| Author |
|
VikingfromNorway
New User
Joined: 01 Aug 2008
Posts: 3
Location: Oslo, Norway
|
 Posted: Fri Aug 01, 2008 8:42 am Post subject: Hodgkin's Lymphoma survivor |
 |
|
Hi! Just found this forum, and decided to join u guys.
I was diagnosed with Hodgkins back in 2001 when i was 23yo. It started by me finding i lump on my neck, just under my jaw. It didnt hurt at all, but felt "solid" and couldnt be moved under the skin. off course i was very anxious, and went to the doc. He said it probably just was swollen glands, and told me to not worry. So i didnt worry, but the lump didnt dissapear. It actually just grew in size, so i went back to my doc a second time. He told me to go to the hospital, and check it out there.
Due to Norvegian hospital system, i had to wait nearly 4 months before i got called in. When the day finally came, i was told that they would perform a Biopsy on me. Great, as i really HATED needles. (got rid off that fear during my illness though  )
Well, the biopsy proved nothing, but the lump was still there, just increasing in size every week.... So finally they sendt me to "Rikshospitalet" . That is Norway's "national" hospital. After another biopsy without any results, they figured they had to operate out a piece of that lump to put it under a microscope. They cutted through my left neck muscle, so i was sore for weeks!
Finally, they found out i had Hodgkin's Lymphoma, and i had to take a lot of other tests including bone narrow? from my hip, extensive scans etc.
Luckily i had no cancer anywhere else, just on my neck. Btw, that lump was now so big that it pushed a bit on my jaw.
It was decided that i would receive radiation therapy 25 times on my neck. Luckily i avoided chemotherapy!
After radiation therapy, i was a bit fatigued for some weeks, and REALLY sore on my neck. Kind of like when u get sun-burned, only way worse.
After this, i went to check everything every 3rd month, and as of last year i finished that also.
So, here i am, still healthy and no signs of any cancer 
What i found out after i got sick, is that cancer is WAY stigmatised today. We all just hear about the people who dies from it. Not all the people who get their treatment, and get well again. In my opinion, you really should not give up if u get a cancer diagnose, as you probably will get well again.
I am not under-estimating cancer in any way, just saying that it is wrong to think that cancer equals death.
(btw, excuse my bad english, as i am from the cold north)
_________________
ex - Hodgkins Lymphoma
My story: http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?t=10098 |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
ChemoMan
Senior User
Joined: 04 Jun 2008
Posts: 202
Location: South Australia
|
| Posted: Fri Aug 01, 2008 3:56 pm Post subject: Re: Hodgkin's Lymphoma survivor |
|
|
Hi VikingfromNorway
Great to hear all is well. You are right in that people do tend to focus on the people who die from cancer rather than those who survive. You and I know that Hodgkins can be successfully treated these days, yet most view it as a death sentence. You should stick around the board, with an attitude like that you could really help someone who has received a positive diagnosis. By the way your written English is OK, I had no trouble understanding you.
Good luck on your Journey.........
_________________
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 |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
brainman
Site Admin
Joined: 13 Oct 2005
Posts: 4244
Location: Tennessee
|
| Posted: Fri Aug 01, 2008 5:36 pm Post subject: Re: Hodgkin's Lymphoma survivor |
|
|
VikingfromNorway, I am awe struck by your survivor spirit! We often have new members who are just finding out or are in fear of having a Lymphoma. With your involvement in the forum, we have a good resource to help those individuals.
Your English is better than mine is .
_________________
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/ |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
VikingfromNorway
New User
Joined: 01 Aug 2008
Posts: 3
Location: Oslo, Norway
|
| Posted: Fri Aug 01, 2008 6:57 pm Post subject: Re: Hodgkin's Lymphoma survivor |
|
|
Thx for all replys! I think it is very important to try to maintain a positive spirit if diagnosed with any kind of cancer as our body responds to positive thoughts. I am not in any way a believer in any religious views, i just know that psycological positivity helps our body once in a while, so it is important to BELIEVE that everything will be sorted out.
When i was sick, the hardest bit was to tell my family what was going on, and seing people's reaction when i popped the news... It is not easy to see your mother & father crying because of some decease u just was told u got. Therefore, i urge relatives / friends / spouses etc to be strong and try to be as positive as you can in a NATURAL way.
I was lucky as i got the Hodgkin's decease. Not everyone is that lucky with their diagnosis, but remember that cancer treatment is progressing everyday.
Something else i learned while sick, is that i was reminded of how lucky i was compared to so many others in this world! I have a 2 year old daughter now. Think of all the children in this world, dying of aids, starvation, poverty etc. All of us need to think about how lucky we are growing up in a civilized world, who can provide us with treatment of some kind. Many countrys cannot do that! In fact, thousands of children die each year because of poverty and neglect! So be thankfull for each day that we are provided, and know that there are allways people who suffer WAY more than most of us will ever do!
One last thing i learned, is that fairness is manmade! Dont expect to be treated fair in your life, because most of us dont! Nature doesent care about that at all. We are just human beings, trying to cope with our lifes. Some people get to be 80 years old while smoking 60 sigarettes a day, drinking alot and never exercise. Other get to die at 50, while excersising everyday and doing everything "right"
Dont expect to live a healthy, long life just because u have a loving family and kids. Try to make the most of each day, and be thankfull for the ones u allready got!
Just some thoughts i learned while sick.
_________________
ex - Hodgkins Lymphoma
My story: http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?t=10098 |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
n1kk1
New User
Joined: 30 Jun 2007
Posts: 6
Location: Dumfries, Scotland
|
| Posted: Sun Aug 03, 2008 4:33 pm Post subject: Re: Hodgkin's Lymphoma survivor |
|
|
Great to hear you're doing well
I had Lymphoma in my neck as well. Radiotherapy was awful, i couldn't eat anything for 3 weeks as it was like razorblades in my throat, i lived off ice cream lol.
So many survivors today so chin up everyone! |
|
| 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.
