New Here. Just been diagnosed with Hodgkins

berrymoss

Hi everyone,
This is my first post on here. Looks like a great friendly and busy site. Should be plenty of good advice on here.

I'm a 43yr old male. I live in the Scottish Borders. I was diagnosed with Hodgkins Lymphoma a week and a half ago. I apparently had enlarged lymph axillary nodes in my armpit. I had a CT scan and a bone marrow sample taken last week. (Still waiting for the results) so I still don't know what stage the disease is at. I don't have any of the B symptoms but I have been getting extreme pains just behind my sternum. The pain comes on all of a sudden and then comes and goes for anything from a few minutes to a few hours. The pain is intense. I had an ultrasound last week too to see if I had gallstones. But none were found.

This morning i'm into surgery to have my catheter fitted into my neck as I begin Chemo (ABVD) this Thursday 3rd July.

This has all come as a big shock to me and my family.

brainman

Berry, I am very sorry about your cancer. I know very little about Hodgkin's Lymphoma so I will let others tell their stories. I know that you must be in shock. You and your family are in my thoughts and prayers.
_________________
Jim
Site Administrator and long-term cancer survivor
1992 Astrocytoma grade 2, left motor strip
2005 Recurrence this time said to be an Oligodendoglioma grade 3, same location.
My Story Part 1: http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?p=7350
My Story Part 2: http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?t=8029
Blog http://jimhawkinsport.blogspot.com/

ChemoMan

Hello Berry

It does come as a big shock, doesn't it! Same thing happened to me. Don't worry too much they are very good at treating Hodgkins and have been for a long time, so there is every likely hood you will be around for some time with your family Smile

I can't say about the ABVD, but my chemo came as a pleasant surprise, in that it was not half as bad as I expected. They have some very effective anti nausea pills these days. which made it all bearable.

Hopefully one of our Hodgkins survivors picks this up and jumps in. Anyway chin up Berry, hang in there and don't worry too much.
_________________
Age 52
Diffuse Large B cell Lymphoma
Stage 2a
Finished six cycles of R chop 21 26th May 2008
Officially in remission 9th July 2008
Remission confirmed 1st October 2008
http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?t=9620

berrymoss

Thanks to you both for the kind, supportive words.

My consultant told me yesterday that I am in Stage 2A.

My bone marrow results came back negative, and my chemo started yesterday.

Aside from the fact that it's 03.13am here in Scotland and I've been up for 20 minutes I've had no adverse reactions so far.

All positive so far.

I've also been advised that I will be going for a PET scan half way through the 6 month chemo sessions and will also be getting Radiotherapy at that point too.
_________________
"Obstacles are those things you see when you take your eyes off the goal"

ChemoMan

Hello again Berry

2a is very good ! Hodgkins is notoriously hard to pick up in the early stages most people are much more advanced than that. The PET scan is nothing to worry about, but it does take a long time, mainly because you need to drink contrast at specific times prior to the scan, as well as receive the radioactive tracer, and the scan itself can take up to 45 minutes, but no pain involved at all Smile

Good luck Berry and all the best Smile

_________________
Age 52
Diffuse Large B cell Lymphoma
Stage 2a
Finished six cycles of R chop 21 26th May 2008
Officially in remission 9th July 2008
Remission confirmed 1st October 2008
http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?t=9620

n1kk1

Hi Berry, sorry about the late reply, not been on here in ages!

I had stage 2A as well, had 6 chemo sessions and 3 weeks of radiotherapy in Glasgow.

How are you keeping, what treatment are you getting?

Which part of the Scottish Borders are you from, i'm from Dumfries!

berrymoss

Hi n1kk1,

I'm from a town called Kelso.

I've just had my 3rd ABVD session today. Thing's are going well.

I had to start Neupogen last Sunday night as my white blood cells were too low. x2 injections. Wow, the side effects from those little bug***s are worse than the Chemo.

I had some serious back spasms over an 8hr period the day after.

I've been given some Neulasta to inject tomorrow. This is a x1 time injection and apparently builds up thw white blood cells over the 2 week period up until the next Chemo session.

I'm getting 6 Chemo sessions, then a PET scan then Radiotherapy.

How are you getting on ?
_________________
"Obstacles are those things you see when you take your eyes off the goal"

n1kk1

oh yes i know where kelso is. I'm good thanks, i finished all my treatment in november so just the check ups now. Those injections were the worst out of my whole experience. The back spasms were awful, thank god for codine! Things seem to be going ok with you though, you'll just be tired a lot etc. Can't remember where u said your lymphoma was now. My radiotherapy in my neck was awful, lost my voice and couldn't eat properly for nearly a month. Is it the beatson in glasgow? Nice place!

berrymoss

[quote="ChemoMan"]Hello again Berry

2a is very good ! Hodgkins is notoriously hard to pick up in the early stages most people are much more advanced than that. The PET scan is nothing to worry about, but it does take a long time, mainly because you need to drink contrast at specific times prior to the scan, as well as receive the radioactive tracer, and the scan itself can take up to 45 minutes, but no pain involved at all Smile

Good luck Berry and all the best Smile

[/quote]

Thanks Chemoman
_________________
"Obstacles are those things you see when you take your eyes off the goal"

berrymoss

PET scan and radiotherapy will be in Edinburgh for me.

My enlarged nodes were left axilliary (left armpit) and left chest. Under the muscle, not under the breatsbone. The largest of which was 3.4cm

And I know Dumfries Very Happy

_________________
"Obstacles are those things you see when you take your eyes off the goal"

mortz · New User Joined: 11 Aug 2008 Posts: 3 Location: Texas

Good evening Berry! I hope all is well at your end of the world. I to was diagnosed with H.L. back in April of 2007. Same diagnoses as you just on the right side, along with a chest tumor around my aorta. I have already been through one chemo and radition treatment in 07, My treatment was with ABVD along with radition, and let me tell you it wasn't nearly as bad as I thought it was going to be. The medication they have today to treat nausea works wonders! I was never really sick just a little under the weather a day after treamtment. Remember the key thing while going through this is to keep a positive attitude, eat to stay healthy, and get some excersise!!! Dont overwork yourself just keep your body active. Remember this will passed it just takes a little time Wink

Take care!
M

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