Hodgkin's lymphoma
Discussion
My Father was diagnosed with Hodgkin's lymphoma last week. All kudos to the NHS who within a week got him a CT and an MRI scan and a few days later an appointment at the haematology clinic for tomorrow.
That appointment is the reason for my questions here: Looking on the internet it is a relatively treatable cancer however he is 91 and in the last few weeks already starts to look a bit frail. What should I ask tomorrow? Will they treat such an old person?
Thanks for any advice.
That appointment is the reason for my questions here: Looking on the internet it is a relatively treatable cancer however he is 91 and in the last few weeks already starts to look a bit frail. What should I ask tomorrow? Will they treat such an old person?
Thanks for any advice.
It all depends.
I think it’s best to speak to the experts in hospital first who will know your father’s situation.
PHrs will have seen all kinds of loved ones affected by lymphomas BUT their experiences aren’t the same as your dad’s
Googling these things is never good though so maybe don’t even do that until you’ve spoken to the oncology doctors.
I think it’s best to speak to the experts in hospital first who will know your father’s situation.
PHrs will have seen all kinds of loved ones affected by lymphomas BUT their experiences aren’t the same as your dad’s
Googling these things is never good though so maybe don’t even do that until you’ve spoken to the oncology doctors.
My dad was diagnosed with non Hodgkin’s lymphoma in the mid 70’s, at that time they removed the spleen and gave him radio therapy and chemotherapy and was told make the most of the time you have.
I was the youngest (of 8) at 7yrs old so didn’t understand a great deal I just knew he was in and out of hospital a lot but carried on with his full time job and repairing cars on an evening, my dad asked how long he would have when he was diagnosed anything between 3 and 8 years who knows was the reply, he passed away in November 2012 his illness came back a few times but he always knew when it had and it was time to see the consultant.
Ironically it wasn’t the cancer that killed him during his last 3 weeks in hospital, it was the MRSA or a super infection as the ward consultant called it due to the fact he’d been on penicillin since his spleen had been removed.
30 plus years living on borrowed time we all think he did okay.
I was the youngest (of 8) at 7yrs old so didn’t understand a great deal I just knew he was in and out of hospital a lot but carried on with his full time job and repairing cars on an evening, my dad asked how long he would have when he was diagnosed anything between 3 and 8 years who knows was the reply, he passed away in November 2012 his illness came back a few times but he always knew when it had and it was time to see the consultant.
Ironically it wasn’t the cancer that killed him during his last 3 weeks in hospital, it was the MRSA or a super infection as the ward consultant called it due to the fact he’d been on penicillin since his spleen had been removed.
30 plus years living on borrowed time we all think he did okay.
Edited by ubbs on Thursday 11th July 20:49
boxst said:
My Father was diagnosed with Hodgkin's lymphoma last week. All kudos to the NHS who within a week got him a CT and an MRI scan and a few days later an appointment at the haematology clinic for tomorrow.
That appointment is the reason for my questions here: Looking on the internet it is a relatively treatable cancer however he is 91 and in the last few weeks already starts to look a bit frail. What should I ask tomorrow? Will they treat such an old person?
Thanks for any advice.
Sorry to hear this. ‘Treat’ covers a number of options, and which they go for none of us will know the answer to. That appointment is the reason for my questions here: Looking on the internet it is a relatively treatable cancer however he is 91 and in the last few weeks already starts to look a bit frail. What should I ask tomorrow? Will they treat such an old person?
Thanks for any advice.
My grandfathers 82, and was diagnosed around 2 and a half years ago. He’s had low level courses of chemo, with the view to slow growth rather than cure.
He’s in and out of hospital fairly regularly and not living a huge amount of life when he’s home, but he’s happy to keep going and he’s mentally strong.
Wait for the experts, they’ll do all they can regardless of age.
His age is of a concern but if he’s in good health and they caught it early enough then there are options which I’m sure the consultant will go through with you.
To give hope and a smile my dad was diagnosed with the same thing in 1976, the cantankerous old git is 73 this year and still yomps up Snowden!
To give hope and a smile my dad was diagnosed with the same thing in 1976, the cantankerous old git is 73 this year and still yomps up Snowden!
Celtic Dragon said:
His age is of a concern but if he’s in good health and they caught it early enough then there are options which I’m sure the consultant will go through with you.
To give hope and a smile my dad was diagnosed with the same thing in 1976, the cantankerous old git is 73 this year and still yomps up Snowden!
Exactly! It was the hard graft that kept my dad going and totally distracted! To give hope and a smile my dad was diagnosed with the same thing in 1976, the cantankerous old git is 73 this year and still yomps up Snowden!
ubbs said:
Celtic Dragon said:
His age is of a concern but if he’s in good health and they caught it early enough then there are options which I’m sure the consultant will go through with you.
To give hope and a smile my dad was diagnosed with the same thing in 1976, the cantankerous old git is 73 this year and still yomps up Snowden!
Exactly! It was the hard graft that kept my dad going and totally distracted! To give hope and a smile my dad was diagnosed with the same thing in 1976, the cantankerous old git is 73 this year and still yomps up Snowden!
A slightly update on this. They did do chemo in the end and he had just finished his second round. The lymphoma seems to have gone, but it took a huge toll on him. At this moment he is in hospital for the second time with neutropenia and is incredibly frail. He has gone from being a strong independent working person to, well, someone that I need to take to the bathroom as he can't walk or do things himself.
Hopefully temporary but lets see.
Hopefully temporary but lets see.
I was diagnosed (at the age of 27) with Hodgkin’s Disease, as it was called back then, in 1983, they removed my spleen and gave me several weeks of radiotherapy (my beard and some chest hair fell out and my skin was rather grey looking) and I was told I was clear, then in 1985 (so now 29) I was diagnosed with a relapse (they believed some cancer cells went untreated because of the lead shield used to protect my vocal chords, the tumours being in the lymph nodes in my neck)... this time they said it would take chemotherapy (it lasted 7 months, 2 weeks on followed by 2 weeks off to recover). The chemotherapy treatment was pretty horrible and I ticked every possible side effect they had warned me about (shingles, depression etc etc)
However, I am now 64, reasonably healthy and very grateful to all the nurses and doctors at Royal Marsden as without them I may well not have lived this long.
Your father, at 91, obviously doesn't have age on his side so the impact of the chemotherapy treatment will be considerable (it hasn't changed much since the 80s they've just refined the dosing so it is less extreme) but with support from the NHS and most importantly you and your family, hopefully he has time left so enjoy however long that is.
I wish him and your family the very best in getting through this experience.
However, I am now 64, reasonably healthy and very grateful to all the nurses and doctors at Royal Marsden as without them I may well not have lived this long.
Your father, at 91, obviously doesn't have age on his side so the impact of the chemotherapy treatment will be considerable (it hasn't changed much since the 80s they've just refined the dosing so it is less extreme) but with support from the NHS and most importantly you and your family, hopefully he has time left so enjoy however long that is.
I wish him and your family the very best in getting through this experience.
My Father passed away today (not of Covid) , so just wanted to update this thread.
The chemotherapy actually mostly cured the cancer, certainly the lump went away and the scans were clear but it caused such a toll on his body that the last few months he has been in and out of hospital with various ailments. Mainly sepsis and other infections. Finally succumbed today to, well, not sure really. His body just kind of gave up.
Seems somewhat surreal in these most interesting times.
The chemotherapy actually mostly cured the cancer, certainly the lump went away and the scans were clear but it caused such a toll on his body that the last few months he has been in and out of hospital with various ailments. Mainly sepsis and other infections. Finally succumbed today to, well, not sure really. His body just kind of gave up.
Seems somewhat surreal in these most interesting times.
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