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natalie-louise
New User
Joined: 17 Mar 2006
Posts: 3
Location: Tunbridge Wells Kent
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 Posted: Sat Mar 18, 2006 7:13 am Post subject: Help!!! |
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Hi i am natalie 19 from kent in the uk i have only just found this website tonight as about two weeks ago i was babysitting and i had an itch on my neck and felt two lumps. So off i went to the doctors and they said it was just lymph glands - we went through this 3 times and on the 3rd time seeing a different doctor we were transferred to another doctor. This was then at a hospital and i had to have an ultrasound on neck and chest xray, he then went through that and said how it could be a turmor as one node seemed oversized and there is a possibility it could be cancer but he wanted to do a biopsey to be sure of that. On monday i had a biopsey at the hospital and ended up staying in overnight, on the tuesday i had to have a ct scan so i had to drink this disgusting white stuff there was a jug full of it and i really couldn't manage the whole lot. Then today i went back to get my results of the biopsey and it turns out i have Hodgkins Disease  i can't believe it - why me? i have just got over major scoliosis surgery and wearing a brace for 6 months that was bad enough and now this. I have got to have a bone marrow test next week to check its not spread there and then ill have to start chemo for 6 months which will mean ill loose my hair - i can't believe that either i have nice long hair and it took me years to grow it that long. My mum had breast and thyroid cancer when i was 9 and that was really hard, i just need someone i can talk to now because i feel really alone and have never heard of it before but my doctor said it can be treated for and never come back which i hope and then my hair will grow back quickly - i'll just have to wear a really nice wig. Im just so upset and it still hasn't even sunk into me yet.
My msn is nuttynatalie501@hotmail.com please add me if you are in the same position or to anyone that reads this or has even had it - it would be really good to hear from you and talk to somebody. |
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Rafael
New User
Joined: 19 Mar 2006
Posts: 1
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| Posted: Sun Mar 19, 2006 10:00 pm Post subject: Re: Help!!! |
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Hello Natalie, nice to meet you and sorry to hear about your diagnosis! I understand your feelings, my girlfriend also 19 years old have hodking's disease IVB....she have had chemo since last october...yeah of course she was sad to know she would lose her hair, but girl don't castigate so much yourself about that, learn to cope with. I know sometimes it's hard but yeah we are here for you!! My girl and me are coping well with cancer's side effetcs, I hope you can find your way to cope with that too.
I wish good luck in your treatment....and I added you in my MSN I hope we can talk each other....
my best wishes and keep strong!! |
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konig30
New User
Joined: 09 Apr 2006
Posts: 4
Location: Santa Clara, CA
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| Posted: Sun Apr 09, 2006 1:03 am Post subject: Re: Help!!! |
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Hi Natalie,
I am very sorry to hear about your diagnosis. I know what you are going through. When I was 22 I had a lump in my neck that turned out to be stage 3-B hodgkins disease. I went through the bone marrow test and 6 months of ABVD Chemotherapy. I have now been in remission for a couple years now.
I tell you that so that I can point out that Hodgkins is one of the most treatable forms of cancer. Current treatment regimans have a high success rate. I have no doubt in my mind that you will beat this. Let me tell you, not everybody loses their hair either. I didnt lose mine through all of my treatments.
I know you are scared and probably dont quite understand what is happening to you. You probably have alot of people who have never had Hodgkins giving you advice. Believe me I know what that feels like.
I was fortunate and had a Hodgkins survivor kind of mentor and coach me through the process and helped me understand what I would be going through and what to expect. This helped me out a great deal because it allowed me to keep my head in the game and focus on recovery.
If you ever have a question about anything or just want to talk, feel free to drop me an email. My address is [b] konig30@gmail.com[/b] I am not a doctor or expert in any way, but I can share my experiences with you and sometimes that helps.
Wish you the best... God Bless... |
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natalie-louise
New User
Joined: 17 Mar 2006
Posts: 3
Location: Tunbridge Wells Kent
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| Posted: Mon Apr 10, 2006 12:14 pm Post subject: Re: Help!!! |
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Hi
Thank you for your message. I actually found it quite difficult to find a message board for hodgkins. I only found out 3 weeks ago, i was just babysitting and i had an urge to itch my neck and i felt these 2 small bumps and i told my mum who took me to the doctors and they said its just the lymph glands and not to worry. the next weekend tho my mum noticed it looked swollen and wanted to take me to A and E but we didn't in the end, went back to the doctors and again they said nothing to worry about, then two days later we went to a different one and they said the same again and then on the friday we went to my actual named doctor and he said its the lymph glands but we want to get them checked out so he transferred us to a hospital we had an appointment a week later and went to that and he suggested there how it could be a tumor etc but wanted to do a biopsey. I had the biopsey on the monday and was in until the tuesday afternoon as we had a 5 hour delay on the biopsey and i had to have a ct scan and drink this disgusting drink anyway was happy to get out of there. It was when we went to get the results that we found out it was hodgkins the worst bit was the hair.
Anyway i had a bone marrow test about 2 weeks ago - thats was horrible/painful had so many horible sounds when he did it it was like scrapping and cracking bone - i also had to have a blood test, he rang me up last week and said the bone was okay but the rest they didnt get the right results so i had to have another blood test and im still waiting for that. I started the chemo 2 thursdays ago - the side effects are horrible. I have a blood test tomorrow t o check its all okay for next one on thursday - so not looking forward to that but im taking two uni friends to help get my mind off it all. I had the gcsf injection last thurs fri and sat - they hurt going in - im not a very big fan of needles in fact im scared of them, as last year i had to have scoliosis surgery and was in hosp in london for 2 weeks and my lung collapsed so i had so many needles put in and blood tests they couldnt find my veins so they kept taking these needles in and out and it made me scared of them.
Ill tryy and let you know how the chemo goes on thursday but i am also using an ice cap to freeze the hair cells but they dont know if it'll work - it is freezing cold. Did you use one of those? Where abouts did you have your treatment? I am having it at the Nuffield hospital in tunbridge wells kent. |
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konig30
New User
Joined: 09 Apr 2006
Posts: 4
Location: Santa Clara, CA
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| Posted: Mon Apr 10, 2006 6:35 pm Post subject: Re: Help!!! |
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I had my treatment in Sacramento, California. I know what you mean about the bone marrow test, that was a very painfull experience. I hated it. I am glad to hear that your bones were not affected, thats great. I never had to have my hair cells frozen, I got lucky and it didnt fall out. My treatment usually lasted about 3 1/2 hours per session.
Make sure that you are eating healthy while you are going through your treatment. I still tried to exercise so that I could stay strong during my treatment. Above all else, try to keep a positive attitude and know that even though the treatments make you feel terrible, it is doing good and it is making you better.
Keep in touch and me know how you are doing. I wish you the best!!! |
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