Introduction

2009-01-13T11:01:38Z

Hello hello, I just wanted to say hi as I've stumbled across this site and it seems to be a good place to unload a fatigued mind! It's unfortunate that so many are going through the troubles of cancer but at the same time, it's comforting to see such a close group of support available here! I was diagnosed with Hodgkin Lymphoma in my neck following a lymph node biopsy in November. I was expecting radiotherapy but unfortunately a PET scan revealed that the cells had spread to both sides of my neck, so chemotherapy was the next order! Generally, I was ok with the news, I tend to be pretty laid back about life and not let things get to me, it's too short to start worrying about things! And ultimately, as sad a thought as it is, there's always someone whose going through a lot worse than me. Having said that... I started my first of 8 ABVD chemotheraphy cycles on the 9th of Jan and jeez are they irritating! They will be fortnightly so it will be this for another 4 months ahead. What an unpleasant thought! There was a bit of a Christmas backlog so after a nice 8 hour wait in the hospital twiddling my thumbs with my angel of a girlfriend at my side, I eventually got through (only to return to my car and find I'd left the lights on, so a dead battery for me!!) It wasn't the injections or the drip that bothered me however, ohhh no, it's the agonisingly sore mouth I have now and the next to sleepless nights! I'm getting exhausted by about 9pm, which is no fun when I'm trying to keep up with uni work. I was advised to take the steroid tablets for the first 3 days after treatment, which means tonight will be my first night sans drugs.. hopefully it'll be a better one! And I'm watching my mouth like a hawk as well, taking on the old saline mouth wash which isn't the nicest thing I could wish on anyone. I'll keep posting I imagine as more side effects come about, it's sometimes nice to shout about them, not to burden other people but just to clear them out of your head. Anyhow, enough babble for now, nice talking, over and out.

Hallsworth's blog

Introduction