HELP ASAP PLEASEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

hi guys, i'm 20 considered a hodgkins survivor, finishing radiation therapy did 6 cycls  of abvd, my radiologist scheduled me for 30.6gr radiation and based on my own research and clinical studies i've looked at they recomment 20gr nowadays

i had stage 2B hodgkins

i kept asking to lower the dosage to minimize later side effects but she insist that its wrong,

my ques: based on experiences from all the survivors here, how much radiation have you guys recieved? the mediastinal mass i had was 10cm, but it all went away after 3 cycles of abvd based on the pet scan results

please if anyone can help, this coming week is my last 8 sessions of radiation, last 10 gr left, i am confused and scared !!!!!!

On 7/19/2008 characterboy123 wrote:

hi guys, i'm 20 considered a hodgkins survivor, finishing radiation therapy did 6 cycls  of abvd, my radiologist scheduled me for 30.6gr radiation and based on my own research and clinical studies i've looked at they recomment 20gr nowadays

i had stage 2B hodgkins

i kept asking to lower the dosage to minimize later side effects but she insist that its wrong,

my ques: based on experiences from all the survivors here, how much radiation have you guys recieved? the mediastinal mass i had was 10cm, but it all went away after 3 cycles of abvd based on the pet scan results

please if anyone can help, this coming week is my last 8 sessions of radiation, last 10 gr left, i am confused and scared !!!!!!

Characterboy,

Don't be scared. Re-evaluate your situation. Do you trust your doctors number one. If not, don't be afraid to shop around until it feels right. I know this sounds expensive but you can get around that. Telephone. Write down the questions that are most important to you. Tell the doctor or staff member that you'll consider coming in for a consult after they've satisfied your questions.

This might sound harsh but don't be scared. The worse that could happen is you could die. Characterboy, I know you're only twenty but I've lost friends in my teens, schoolmates, neighbors, aquaintances. Unfortunately we're all going to die. Some of us young, some of us old.

Live each day to the fullest. Don't look back and don't look ahead. Just lives the day. One day at a time. Try not to dwell on the possibilities of tomorrow. They'll only take away from your happiness today.

My prayers are with you.

Peace Out

I am a 15 year survivor and you should get the radiation!!! I can't remember the exact amount of radiation but I know that it was several times higher than what they give today. They have made many strides over the last 10 years in streamlining the treatment. It is very diffferent now and I think you will see that the side effects from treatment will be much less than with my group.You don't want to relapse. I had 2B also and chose the less aggressive treatment. I relapsed a year and a half later and got more treatment instead of less. It was a big mistake.

A second opinion may help you feel more at ease but don't be afraid of the radiation. I have had some side effects but nothing that has changed my life drastically.

Good luck to you!!!