My Only Son Has Hodgkins Disease

My son, age 24,  was found out that he has Hodgkins State 2B in Jan. 3, 2008.  He had 4 cycles of ABVD treatments, not responding well.  ESHAP started the 2nd week of March and he will have the 2nd cycle by tomorrow.  I was told by the doctor that he will have Autologus BMT as soon as his tumors getting very small from the ESHAP treatment.  Then, Radiotherapy will be followed.  During this week, my son needs to have 4"Neupogen" injections to boost his white blood cells and another 10 injections after this 5-days treatments. 

This Hodgkin, all these treatments, injections and side effects drove me crazy and I almost went mad. I don't know how many times I cried for my son.  He is a smart, lovely and gently boy in the University.  He feels so bad whenever he sees my sad faces as I really don't know how to hide my sadness.

Please give me some suggestions, ideas and supports about the ESHAP treatments, Autologus BMT and the "Neupogen" injection.  Should I trust all these and that's the right way to save my son.

 The road is really rough and tough for my poor boy!

CANCER is horrible.  I lost my husband 2 years ago BUT you have to be strong as possible face to face with him and remember although this is happening to both of you....  he is the one with cancer and need all the support he can get from you.  I know you feel like this is happening to you.  He has cancer.

You are right!  But I just don't know how to control myself and it is so tough to face the situation, as depression and desperation are filling my mind.  It is mad and crazy for a mother to seeing her own son suffering.

I am Hodgkins Disease survivor of 10 years now, so I understand how scary and unfamiliar things can be.  I also had Neupogen shots but I had then daily for months.  I was diagnosed at stage 2A and previous to that I was misdiagnosed for months by my pediatrician.  The only comfort I can offer you is that Hodgkins Disease, especially when stages early, is extremely curable!  Things will definately be different for a while, and the chemo treatments used to treat Hodgkins is a little more harsh than other cancers.  My dad is being treated for stage IV colon cancer right now and he has lost no hair and has a great appetite, while I was nauseous for months!

 The good news is I am still here and there is no doubt that your son will also recover.  Please let me know if you have any questions or if you need someone to talk to, maybe even my Mom.  Perhaps she can shed some light from a mother's perspective.

DinaZ,

Thanks so much for your comforts!  If possible, I really want to talk to your mom how could she handle and manage the situation.  I hope I can learn from her how to stay calm and be strong to take care of my son.  Whenever I saw him suffering from the side effects, I couldn't control myself.  I felt pain all over my body and my mind went crazy right away!  I can't sleep, keep crying and a lot of stupid thought goes around my mind all the time.  I worried about his recovery, his side effects and his future.  The doctor suggested me to see the psychologist and I think I really need one to help.  I can't get sick as I have to take care of my beloved son.

Dear Angela

Please hang in there, hodgkins is very curable, my neice had it when she was 21, she is now 30 and has a son, which we thought may not happen.

My brother described it as being in a horrible bubble that he couldn't get out of, thank god he did, just keep speaking to people, try and do something that distracts you away from it, otherwise it will swallow you up

don't let the monster do that to you.

Take care

XXXX

Dear Norma Elizabeth,

Thanks for your warm words!  I do need so much supports at this stage, especially the positive and good results.  It is really a nightmare to me and I'm completely lost control and don't know what to do, how to do?  I'm on this site as I'm trying to search for supports and assistance.

My family is not around me and they are far away.  My son and I are the only family in this city.  I need to take care of my son and I need to work.  All of sudden, stress covers all my head.  I'm trying to release and relax myself.  I just don't know what I can do for my son and what should be the best for him, to help him out release from the side effects and sickness.

Thanks again for all and your supports are much appreciated!

DinaZ and Ann, 

Thanks with all my heart with your supports!  Ann's experience does help me to face my son's siutation. 

Anyway, we have something new today which made me very sick again.

My son had an appointment with the specialist for his Autologus BMT evaluation.
 
I was told that my son will have the 3rd ESHAP treatment on April 21.  After 2 weeks, he needs to go to the hospital and stays for one month.  He will first to have the pre-assessment of stem cells transplant, about one litre of bone marrow will be taken from him to freeze for later use.  The way is to give him injectin to create the bone marrow in his blood, then something like the blood transfusion will be used, a filter will keep all his bone marrow and
the rest will be given back to him.  After saving enough bone marrow, a very high dose intensive treatment will be given to him to kill his agressive cancer cells.  That's why he needs to stay in the hospital to avoid any complication and get infected.

After the high-dose treatment, his saved bone marrow will be given back to him, as those high dose treatment will cause problem with his bone marrow, can't produce white and red blood cells, etc.
 
The doctor also told me that there are 2 big risks with all these treatments:
 
1) During the stem cells transplant - there is about 5% of patients loosing their life.
2) The curable possibilities are about 50%.
 
After all the treatments, Radiation will be followed.   
 
If possible, please give me second opinion?  Can someone give me a second opinion?  Is it the best way or the only way do for my son?  The specialist told me that it is the best way to do and to cure my son.  But the curable opportunity drove me crazy and worry so much!

 Please help!

Dear Norma,

Thanks so much for your concerns and supports!

With your experience, can you tell me what kinds of food are good for Franky.  I'm giving him a lot of meats as youngman likes meat a lot, organic chicken, lean pork and some beef, lots of different veggie, fruit juice, soya milk and soup.  I tried to avoid the sugar as I learned from the websites that sugan will help cancer cells to grow.  This does scare me so much!  Also, some one on the website talks about NO MEAT?  I asked the doctor.  Of course, they don't agree and ask me to give all kinds of food to Franky, as his body needs strength to fight. 

After each treatment, he didn't want to eat at all, couldn't swallow and a lot of irritation in his stomach.  After a few days and whenever he starts to feel hungry, I'll cook the foods he likes for him.  What do you think?  Can you tell about your experience in serving the meals to Dina?

Thanks Norma and I do appreciate so much to share your experience which I need to learn.

 Angela