New

I am 25 years old & have just been diagnosed w/Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma in February.  I have had 4 chemos & am almost ready for my 5th.  The chemo isn't going as well as planned, my body isn't handling it like it is supposed to.  I am just wanting to talk to someone who is/has experienced the same things I am. 

tadajon

I am very sorry to hear about your diagnosis.  My mother is 55 and has been going through treatments for 4 years.  Started out with R-CHOP 6x and Zevalin for her first relapse 18 months later.  She made it only a year until her next relapse.  We went in for CVP 2x but it was not shrinking her tumors so they did a round of ICE.  She did not handle that well at all (9 straight days on the couch and lost over 10 pounds) and is now going into the hospital next week for her second round of ESHAP (5-6 days in the hospital).  They are prepping her for ASCT which she is not too fond of either.  I wish I could tell you a better story and give you more hope.  Each person handles treatment differently and you may respond and gain remission by another treatment.  I wish you all the best and hope you find that "magic pill" that will get you into remission!  The mind is a powerful healer so think positive thoughts!  You can and will get through this!

Best of luck to you!

I am very sorry to hear about your diagnosis.  My mother is 55 and has been going through treatments for 4 years.  Started out with R-CHOP 6x and Zevalin for her first relapse 18 months later.  She made it only a year until her next relapse.  We went in for CVP 2x but it was not shrinking her tumors so they did a round of ICE.  She did not handle that well at all (9 straight days on the couch and lost over 10 pounds) and is now going into the hospital next week for her second round of ESHAP (5-6 days in the hospital).  They are prepping her for ASCT which she is not too fond of either.  I wish I could tell you a better story and give you more hope.  Each person handles treatment differently and you may respond and gain remission by another treatment.  I wish you all the best and hope you find that "magic pill" that will get you into remission!  The mind is a powerful healer so think positive thoughts!  You can and will get through this!

Best of luck to you!

Hi New, I just completed my 5 series of CHOP and rituxan. Was scheduled for 8 but Praise the Lord only need 6 total. I handled it quite well. Mainly just lost my hair and big toe nails. I do get quite tired and have hot flashes alot.  Lost my taste buds after the CHop for at least ten days.Everything tastes metallic. But found that I can drink flavored water by Adirondack. And actually taste the flavoring.  So soorry to hear you have follicular lymphoma to.  My Lord and Saviour has gotten me through the journey with cancer. And have received many Blessing. Will keep you in prayer also. Each person reacts differently to the chemotherapy. Keep in touch. carla

 

On 5/24/2007 Luv4jesusanu wrote:

Hi New, I just completed my 5 series of CHOP and rituxan. Was scheduled for 8 but Praise the Lord only need 6 total. I handled it quite well. Mainly just lost my hair and big toe nails. I do get quite tired and have hot flashes alot.  Lost my taste buds after the CHop for at least ten days.Everything tastes metallic. But found that I can drink flavored water by Adirondack. And actually taste the flavoring.  So soorry to hear you have follicular lymphoma to.  My Lord and Saviour has gotten me through the journey with cancer. And have received many Blessing. Will keep you in prayer also. Each person reacts differently to the chemotherapy. Keep in touch. carla

I am going in on the 4th for my 5th.  I do CHOP & rituxan also.  My Dr. is hoping only a few more & maybe a radiation.  But they had to lower my dosage because I am not handling it well.  So I don't know if that will prolong my chemo's.  I have to eat w/ plastic silverwear because otherwise everything tastes like metal.  I lost my hair - even my eyelashes.  I just wish I had more strength.  I do chemo every 21 days & it seams to take me the entire 21 days to get my strength up even a little bit.  I get violently ill right after chemo also, so it takes me at least 1 week to start eating again.  I have lost ALOT of weight.  I am glad to hear that it only took 6!!  That is wonderful.  Is your hair growing back now??? If so how long did it take?? can't wait to hear from you agian.  Tadajon

Thank you for your encouragement.  I am hoping only to have a couple more chemo's before I am done.  I may also have to do a radiation.  But the doctor is playing it by ear.  I have had to be hospitalized each time for my chemo.  4 days a piece, because I get so violently ill.  From the time I got really sick till now I have lost about 50 pounds.  I have been sick off & on for about 1 year, just couldn't shake it.  The flu here, a cold there.  I just thought nothing of it.  My doctor at the time certainly didn't.  Then I got a cough.  I was coughing for 3 weeks, went to the Dr.'s & she said to deal w/ it & sent me home.  Buy that time I had lost a good 10 pounds because coughing was making me vomit.  Then I went to a different doctor.  & he noticed I had a lot of fluid in my lungs, long story short I ended up in the hospital a week later.  They drained 1 pint of fluid out of my left lung & that is when they found the mass.  It was in my chest cavity & the size of a cantalope.  I have been doing chemo ever since.  I just get a bit depressed.  I am only 25 & feel like I am 90.  No hair, in/out of the hospital.  How does one deal w/it?? keep in touch, tadajon

Hi Tadajon, we sound like the same person. Except I havent gotten very ill. Praise the Lord. I lost my hair the next day after my first CHOP. Yes it is starting to grow back. I to lost my eye lashes. Nice not to have to shave my legs. hahahaha  And everything taste like metaql for ten days afterwards. I drink flavored adirondack water. It is the only one that I can taste the fruity flavor. Miss my coffee during this time. I also lost my big toenails to. Better them than my fingernails. I take neulasta injections after my  CHOP.  and for the ten days I eat alot of soups and salads. I do get diarrhea for about two to three days afdter CHOP. Which I get like you every three weeks. But just found out last Tues. That I only have to have oner more instead of 3 for a total of 8. I am so happy that I will only have 6 treatments total. Just had another PET scan today. The results will show just how many tumors I have remaining and their size. Plusa confirm that the others are gone. I cant wait for the results. Have a Blessed day. Carla

  HI  HOPE YOU ARE DOING BETTER BY NOW. P lease keep in touch. Just got the results of the PET SCAN. Praise the Lord I have NO ACTIVE CANCER.  Isnt that awesome. It is amazing to me. Never expected  this. It has been a wonderfull three yr. journey with cancer. I still have alot of "Shotty" tumors. They are about 1 cm in size.Will begin Rituxin therapy once every week for at least  a yr. And monitor the tumors that aree stillpresent. Prayer does wonders and I give the chemo. some  credit also. hahaha. May God heal you and help guide you as he has me.  Take care and enjoy.  I try to look forf the positive of everything. It seems to help me adjust etc.  Will be praying for you. Carla

Hi, there, how difficult this must be right now for you...Illness is never easy on anyone, but when you're younger, it's hard to see the WHOLE picture...Keep visualizing yourself COMPLETELY well, see the chemo agents as your soldiers figting cancer for YOU...As you enter chemo treatments, keep repeating the entire day before, "I will have no reactions", it may help lessen the nastiness.

I'm on chemo #2 and have been blessed with minimal reactions.  But I believe SOOO strongly that my body will accept the chemo and allow it to do the good for a cure.

Keep your faith, be kind to yourself, and know better days are ahead.  God bless and give you strength..Lyn