I think I have lymphoma
Discussion
@fridaypassion I have Stage2A aggressive Nodular sclerosing Hodgkins Lymphoma, only went to the doctors and had my 1st blood test on 16th Febuary and had the 1st ABVD treatment on Tuesday. The best advice I can give is to eat as much fresh fruit and veg as possible to build up your strength. If you want/need a chat near the time feel free to pm me.
Edited by audikentman on Saturday 2nd May 20:46
Wow, had the chemo roller coaster, didn't feel too bad on Wednesday, then Thursday and Friday, not only couldn't I get out of bed I had no inclination to, I've never felt anything like it, I can only describe it as a combination of the hangover from hell and being hit by a bus and then it reversing back over me, left me completely spannered, Saturday and Sunday better, today felling fine, now a week to go until a blood test on Friday and the next blast of chemo next Tuesday. Bring it on! Lymphoma I'm gonna smash you!
audikentman said:
Wow, had the chemo roller coaster, didn't feel too bad on Wednesday, then Thursday and Friday, not only couldn't I get out of bed I had no inclination to, I've never felt anything like it, I can only describe it as a combination of the hangover from hell and being hit by a bus and then it reversing back over me, left me completely spannered, Saturday and Sunday better, today felling fine, now a week to go until a blood test on Friday and the next blast of chemo next Tuesday. Bring it on! Lymphoma I'm gonna smash you!
Great attitude mate. Good luck!audikentman said:
@fridaypassion I have Stage2A aggressive Nodular sclerosing Hodgkins Lymphoma, only went to the doctors and had my 1st blood test on 16th Febuary and had the 1st ABVD treatment on Tuesday. The best advice I can give is to eat as much fresh fruit and veg as possible to build up your strength. If you want/need a chat near the time feel free to pm me.
Thanks and good luck keep us posted. Looks like the first one was a bit of an ordeal!Edited by audikentman on Saturday 2nd May 20:46
Dad had lymphoma, some translocation of a gene was noted down the line which made it akin to burkits lymphoma, normally seen in Africa and that's a bout it. This was a issue as It could potentially cross the blood/brain barrier, lymphoma doesn't normally do this. He went from 3 weekly chemo cycles to have chemo everyday for 14-20 days, including spinal tapping. It was brutal and only really an extra precaution.
Long story short, he's in full remission 4 years on.
The power of mental strength is key, try to look at the days where you feel rough as the day were your nailing it, like good old mum saying the cream she puts on that stings is because it's doing good!
Everyday you feel better, relish in this fact and think only a few more steps and this sh*t is gone.
Whilst it's aggressive, as it multiplies a lot, it makes it easier to target and responds well to chemo.
Best luck mate, but I hope hearing first hand of somebody else who was in your position - now the other end as if nothing ever happened.
Long story short, he's in full remission 4 years on.
The power of mental strength is key, try to look at the days where you feel rough as the day were your nailing it, like good old mum saying the cream she puts on that stings is because it's doing good!
Everyday you feel better, relish in this fact and think only a few more steps and this sh*t is gone.
Whilst it's aggressive, as it multiplies a lot, it makes it easier to target and responds well to chemo.
Best luck mate, but I hope hearing first hand of somebody else who was in your position - now the other end as if nothing ever happened.
I became aware of 2-3 swollen, hard, rubbery lymph nodes in my left groin about 18 months ago, went to doctors and she was not concerned as I was only 22. About 4 months ago one of the nodes developed to the size of my thumb tip and nail and I developed a cluster of 5-6 more rubbery lymph nodes on my right side of groin.
During those previous 18 months I lost near 60lbs in weight from 220- 150lbs @ 6ft, but this was due to attempts at healthy eating and exercise. In the past 4 months I have developed evening pressure headaches and 4 out of 7 nights have severe 'meaty' smelling night sweats. I went back to my GP and she gave me 'the full works' of blood tests which all came back normal. She isn't worried.
Would anyone be inclined to go back and see the GP or trust their judgment?
During those previous 18 months I lost near 60lbs in weight from 220- 150lbs @ 6ft, but this was due to attempts at healthy eating and exercise. In the past 4 months I have developed evening pressure headaches and 4 out of 7 nights have severe 'meaty' smelling night sweats. I went back to my GP and she gave me 'the full works' of blood tests which all came back normal. She isn't worried.
Would anyone be inclined to go back and see the GP or trust their judgment?
Thanks again for all the kind words and encouragement 
@lxm, I'm no expert but I'd ask my GP for another blood test, a lot of your symptoms are the symptoms of lymphoma, if you have read my 1st post on this thread they are pretty much my symptoms,(except the weight loss and groin lump) I had a cough which I couldn't shift which got me to the doctors then the other symptoms started to develop.
How long ago was the blood test? I saw mine, horrific, almost every marker was either high or low and obviously altered my doctor that something was amiss.
The main groups of lymph glands are neck, armpits and groin, but I think they can just swell without anything being amiss. Best of luck and keep us updated
@lxm, I'm no expert but I'd ask my GP for another blood test, a lot of your symptoms are the symptoms of lymphoma, if you have read my 1st post on this thread they are pretty much my symptoms,(except the weight loss and groin lump) I had a cough which I couldn't shift which got me to the doctors then the other symptoms started to develop.
How long ago was the blood test? I saw mine, horrific, almost every marker was either high or low and obviously altered my doctor that something was amiss.
The main groups of lymph glands are neck, armpits and groin, but I think they can just swell without anything being amiss. Best of luck and keep us updated
I also had left groin nodes just one noticeable one about 3cm diameter and flat with a rubbery texture. My doctors initially said cyst after an ultrasound but they must peer review these cases and they actually called me back and I was referred for a biopsy. I had several totally clear blood tests and continue to have every 4 months. When the night sweats kick in that's my orders to go in. I'd Seriously be getting a second opinion with those symptoms as it does have the hallmarks of lymphoma but could all be some auto immune thing but best to get checked out?
If you haven't seen this already
http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Hodgkins-lymphoma/Pag...
The blood test will show if do/don't have lymphoma but you need a biopsy to show if its Hodgkins or Non Hodgkins.
I had a blood test last July, just because I kept feeling fatigued, (1 of the symptoms of lymphoma)didn't show up anything unusual, and doctor came to the conclusion that I was just cycling too much (200 miles a week) combined with shift work was the cause and that was fine, then got a flu bug in October that put me in bed for 4 days, consultant seems to think those 4 days gave my white blood cells the opening they needed to cause havoc in my blood.
http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Hodgkins-lymphoma/Pag...
The blood test will show if do/don't have lymphoma but you need a biopsy to show if its Hodgkins or Non Hodgkins.
I had a blood test last July, just because I kept feeling fatigued, (1 of the symptoms of lymphoma)didn't show up anything unusual, and doctor came to the conclusion that I was just cycling too much (200 miles a week) combined with shift work was the cause and that was fine, then got a flu bug in October that put me in bed for 4 days, consultant seems to think those 4 days gave my white blood cells the opening they needed to cause havoc in my blood.
I just had the standard 1 vial blood test at the local hospital, some of the markers that came back were,
Heamatocrit =37.3% Low
High ESR
Total white cell count = 14.4 10*9/L High
Platlet count = 473 10*9 High
Neutrophil count = 11.4 10*9/L High
Monocyte count = 0.9 10*9/L High
Mean corpuscular volume (MCV) = 81.4 Low
Mean corpusc haemoglobin (MCH) = 26.6pg Low
And it goes on, no idea what it all means using Dr Google the results can mean different things individually , but all put together they must have alerted my Dr that something was wrong, was referred to Kings who then did some more tests including more detailed bloods 9 vials this time, along with a needle biopsy and scan of the lymph node set the ball rolling.
Heamatocrit =37.3% Low
High ESR
Total white cell count = 14.4 10*9/L High
Platlet count = 473 10*9 High
Neutrophil count = 11.4 10*9/L High
Monocyte count = 0.9 10*9/L High
Mean corpuscular volume (MCV) = 81.4 Low
Mean corpusc haemoglobin (MCH) = 26.6pg Low
And it goes on, no idea what it all means using Dr Google the results can mean different things individually , but all put together they must have alerted my Dr that something was wrong, was referred to Kings who then did some more tests including more detailed bloods 9 vials this time, along with a needle biopsy and scan of the lymph node set the ball rolling.
lxm said:
So there is a single blood test which can say yes or no to lymphoma ?
Simple answer no. You only get dodgy bloods if you have spleen or bone marrow involvement as far as I'm aware. This may differ I guess depending on the type of disease but as mentioned in my earlier post I have had now 2 years of completely normal blood test results for NLPHL diagnosed by lymph node biopsy. I'm still symptom free at the moment as well (thank goodness!) Thanks, you are right, and its impossible to describe it to anyone who hasn't experienced it either.
Had my blood test of Friday hopefully all ok for Tuesdays ride with the Red Devil of chemo, if the blood count is down they said they would rather give me a blood transfusion before the chemo than postpone it as they want to keep the sessions regular every 14 days.
Had my blood test of Friday hopefully all ok for Tuesdays ride with the Red Devil of chemo, if the blood count is down they said they would rather give me a blood transfusion before the chemo than postpone it as they want to keep the sessions regular every 14 days.
2nd session of ABVD treatment yesterday, felt fine, just tired, must be the affects of the premed, feel fine today, although that may have something to do with the 11 tablets I had with my breakfast, will be 14 in total today (including a senakot to keep things flowing, if you get my drift) bracing myself for the Red Devil roller coaster over the next couple of days. 2 sessions of ABVD down 6 to go. Lymphoma can go f
k itself!
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