That was a sh*t day!
Discussion
mattyn1 said:
Yes - he has an older brother, and I have a daughter with my current wife. We are very mindful of the impact on them but it is a good point. The youngest (daughter) is not really aware yet of what is going on. She is 10 - mum is sitting down with here later this afternoon while i am at the CT scan.
My daughter had just turned eleven and starting secondary school which can be a difficult transition on its own. We made the School aware of the situation and they were great. In hindsight we felt later on that we hadn't been available to her as maybe she needed. This is where other family members can be useful to offer this additional support. You have a lot to deal with at the moment, but don't feel you have to do this on your own.
ReallyReallyGood said:
Nothing to add except to say that i wish your son a speedy recovery, I can’t imagine what it must be like for him (and you) to deal with it. The stories here of a complete recovery are welcome to read also.
Thank you. He is really strong at the moment. Outwardly completely unphased by it all - I asked him this morning how he has slept - he answered fine in a tone like he was wondering why I would ask!happychap said:
My daughter had just turned eleven and starting secondary school which can be a difficult transition on its own. We made the School aware of the situation and they were great. In hindsight we felt later on that we hadn't been available to her as maybe she needed. This is where other family members can be useful to offer this additional support. You have a lot to deal with at the moment, but don't feel you have to do this on your own.
Similar again - my daughter is in yr 6 - so leading up to the secondary school transition. She has only just been through a school change in the summer when we moved due to my work! She is a typical girl though - 10 going on 18!So sorry to hear your news. This isn't something anyone should go through, certainly not a young child and parents.
I'll keep an eye on this thread and look out for progress.
Could I make a suggestion, that you're obviously free to discard. I would be inclined not to let family know with your son present. There would be so many questions, possibly a few tears and some frightened and concerned faces. Your son is still processing and may not need this. Just a thought.
I'll keep an eye on this thread and look out for progress.
Could I make a suggestion, that you're obviously free to discard. I would be inclined not to let family know with your son present. There would be so many questions, possibly a few tears and some frightened and concerned faces. Your son is still processing and may not need this. Just a thought.
Hi mattyn,
Your boy will pull through, buddy, his strong, fit and young. And stay off the damn internet, its all doom and gloom with all the good bits, which are there too, being left off and out. You and the Mrs must try and keep the good humour and spirits up too, this is a strong positive sign for your son because you guys are all in it together because you are unit. its very hard I know because we human beings always pick the negative end of the stick, even when we are told all will be good.
All the very best to you and yours and do have a lovely christmas
Your boy will pull through, buddy, his strong, fit and young. And stay off the damn internet, its all doom and gloom with all the good bits, which are there too, being left off and out. You and the Mrs must try and keep the good humour and spirits up too, this is a strong positive sign for your son because you guys are all in it together because you are unit. its very hard I know because we human beings always pick the negative end of the stick, even when we are told all will be good.
All the very best to you and yours and do have a lovely christmas
MYOB said:
So sorry to hear your news. This isn't something anyone should go through, certainly not a young child and parents.
I'll keep an eye on this thread and look out for progress.
Could I make a suggestion, that you're obviously free to discard. I would be inclined not to let family know with your son present. There would be so many questions, possibly a few tears and some frightened and concerned faces. Your son is still processing and may not need this. Just a thought.
A very good point. As we are holding off telling them anyway at the moment, I have not really considered how we do eventually tell them. I will have a think on this over the weekend. I am hanging on to the hope there is nothing to tell.I'll keep an eye on this thread and look out for progress.
Could I make a suggestion, that you're obviously free to discard. I would be inclined not to let family know with your son present. There would be so many questions, possibly a few tears and some frightened and concerned faces. Your son is still processing and may not need this. Just a thought.
It's my one abiding fear that one of my boys will fall properly ill, and I wish you and your family all the best.
What I will say is that the treatment of lymphoma in children is a bit of a success story with very good outlooks and high levels of remission and cure. In other words there's a real prize worth fighting for, something that isn't always true with some cancers.
Good luck with everything. You're in good hands, if there's one thing that makes a medical team go above and beyond, it's a sick child.
Regarding telling the rest of the family, there will be lots of questions which you can't answer so I'd wait until you have some answers.
What I will say is that the treatment of lymphoma in children is a bit of a success story with very good outlooks and high levels of remission and cure. In other words there's a real prize worth fighting for, something that isn't always true with some cancers.
Good luck with everything. You're in good hands, if there's one thing that makes a medical team go above and beyond, it's a sick child.
Regarding telling the rest of the family, there will be lots of questions which you can't answer so I'd wait until you have some answers.
Edited by RTB on Thursday 7th December 10:37
Every parents worst nightmare being told one of your kids is seriously ill. You have my sympathies.
The key I would think would be to try to keep things as normal as possible but to also make sure he's getting the attention, reassurance and love he needs. I'd also not want to be the helpless one so would be doing as much research as I could, being mindful that doctor Google is going the throw up a lot of worst case scenarios, and then go in for a proper discussion with the consultant as to treatment, outcomes, etc. and finding out what you can do to help.
It's in situations like this that the NHS really does swing into action especially where younger patients are concerned but do stay on top of them and make sure you never leave an treatment or consultation without a clear understanding of what is going to happen next so you can ensure that things do progress as expected. The good news is that lymphoma is one of the more treatable forms of cancer, the prognosis in the day and age can be very good, and gets better all the time. Things have moved on a long way in the last ten years or so.
It's going to be a long and hard time ahead for you all but stay positive and look after your son the best you can. Sending my best wishes and good luck to you and your family.
The key I would think would be to try to keep things as normal as possible but to also make sure he's getting the attention, reassurance and love he needs. I'd also not want to be the helpless one so would be doing as much research as I could, being mindful that doctor Google is going the throw up a lot of worst case scenarios, and then go in for a proper discussion with the consultant as to treatment, outcomes, etc. and finding out what you can do to help.
It's in situations like this that the NHS really does swing into action especially where younger patients are concerned but do stay on top of them and make sure you never leave an treatment or consultation without a clear understanding of what is going to happen next so you can ensure that things do progress as expected. The good news is that lymphoma is one of the more treatable forms of cancer, the prognosis in the day and age can be very good, and gets better all the time. Things have moved on a long way in the last ten years or so.
It's going to be a long and hard time ahead for you all but stay positive and look after your son the best you can. Sending my best wishes and good luck to you and your family.
C0ffin D0dger said:
Every parents worst nightmare being told one of your kids is seriously ill. You have my sympathies.
The key I would think would be to try to keep things as normal as possible but to also make sure he's getting the attention, reassurance and love he needs. I'd also not want to be the helpless one so would be doing as much research as I could, being mindful that doctor Google is going the throw up a lot of worst case scenarios, and then go in for a proper discussion with the consultant as to treatment, outcomes, etc. and finding out what you can do to help.
It's in situations like this that the NHS really does swing into action especially where younger patients are concerned but do stay on top of them and make sure you never leave an treatment or consultation without a clear understanding of what is going to happen next so you can ensure that things do progress as expected. The good news is that lymphoma is one of the more treatable forms of cancer, the prognosis in the day and age can be very good, and gets better all the time. Things have moved on a long way in the last ten years or so.
It's going to be a long and hard time ahead for you all but stay positive and look after your son the best you can. Sending my best wishes and good luck to you and your family.
So far, the NHS have been amazing. We are under QA Hospital in Portsmouth and they have had some proper bad press recently. My instinctive immediate thoughts are the bad press is unfounded. We will see how that moves forward.The key I would think would be to try to keep things as normal as possible but to also make sure he's getting the attention, reassurance and love he needs. I'd also not want to be the helpless one so would be doing as much research as I could, being mindful that doctor Google is going the throw up a lot of worst case scenarios, and then go in for a proper discussion with the consultant as to treatment, outcomes, etc. and finding out what you can do to help.
It's in situations like this that the NHS really does swing into action especially where younger patients are concerned but do stay on top of them and make sure you never leave an treatment or consultation without a clear understanding of what is going to happen next so you can ensure that things do progress as expected. The good news is that lymphoma is one of the more treatable forms of cancer, the prognosis in the day and age can be very good, and gets better all the time. Things have moved on a long way in the last ten years or so.
It's going to be a long and hard time ahead for you all but stay positive and look after your son the best you can. Sending my best wishes and good luck to you and your family.
As for Dr Google - we have been drawn to two particular sites - they both seem to be very straight to the point. I assume Macmillan is accurate!
https://www.macmillan.org.uk/information-and-suppo... and
https://www.lymphomas.org.uk/
And I just want to take this opportunity while we get ready to head off for the CT Scan this afternoon, to thank you all for the kind words of support. From those who have experienced first hand, to those who have experience from the fringes - it is great to have some connection outside of our little bubble. It is great to get other peoples opinions and also to have my thoughts either backed up or confirmed as barking mad!
I don't do social media in the normal sense - the wife and kids do and it mostly drives me mad. But when PH is sensible it is a great sounding board.
Guys - thank you again. It means a lot.
Fingers crossed for your son and the family.
Ref a note above about fertility. If whatever treatment required has a risk in this area, ask about the possibility of "harvesting" some sperm and storage. No idea if this is available on the NHS but it's a question I'd ask. My niece recently went through a tough battle with C and this was a discussion she had as she is of child bearing age....it might not be top of the list for a 16 year old lad but you should at least ask.
Ref a note above about fertility. If whatever treatment required has a risk in this area, ask about the possibility of "harvesting" some sperm and storage. No idea if this is available on the NHS but it's a question I'd ask. My niece recently went through a tough battle with C and this was a discussion she had as she is of child bearing age....it might not be top of the list for a 16 year old lad but you should at least ask.
CT scan done. My god he is so strong about all this. Not phased at all. And because we arrived early (traffic better than we anticipated) we were put through early.
He talked about this and that, expressed a wish to deal with each stage as we hit each stage. He laughed and joked especially at the Cornish Style Pasty in the vending machine.
Wendy is our specialist nurse who came and had a chat while we were waiting. She too remarked how calm he is! She is going to be the lynchpin in alm this.
Anyway nothing more st hospital till Monday for the PeT scan.
So dirty Chinese takeaway tonight after I take the daughter to trampoline club!
He talked about this and that, expressed a wish to deal with each stage as we hit each stage. He laughed and joked especially at the Cornish Style Pasty in the vending machine.
Wendy is our specialist nurse who came and had a chat while we were waiting. She too remarked how calm he is! She is going to be the lynchpin in alm this.
Anyway nothing more st hospital till Monday for the PeT scan.
So dirty Chinese takeaway tonight after I take the daughter to trampoline club!
Good luck and all the best wishes to you all. When he's hopefully feeling well and able to I'd be more than happy to offer him as a cheer up a passenger ride on a Trackday perhaps if he's into cars. Sounds like it's been caught plenty early and I hope all goes well at this worrying time for you.
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