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After chemo

Lindyloo82
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Hi.  I have been receiving emails from Macmillan and found the general info helpful.  My symptoms appear to be decreasing, but anxiety rising. Have finished 6 months Chemo treatment for focular Lymphoma. Was told I may have had this for 10 years! Before I got really ill.  Now I have left the Cancer Ward situation Re monthly chemo I feel afraid of the unknown! Had just had my bloods taken and Consultant  ringing me in 2 days but won’t see anyone! Is this normal!  I would like a scan or mri done to see where my lymph nodes are Re shrinkage! Plus help with getting my energy back!   I have Fibromyalgia as well. 

  • Hi,Lindyloo82

    I’m Keith one of the Cancer Information Nurses Specialist’s on the Macmillan Support Line.

    I’m glad your symptoms are improving, and I hope you are finding support on our online forum/emails helpful.

    Everyone is affected by a cancer diagnosis and its treatments in so many ways.

    This is usually what we call a slow growing (but this can be aggressive ) non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma  .

    With a diagnosis of follicular lymphoma treatment, it isn’t always needed right away. In fact, it is usually diagnosed through other investigations for other health conditions.

    Leaving the cancer ward and having treatment as an outpatient and can be unnerving to say the least.

    It’s very normal and understandable for someone to feel isolated in a situation like this. You will still have the support of your treatment team via you specialist cancer nurse ,consultant and chemotherapy support line (24hrs) for any support you may need during your treatment .So, in a way you may take being discharged as a positive .

    It’s okay to be feeling a little apprehensive. I would be more concerned if you weren’t.

    It’s important you let your treatment team know what you are thinking and how you are feeling so they can give you the best possible support both physically with side effects and emotionally with the day to day issues you may have to face.

    With COVID telephone consultations are becoming more and more common. We are all in uncharted waters here. But the telephone consultations will reduce risk to everyone concerned during your treatment. However, if your team feel they need to se you I’m sure this would be arranged.

    Side effects are common, especially fatigue. It’s important to first let your treatment team know about this. There may be something medically they can do to help. If not, you must give yourself permission to slow down a little and start to prioritise your day, pace yourself and set achievable goals. Don’t be afraid to reach out if you are struggling. Looking at this link will explain this in more detail.

    Everyone deals with this in so many different ways and some people find support from friends and family to be enough but sometime more help is need from other sources such as from our support line or on line community or other healthcare professionals .We also have a good relationship with Bupa who can sometimes offer further professional support.

    If you think it may help further to talk things through why not give us a call or contact us via webchat.

    Take care

    Keith

     

    Ref KM/CF

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