Story like everyone else...

effcancer · Regular Joined: 21 Apr 2007 Posts: 22

Well this is weird. I'm reading this forum, and everyone is talking about the same thing. They felt some lumps on their neck blah blah blah.... cancer.

I'm 22, and have just been told I have Hodgkin's Lymphoma. In late January, I felt some bumps on the left side of my neck, and didn't really think much of it. I ignored them for a while, and then I finally went to the doctor because they started getting tender. The doctor had no idea what it was, so they sent me to a head and neck specialist that prescribed me antibiotics to see if they'd go away, and they didn't. So they scheduled my surgery for a biopsy for this past Thursday.

The doctor went in with the intentions of only taking a small bit of each of my 3 bumps. He ended up removing all 3 lymph nodes on the left side of my neck. He said that they were rock hard. The results came back as Hodgkin's.

So now I'm in this holding place. I have no idea what is ahead of me. I guess I'll know more on Tuesday after I have my first appointment with an Oncologist. I just have a million questions.

This was soooooooo not in my plans. I'm supposed to be graduating from California State University, Fullerton in a month, and all of a sudden, t h i s. I have a great life. I live in Southern Orange County, I come from a good family, I have an amazing apartment by school, I have a great boyfriend of 3 years, and the best friends ever. This isn't supposed to happen to people like me. This happens to other people, but not me. I am supposed to be invincible. Getting out into the real world, getting a new apartment in LA where I'm supposed to be finding a job after school, and I'm supposed to buy a new car in a month or so.

Who knows how much of that I'll be able to do. I don't think I'll have a problem finishing school, but I doubt I'll be able to start job hunting right away, and moving further north to LA? I doubt that'll be happening when I want it to. And because of not finding a job right away, who knows if I'll be able to get the car I want.

I know these are all very superficial things, but they're important to me. They are milestones in life that I'm supposed to get to very soon. And now there's this thing... CANCER. F Cancer. hence my screen name.

AND I have great hair... that I reallllllllllllly don't want to lose.
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So, this sucks.

playbunny · Guest

Cancer is not supost to happen to any of us, but for some of us it does.
I did not have it in my life plans but just before xmas it entered my life and there was nothing I could do about it apart from fight it and not let it take over.

Im now due my 6th chemo and im still here, still maken plans for my furture just got to wait a little white untill I can do my plans.

As for your hair, not everyones falls out. Im in my 11th week and yes mine has thined but I still dont have to hide it but at the end of the day if th rest dose come out soooooo what you have your life. Hair will grow back and a lot of people I have spoken to like there new hair short.

Your not alone thorugh this we are all here for each other to get eack other through it no matter what stage you are at. Just be stronge Smile

rlee · Site Admin Joined: 15 Jan 2006 Posts: 245

effcancer,
You're totally right, life is not fair, including cancer. I admire your attitude and use it to your advantage. You have a curable cancer so keep fighting, keep strong. Good luck and keep us updated.
_________________
RLee, MD

Any information provided is NOT intended to provide specific medical advice to users but rather to provide users with information to help them better understand their health condition and related care. All readers are strongly encouraged to consult with a qualified physician for answers to their personal medical questions.

summerlover55 · Regular Joined: 22 Mar 2007 Posts: 22

heyy effcancer.. i definitely agree with you.. f cancer! ugh it makes me so mad.. i myself had so many plans.. this is my graduating yr of highschool and i was all of a sudden diagnosed with HL... what stage are you?

it's the worst cuz i had so many plans.. prom and grad comign up.. and now im going to be bald.. eek.. i have accepted it though.. what else can i do? lol and i got accepte dinto 3 universities and now i have to take a year off.. it stinks.. but you have to remember that everythign happens for a reason and you will get through it.. it's not as bad as it seems.. at least how it is for me.. i thoguht i would be treated like a pity party which is true at times.. but also it is really important to just maintain your normal lifestyle.. consider it a blessing maybe.. i know i have.. it has taught me so many things about life and what is truly important..

as for the hair.. you probably will come to realize inner beauty.. and see past it.. although it is REALLY HARD! im not going to lie.. but good luck.. and take care

<3courtney

abster32 · New User Joined: 30 Nov 2006 Posts: 7

yes, it is extremely unfair. i found out i had hodgkins in the fall - i was/am a sophmore in college, so i totally understand your age perspective. i had to take this spring semester off, and it was definitely not planned. i took 2 courses online and i'm taking 2 this summer to be caught up, but it has pushed me back in my other courses. i have 3 more treatments left, and i hope that everything goes well for you. not everyone loses their hair, i did, but it's not so bad. you can get a wig and such. believe me, it will only make you stronger in the end. i promise.

abster32 · New User Joined: 30 Nov 2006 Posts: 7

also, summerlove55, why do you have to take a year off? what stage do you have? i only have to take a semester off from my classes.

i hope everything else goes well, and have fun at prom!

effcancer · Regular Joined: 21 Apr 2007 Posts: 22

I haven't been staged yet. I have my PET/CT scan on Monday, and a bone marrow biopsy on tuesday.

I have 3 weeks left of school... and so far 3 of my 6 professors have let me just take the grade I have in the course and be done. I'm so close to graduating.

I get my stitches out from my surgery tomorrow.... yuck.
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So, this sucks.

abster32 · New User Joined: 30 Nov 2006 Posts: 7

when i was diagnosed in november with stage 2 (just in my neck), i was able to finish off the semester. if it's around that, then i'm sure you'll be able to graduate. keep us posted on your process.

summerlover55 · Regular Joined: 22 Mar 2007 Posts: 22

i am taking a year off because my treatment will be all done by xmas hopefully! and then im going to work and save up money and grow back my hair and rejuvinate so i can just start fresh next september.. i was thinking about starting in january.. im not too sure! but thanks

jfkbluecircle · Posted: Thu Apr 26, 2007 9:31 pm Post subject: Re: Story like everyone else...

Hi, all,
I hope you have all found a sense of community on this amazing forum; when I had Hodgkin's (just celebrated 10 years in remission this week from IIIB HL; Nodular Sclerosing) I, like most of you was very young, just getting started in career and had big plans, too. Let me assure you all of one thing: Cancer did not win, and I KNOW it will not beat any of you. I am turning 36 in two months, finishing my Ph.D. in Composition, planning to marry the love of my life within the next year and a half. Cancer did not end my plans, but it definitely changed them; it also helps me still today to keep things in perspective. There are some very positive things, too, that I know you will all discover for yourselves facing your illness and mortality during this time in your life.

I have always been incredulous at the fact that this terrifying disease strikes people primarily in their 3rd decade of life (statistically speaking, according to my hematologist/oncologist). It would seem that persistent flu, cold, swollen bumpy anything would raise red flags for any doctor. But, I have also said in other places on this forum that in many cases I think our age works against us; healthy, active, energetic, driven people in their late teens-early 20s are not supposed to get cancer.

effcancer: It could not be said more perfectly. It sucks, it sucks, it sucks! But, it seems you are very blessed to have supportive, loving family and friends. You also now have an awesome group of people around the world who are reading your words, sharing your pain, and sending you love and support.

My very, very best to you all,
Jessica
PS: Head hair loss for women is tough, but not having to shave, tweeze, pluck, wax (and avoidance of any hair removal torture imaginable) is definitely a perk! You never realize how very important those nose hairs are, tho' Smile

effcancer · Regular Joined: 21 Apr 2007 Posts: 22

I didn't even think about losing nose hair!!! That's so weird!!!

Not everyone who goes through chemo loses their hair, right?

AND does anyone want to tell me about their experience with a bone marrow biopsy? I'm having mine next week... oww!
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So, this sucks.

abster32 · New User Joined: 30 Nov 2006 Posts: 7

i was awake for mine, apparently you can be asleep. but not going to lie, hurt a lot. my doctor had to do it twice b/c the first time he lost it. anyway, it'll hurt during and you'll have some bone pain after but in the long run it's fine

jfkbluecircle · Posted: Fri Apr 27, 2007 8:00 pm Post subject: Bone marrow

effcancer,
I had my marrow biopsied the morning of my first chemo treatment. My doctor did it in less than a minute (two samples from each hip), with a local anesthetic injection. I think the sound was the worst; maybe you should have head phones on with some distracting music. Also, be sure to have someone with you who's hand you can squeeze.

Afterwards, it hurt very little, and it was pretty funny seeing my tush in the mirror with the bandaids over each site; they looked like two eyes high on my bum Very Happy

.

Hair loss varies greatly person to person. I had long, healthy hair that I loved, loved, loved and for which I was always complimented. I cut it kind of short (tried a style on that I hadn't had the guts to, figuring if I didn't like it, it might not be an issue). In August of my treatment year (1997) I had patchy spots and decided just to shave it bald. I had a shapely noggin, actually. It even started growing back in while I was receiving my remaining treatments. One thing that always kept me positive throughout that hard time was knowing that unlike balding men, my hair would grow back in. Today, it is as healthy and grows as quickly as it always has.

rlee · Site Admin Joined: 15 Jan 2006 Posts: 245

As someone who has to perform bone marrows, it's definitely my least favorite because of the guaranteed discomfort caused. Most patients relate that the aspiration of bone marrow is the worst part, due in part to the negative pressure. There is no way around it because one can't numb the pain receptors inside the bone marrow. Almost all bone marrows are done awake with local anesthetic. Some doctors may give a mild sedative and pain medication. Just remember to keep breathing during the procedure. Good luck.
_________________
RLee, MD

Any information provided is NOT intended to provide specific medical advice to users but rather to provide users with information to help them better understand their health condition and related care. All readers are strongly encouraged to consult with a qualified physician for answers to their personal medical questions.

Boldelly · Posted: Thu May 03, 2007 11:29 pm Post subject: Re: Story like everyone else...

Hi my daughter was diagnosed with Hodgkins November 2006 just a few weeks after her 16th birthday. It has been a hard road but we have made it this far. My daughter cried like she was in deep mourning when she lost her long red hair. I think that was a very hard part of this cancer thing for her. Her doctor said that it is perfectly normal for girls/women to feel this way and she never liked her bald head even though she has a pretty head and it just brought her facial features out so much and she is so beautiful with or without her hair. She wore wigs mostly and they were not so much uncomfortable as she said they get hot and she would wear a pink cap a lot around the house. She was very self councous about people seeing her head bald. She would not even allow me to take a picture of her without her wig or hat. We did 4 rounds of chemo ABVD and 3 weeks of radiation therapy. We waited a month so her body can settle down and now next week we go back to the oncologist and he will begin to reschedule all the scans and bone marrow aspiration. This is going to be an anxious time for us again. I too hate the waiting part, it drives me crazy. But we will know after all the tests if the cancer is gone. It has completely changed my daughters life with not being able to go to school and when she was in treatment she did not want any of her friends to come and see her when she was sick. She still stays pretty close to home now. Before the cancer all she did was run with her friends all the time and that all came to an end. She tells me she does not take things for granted anymore. The nurses and doctors all told her she would never be the same person again. Oh and I hear ya'll talk about being awake for the bone marrow aspriation and that seems obsurd to me because they always have given my daughter a cocktail of drugs to put her into a deep sleep so she will not feel it. Even this last time we went to the oncologist and she asked him if she could remain awake and he told her he did not recommend that at all. He felt she would be more comfortable being asleep and I agree because I hear it is not a pleasant thing to go through. They say my daughter has a 70 - 75% cure rate as hers was stage 4A but it had spread to the shoulder bone and they say that is not common. It was not in the bone marrow though. Well I just wanted you to hear from someone who is young like you and your age plays a big role in your cure rate. Some kids are able to continue to go to school and stay pretty normal. My daughter was not one of those and I wish it could have been because she is so far behind in school because she still has severe neuropathy in her hands and feet. She falls a lot and has ripped holes in the knees of a lot of her jeans and it is hard for her to write. She will be repeating the 10th grade next year and she is not happy about that but realizes it is not the end of the world. The important thing is that she get better and pray it never comes back. She has a port in her chest that will have to remain in until she is 3 months cancer free.

You will be in my prayers and hang in there and just take it a day at a time and you will make it. I hope you have a good support system because that helps a lot. This site is a really good one and you will get lots of support and prayers through this site.

God bless.

Laurie

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