery is a testament to the exceptional care provided by Temple University Hospital's team, who described her journey as "miraculous."

Washington's story serves as an inspiration not only for those fighting cancer but also for aspiring healthcare professionals like herself. When asked how she overcame her fears and turned her diagnosis into a victory, Washington shared words of wisdom: "Look at yourself in the mirror, and think of yourself as a survivor. That's what I did."

Washington's determination to continue making a positive impact is evident, whether it's through becoming a pediatric oncology nurse or simply spreading awareness about the importance of mental resilience during challenging times. Her courage and resilience are an inspiration to many, reminding us that with the right mindset and support system, anything is possible.
 
I'm just so inspired by Zipporah's story 🀩, you know? She went through so much, but she never gave up on herself. And I think what really matters here is not just her survival, but how she used that as a strength to help others πŸ’•. As someone who cares about healthcare, it's amazing to see how a customized treatment plan and an incredible medical team can make all the difference in someone's life. We should definitely be celebrating more stories like Zipporah's! πŸŽ‰
 
🌟 Zipporah Washington's story is like, totally inspiring, you feel? 🀩 I mean, non-Hodgkin lymphoma is like, super aggressive and rare, but she fought back like a total rockstar πŸ’ͺ! And it's not just about her, it's also about the amazing team of doctors at Temple University Hospital who helped her out. Dr. Bromberg and Dr. Hamad are like, totally heroes in my book πŸ™Œ. What I love most about Zipporah's story is how she took control of her mental game by thinking of herself as a "survivor". That's some serious mental toughness right there 😎!
 
🀩 I'm so amazed by Zipporah's story! It's crazy to think she was once facing a life-threatening diagnosis, but now she's rocking her new career as a nurse πŸ’‰πŸ‘¨β€βš•οΈ. Her attitude towards thinking of herself as a "survivor" is super inspiring - it's all about mental toughness and taking control of your health! 🀝 I'm totally rooting for her future plans to make a difference in the lives of kids fighting cancer ❀️. Temple University Hospital's team must be doing something right, because Zipporah's recovery is truly miraculous ⚑️. We should all take a cue from her and focus on our own resilience πŸ’ͺ - it can totally change everything! 🌟
 
The human spirit is truly a wondrous thing 🌟. Zipporah Washington's story is a testament to the power of resilience and determination in the face of adversity. By embracing her identity as a "survivor," she was able to shift her focus from fear to empowerment, and that's what's so remarkable about it. It's like, we're often told to fight against our illnesses, but what if we flipped that script and started fighting for ourselves? For our own mental well-being? That's the real victory here, don't you think? πŸ’ͺ
 
OMG 🀩 just read about Zipporah Washington's amazing story! She went from having a rare & aggressive form of cancer to becoming a nursing grad 😍 after 7 cycles of chemotherapy at Temple University Hospital πŸ’Š! I'm so inspired by her "survivor" mindset πŸ™Œ and how she turned her diagnosis into a victory πŸŽ‰. Her journey is proof that with the right care & support, anyone can overcome adversity πŸ’ͺ. She's an inspiration to healthcare pros-to-be like herself & cancer patients everywhere πŸ’• [link to Philly Voice interview](https://phillyvoice.com/meet-zipporah-washington-34-year-old-nursing-grad-turned-cancer-survivor/)
 
🌱 I'm so inspired by Zipporah's story! 🀩 Thinking of yourself as a survivor is such a powerful mindset shift - it really can change your perspective on what's happening in your body. I mean, she could've easily let cancer define her, but instead she chose to own that word and turn it into a strength. πŸ’ͺ And I love how she's now using her experience to help others, whether through her nursing career or spreading awareness about mental resilience - it's truly empowering. 🌟 For all us living our best lives, we could learn a thing or two from Zipporah's positivity and determination! 😊
 
I'm so moved by Zipporah's story πŸ€—. I mean, can you imagine getting a diagnosis like that? But she didn't let it get her down, no way! She actually used it as an opportunity to grow stronger πŸ’ͺ. And I love how she talks about being a "survivor" instead of just a patient - that's so powerful 🌟. It's clear that having a supportive team and a positive mindset really made all the difference for her. And now, she's not only beating cancer but also inspiring others to do the same πŸ’•.
 
Ugh, I'm not buying this whole "miraculous" recovery story πŸ˜’ 34 years old? That's just young for cancer to take hold like that. And what really gets my goat is how they're already talking about her future as a nurse and all the inspirational BS she's gonna spread πŸ™„. Newsflash: cancer is still cancer, no matter how fancy the treatment plan or how "miraculous" the outcome seems. And don't even get me started on this whole "thinking of herself as a survivor" thing... sounds like just another way to sugarcoat the harsh reality of it all πŸ’”
 
I'm like totally stoked for Zipporah Washington! I mean, she's been through so much, you know? Non-Hodgkin lymphoma is no joke, especially when it's in your heart 🀯. But she's definetly a survivor now and that's something to be super proud of. I love how she's turned her diagnosis into a victory by thinking of herself as one πŸ’ͺ. And can we talk about Dr. Michael Bromberg and Dr. Eman Hamad for a sec? They're like the ultimate cancer-fighting superheroes πŸ’«! Temple University Hospital is on point, too. Seven cycles of chemotherapy? That's like, a lot of chemo, fam 🀒. But Washington's heart function stayed stable the whole time? That's just incredible. I'm totes inspired by her story and I think it's so important for people to know that they can overcome anything if they just believe in themselves πŸ’•.
 
I'm literally so inspired by Zipporah's story!!! πŸ’– She's such a strong and brave girl and I love how she turned her diagnosis into something positive! Thinking of herself as a "survivor" really helped her cope with the news 🌟. And can we talk about her kids for a sec? 😍 Two little boys who got to watch their mom go through an amazing recovery journey and come out stronger on the other side! That's just beautiful ❀️. Her story is defo inspiring not just for cancer survivors but for anyone who's ever faced a challenge 🌈. We should all take a page out of her book and remember to be kind to ourselves during tough times πŸ’–
 
Omg yaaas πŸ™Œ I'm so inspired by Zipporah's story! She's a total rockstar πŸ’ͺ for not only beating cancer but also becoming a nurse to help others who are going through what she did. I mean, think about it - we can all learn from her mindset, you know? Thinking of ourselves as survivors instead of victims is literally a game-changer 🀯. And can we talk about the medical team at Temple University Hospital? They're like superheroes in scrubs πŸ’Š! The fact that they worked together to create a customized treatment plan for Zipporah just shows how amazing teamwork and collaboration can be in healthcare. Anyway, I'm sending all my love and positive vibes to Zipporah and her family - she's an inspiration to us all! 🌟
 
I'm just so inspired by Zipporah's story! 🀩 I mean, cancer can be super scary, but she turned it into a thing of survival and then went on to finish nursing school! That's like, major mental strength right there πŸ’ͺ. And what's even more amazing is how supportive her family was throughout the whole ordeal πŸ‘¨β€πŸ‘©β€πŸ‘§β€πŸ‘¦. It's all about having that positive mindset and surrounding yourself with good vibes 🌈. I think we can all learn from Zipporah's story, you know?
 
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