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m-ray
New User
Joined: 23 Jul 2006
Posts: 3
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 Posted: Thu Jul 27, 2006 5:36 am Post subject: New comer!! |
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[b] hi my names linda and i live in italy, near venice i speak fluent italian but am english, i'm 19 years old.. on th 22nd of june i was diagnosed with cancer.. only a few weeks ago i found out that it is Hodgkins Lymphoma.. on the 4th of june i noticed that the left side of my neck had swollen up.. so the very next day i went to my doctor who told me to go straight to the hospital.. so they checked my neck and asked if it hurt.. it didnt.. but a few weeks after i started all the major tests.. from the blood test they didnt find anything wrong apart from the fact that i lack red blood cells so i have to take iron tablets.. then i went through with the CT which showed that i did have some type of cancer.. then i did the MRI and it sowed where it was, on the left side of my neck is the biggest bit, it has spread down my chest, it finishes under my heart but has spread mostly on the right side of my chest.. i also had a biopsy done, always on the left side of my neck.. and from that they diagnosed me with the classical Hodgkins Lymphoma mine is at the second stage so its not that bad..i had my bone marrow checked and they also took a tiny piece of my bone out.. luckly it has not spread to my bone marrow or bones.. on the 13th of july i had another mini operation just above my right breast to put a tube into me, where i will be taking the chemotherapy, i have it done there insted of in my arms because i have very small and thin veins, its much more convenient for me cos its not painful at all when i have to have the therapy.. on the 14th of july i had my fisrt cycle of chemotharapy.. i felt fine but 2 days after the side effects started to kick in.. i felt very sick, but never was cos the doctors gave me some anti-vomit pills, i lost the taste of food so i wasnt hungry at all and i also felt very tired.. this all lasted 3 days.. now i'm feeling fine.. i only started the chemo 2 weeks ago but the lump on my neck has gone down lots and my neck is back to its normal size.. i used to have really long straight hair.. i loved my hair so much but decided to cut it so i'd get ued to it.. yestersay evening while i was out with my mates i put my hand through my hair and as i pulled it away i noticed that a lot of it had come out.. it was such a shock for me, luckly my friends were there to support me.. tomorrow i have the second cycle of the chemotherapy.. i have mine every 2 weeks.. sfter tomorrows i'll have to have 2 more then i'll have an MRI scan which will show me if the lympoma is going away.. and if it is i'll keep up with the chemo for 2 months then do radiotherapy for 2 months..
i really hope it goes well.. i'm the youngst person in the hospital at the moment with cancer.. which kind of makes the mascott of the ward!!
i'm young.. and trying to be positve about all of this.. it is hard but i'm an optimist, and always have been.. i cant deny not being scared and sometimes feeling down.. but luckly i have lots of moral support!!
i hope i will get a few replies, cos i'd really like to chat to anyone who may have my same illness or not..
xxx linda  [/b] |
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anjou
Experienced user
Joined: 01 Jul 2005
Posts: 65
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| Posted: Thu Jul 27, 2006 9:01 am Post subject: Hi |
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a very active hodgkins board can be found if you look for the bulletin boards at www.lymphoma.com
Im sorry about your diagnosis, but know that the prognosis for hodgkins is good
_________________
Follicular lymphoma grade 3, stage 2 dx 9/99 CHOP x 3 3600 rads rituxan x4 |
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SHANELLE85
Regular
Joined: 06 Jun 2006
Posts: 31
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| Posted: Fri Jul 28, 2006 7:30 am Post subject: Re: New comer!! |
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hi linda, 1st of all im really sorry 2 hear about ur unfortunate news and that i know exactly wot u r going through 100%.. i got diagnosed with hodgkins at stage 2 aswell in nov last year, just 1 month after my 20th birthday and i was absolutely devastaed and shocked.. but im just so thankful that i found the lump wen i did! i started chemo in december 2005 and finished in may this year.. and it hasnt been a walk in the park at all. I just had 2 have chemo every 2 weeks for 6 months.. and i was already in remission going in2 my 3 or 4th month of having treatments.
my 1st 4 treatments were absolute hell 4 me i didnt handle them 2 well at all but u seem 2 b handling them quite well.. i began 2 only have minor symptoms at about my 5th to 8th treatments.. and by my 9th i hardly had no symptoms at all, my body got so used 2 getting poisioned.. so 2 speak.
My lumps were also in my neck and dissapear quite quickly.. i actually notice the difference in 1 treatment.. and as 4 my hair.. i had long straight hair and it lasted bout 2 months but i decided 2 shave it coz it looked so bad.. its a good idea u have cut it short.
i was the youngest most of the time aswell wen i was having treatments aswell and there r going 2 b somedays were ur just really down and cant handle it, but thats normal and there will b days were ur doing ok.
Getting cancer is such a bad thing 2 go through especially wen ur as young as wot we r but.. u also learn 2 come 2 terms with wots happen and just look 4ward 2 finishing and get on with life and u also get 2 know ur not the only 1 out there!
just take it easy and relax. and while ur immune system gets a thrashing its probably best 2 stay away from huge crowds but dont limit urself from enjoying life as much as u can
wow i have wrote alot sorry lol
hope this helps ya
shanelle x  |
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m-ray
New User
Joined: 23 Jul 2006
Posts: 3
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| Posted: Thu Aug 03, 2006 4:17 am Post subject: Re: New comer!! |
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[quote="SHANELLE85"]hi linda, 1st of all im really sorry 2 hear about ur unfortunate news and that i know exactly wot u r going through 100%.. i got diagnosed with hodgkins at stage 2 aswell in nov last year, just 1 month after my 20th birthday and i was absolutely devastaed and shocked.. but im just so thankful that i found the lump wen i did! i started chemo in december 2005 and finished in may this year.. and it hasnt been a walk in the park at all. I just had 2 have chemo every 2 weeks for 6 months.. and i was already in remission going in2 my 3 or 4th month of having treatments.
my 1st 4 treatments were absolute hell 4 me i didnt handle them 2 well at all but u seem 2 b handling them quite well.. i began 2 only have minor symptoms at about my 5th to 8th treatments.. and by my 9th i hardly had no symptoms at all, my body got so used 2 getting poisioned.. so 2 speak.
My lumps were also in my neck and dissapear quite quickly.. i actually notice the difference in 1 treatment.. and as 4 my hair.. i had long straight hair and it lasted bout 2 months but i decided 2 shave it coz it looked so bad.. its a good idea u have cut it short.
i was the youngest most of the time aswell wen i was having treatments aswell and there r going 2 b somedays were ur just really down and cant handle it, but thats normal and there will b days were ur doing ok.
Getting cancer is such a bad thing 2 go through especially wen ur as young as wot we r but.. u also learn 2 come 2 terms with wots happen and just look 4ward 2 finishing and get on with life and u also get 2 know ur not the only 1 out there!
just take it easy and relax. and while ur immune system gets a thrashing its probably best 2 stay away from huge crowds but dont limit urself from enjoying life as much as u can
wow i have wrote alot sorry lol
hope this helps ya
shanelle x [/quote]
hi shanelle!! thanks for replying!!
i had my second chemo therapy last friday and felt bad afterwards.. my legs felt really heavy and as if i had pins and needles.. but by saturday i was absolutley fine.. i'm even eating much easier now.. not feeling sick anymore jus very tired!!
i got my hair shaved on tuesday.. i still find it very hard to like my new look but i'll jus have to get used to it!!
i dont kno how my body will react to the rest of the treatment, hopefully i'll continue to feel as i do now.. i0ve got another 2 therapies to do before having to have the PET scan to see if its going away!!
my lump also went down after the first therapy!!
thanks agen for replying!!
linda x  |
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SHANELLE85
Regular
Joined: 06 Jun 2006
Posts: 31
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| Posted: Fri Aug 04, 2006 10:00 pm Post subject: Re: New comer!! |
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Hi linda,
im happy 2 hear that ur coping with ur treatments ok. there r gonna b up and down days through the whole thing.. but if tiredness is all thats happening 2 u.. i think u should consider urself lucky.. and lets hope its stays that way 4 u!
I think that it takes a strong person 2 actually shave their hair b4 its starts falling out and it will take time 2 get used 2 it, but believe me it will b harder with ur hair once it starts falling out.. i learnt the hard way!
Its funny how u can feel the lump go down after the 1st treatment, and if u can feel the lump/s go down well i think thats a good sign.
anyway i hope u continue 2 feel ok.
keep in touch!
oh and if u have any questions plz dont hesitate 2 ask!
shanelle x |
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m-ray
New User
Joined: 23 Jul 2006
Posts: 3
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| Posted: Tue Aug 08, 2006 10:42 am Post subject: Re: New comer!! |
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g'day!!
this friday i've got my third treatment and to be honest i cant wait to do it, jus to "get it out the way"!!
i had hardly any hair on my head after shavng it but its still falling out, i'm now using lots of colourful bandana's!!
hope to hear from u soon too!!
linda xxx |
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SHANELLE85
Regular
Joined: 06 Jun 2006
Posts: 31
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| Posted: Tue Aug 08, 2006 11:15 am Post subject: Re: New comer!! |
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hi linda,
well its sounds 2 me that u r coping extemely well with these treatments and im so glad 2 hear it!
i can fully understand how u cant wait 2 do ur next treatment, coz its exactly how i felt wen i was going through it.
how r u adapting 2 ur new look? its hard at 1st but it does get easier 2 come 2 terms with, but it goes without saying that ur always gonna miss ur hair!
its great that u r trying new bandanas and all that! i found it hard 2 get used 2 something that was gonna b on my head alot of the time, but fortunatley i got away with a beanie coz autumn/ winter months were approaching.
actually 4 the 1st time the other day i stopped wearing anything and decided 2 wear my hair the way it is, even though its quite short i can wear it out now, and even though i get the occasional glance from ppl i just shrug it off coz i know i didnt choose 2 wear my hair this way.. if only they knew!
well i sounds like u have the right attitude 2 beat hodgkins, i think the key is 2 just b positive and u'll find it will b easier 2 go through chemo aswell.
anyway ive rambled on long enough now so i'll b off but hope 2 talk 2 u soon.
good luck with ur 3rd treatment on friday.. b4 u no it u'll b finished.. just stay positive.
shanelle xox |
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Eternity
New User
Joined: 19 Nov 2006
Posts: 7
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| Posted: Sun Nov 19, 2006 10:45 am Post subject: Hodgkin's |
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| HI! I am just like the 2 of you but luckily i am in the earliest stage 1A. However, I am not so optimistic bcos after the 2nd treatment, i felt very sick. I dread going for the 3rd treatment in a few days time. I have pain all over my body, esp my stomach and arm. My hair is falling off. I have problems sleeping at night though I am tired. I couldn't concentrate doing anything. I was very miserable and cried when I spoke to the doctor a few days ago. Are all these normal side effects of the treatment? Will it get worse? I didn't have these after my first treatment. Also, I am still wondering what cause this illness as I am also in the 20s, having no particular symptoms, except for a swollen lymp node in the collar-neck. I have no family history of such disease and the doc also could not explain the cause of it. |
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