| Author |
|
cassarilda
New User
Joined: 11 Jul 2006
Posts: 2
Location: Perth, Australia
|
 Posted: Tue Jul 11, 2006 3:16 am Post subject: Intro on Me |
 |
|
Hi all,
Just thought to introduce myself.
Im 22, and about two months ago I was diagnosed with Hodgkins Lymphoma (subtype Nodular Schlerosis Stage 2 for you playing at home  )..
We've just moved back from Melbourne to Perth to be closer to my family during treatment, which Im starting to think will come quite annoying due to my lovely mum being so worried and attempting to stop me from doing ANYTHING!  Its hard, cos I know she means well, but I wish she would just ease off and not be so smothering.. and when I snap at her cos of it, I feel awful cos I know she only means well.
I was married 7months ago, so its hard on my husband as well, because he should be my main carer, but he's got uni as well (he got a transfer), so he's going to have to give up a bit of control as well.
I start my chemo tomorrow, as well as having to have a bone marrow test as they didnt do this in Melbourne during my diagnostic process. My chemo is fortnightly for 6months, although apparently if my 3month scans are clear, I only need 5months of chemo.
Im starting to get annoyed about being tired all the time, and Im hoping this will make me better really soon! Im one of those people who NEVER gets sick (or if I do its only once a year), so getting cancer was a bit of a shock to everyone, and Im impatient with myself, so Im of course impatient to get better so I can get on with it all!!
Im in my final year of university in Melbourne, but Im allowed to finish it externally which is good of them.
The main problem Im going to have, is that my hair is down past my bum... Im cutting to my shoulders, and possibly shorter... does anyone know when approximately it may start to fall out? Im hoping it wont (as we all probably do), but if it does, at least I get to see if I have a nice shaped head or not!! 
ANYWAY, thats me....
This is shite, and Im not very happy about it, but *shrug* what am I going to do about it? I figure I cant do much about it other than just deal with it.
Nice to meet you all. 
_________________
--- I am perfectly healthy. Just obviously nobody told my body that!! --- |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
SHANELLE85
Regular
Joined: 06 Jun 2006
Posts: 31
|
| Posted: Tue Jul 11, 2006 7:01 am Post subject: Re: Intro on Me |
|
|
hey Cassarilda,
im so sorry 2 hear about ur bad news and i totally no wot ur going through i got diagnosed with the same thing in nov 2005 just a month after my 20th birthday. i started my chemo treatment in december and just finish a 6 month course of it in may. i also had 2 have treatment every 2 weeks and im not gonna lie 2 u the 1st 3 or 4 treatments r hard on ur body but they do get easier as each 1 passes. i was in remission going in2 my 3rd or 4th month of having chemo and i also had long hair (not as long as urs) and about in2 the 2nd month of my treatment is wen i started 2 think about shaving my hair off and i did! I started 2 notice my hair falling out a few days after my 1st treatment mind u it was only a few strands but as the weeks and months past by the part in my hair became wider and i eventually lost alot of hair at the top of my head.. thats wen i began 2 think i would look better bald.
How did u find out u had Lymphoma? Any major symptoms?
anyway good luck with ur treatment and remember its ok 2 b scared but u will b ok.
take care. shanelle |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
cassarilda
New User
Joined: 11 Jul 2006
Posts: 2
Location: Perth, Australia
|
| Posted: Thu Jul 13, 2006 6:59 am Post subject: Re: Intro on Me |
|
|
Hi Shanelle,
I had a lump in my neck 10months ago.. it was 3rd on my list when I went to the doctors but she brushed it aside after the first two saying she didnt have enough time and to come back later 
Anyway, a few months ago (about 3 now I think - ive lost count), I was playing with it and it was a LOT bigger (3.4cms the longest measurement)... hence went to ANOTHER doctor, and the ball was set rolling.
I actually lost about 5kgs in a few months, which I didnt realise.
I also developed the itching, although thats gone away since my first chemo yesterday... thankfully!
So far Im ok with this treatment...
bit nauseous, although I can manage it so long as I get enough rest and enough small food portions regularly... headache doesnt help..
Im thinking I can deal with this if this is how its usually going to be.. Ive heard so many conflicting reports that the first 4 are the worst, cos your body gets knocked about and then gets used to it, albiet a bit tired...
Then others say they are the easiest because your body does get so run down...
Ive still got my final semester of uni to finish yet!!! Final folio assessment is in November, and my graduation is in December, and hell!.. I mean tto be there for it!! Just means I need to see how its going to pan out and try to get things working around my chemo and how I feel afterwards.
And about my hair... Im cutting it.. or my sister in law is.. she is a hairdresser and has been wanting to cut my hair for the past 10yrs.. now she gets her chance! and if it does fall out, ah well... at least Ive got enough self confidence already to get away with it
_________________
--- I am perfectly healthy. Just obviously nobody told my body that!! --- |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
SHANELLE85
Regular
Joined: 06 Jun 2006
Posts: 31
|
| Posted: Fri Jul 14, 2006 12:17 am Post subject: Re: Intro on Me |
|
|
Hey cassarilda,
I cant believe that dr didnt have enough time to check out a LUMP... how unprofessional!!
I also had itching, but it was very intense for about 10 months and i went to several of doctors, skin specialists and natrupaths and they all either just blamed it on my eating habits or just put it down to excema and i believed that they were right coz i never thought i could b a symptom of cancer, but after being diagnosed it was then i relized that the itching was my immune systems way of trying to fight off the invasion of cancer.
How many days are you in2 your treatment so far??
the 1st 2 days were ok 4 me and i thought to myself "i thought chemo would b much worst than this, i can handle this" But unfortunatley it wasnt that easy and i was stating 2 get alot of side effects. at the start i was sick with side effects for the whole 2 weeks, then gradually went to only having 1 bad week then eventually i had no side effects at all only feeling a little tired after the chemo, sometimes not even that.
1 of the worst side effects i had was indigestion and that is 1 of the side effects that comes with having chemo... and unfortunatley i had it so bad i had 2 restrict alot of food from my diet especially fatty foods, i couldnt even cook my foods in oil but that got better 4 me as time passed.
the 1st 4 treatments were definitley my worst but at about my 7 or 8th treatment i my body started 2 get used 2 the harsh chemicals and i had no side effects what so ever.
It really sux that u only have a semester 2 go in uni... could it have come at a woser time?
And i think that cutting ur hair is a really good idea.. coz u wanna try and keep ur hair 4 as long as u can. and i think its great u have alot of self confidence, coz having the right attitude can make all the difference.
-- if u have any questions about anything plz dont hesitate 2 write
Goodluck
shanelle |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
|
Search 
Email Digests
Register to post
Profile 
Check private messages 
Log in
What is this ?
We subscribe to the HONcode principles. Verify here. All content and posts are copyright.
