New York Woman’s Health Journey Highlights Importance of Vigilance

Jess Potter, a health-conscious resident of Rochester, New York, routinely traveled with a carbon monoxide detector, unaware she had an undetected illness. Health anxiety is a prevalent concern among many Americans. In 2026, a poll by the American Psychiatric Association revealed that 55 percent of over 2,200 adults in the U.S. were either very or somewhat anxious about their health.

For years, Potter grappled with health anxiety to the extent that she brought a carbon monoxide detector whenever she stayed in hotels. She explained, “I read a lot of articles about deaths from carbon monoxide in hotels, so I started bringing mine. It felt silly to overlook something that could easily be prevented.”

Her constant worry about health issues took a dramatic turn the previous year. In October 2025, Potter experienced a prolonged period lasting about three months where she “kept getting sick a lot.” Initially dismissing it as bronchitis or the winter flu, the persistence of her symptoms prompted her to seek medical advice.

“I had an enlarged lymph node in my neck and bronchitis,” Potter recalled. “After several biopsies, doctors diagnosed me with Hodgkin’s lymphoma.”

Potter’s ongoing health anxiety manifested into a reality that was challenging for her to process. “It seemed like everything I always worried about finally happened,” she said. Beginning chemotherapy immediately, Potter reports her condition has since been improving.

Reflecting on her past actions, Potter finds irony in her previous anxiety-driven precautions. She remarked, “I’ve always been cautious about health, yet I was unaware of my cancer diagnosis while trying hard to avoid such situations.”

Potter hopes her experience encourages others to remain vigilant about their health and symptoms. She advises, “Always get checked out if anything concerning arises on your body!”

She emphasized, “Being cautious doesn’t prevent underlying conditions, so I hope my story inspires others to listen to their bodies and take care of them.”