Happy New Year to everyone and I know for some its very much a time for uncertainty, but having gone through Stage 4 Lymphoma in 2024 I felt I wanted to help others in some way.
If you are waiting for diagnosis, results of treatment or going through treatment at the moment it can be dauting time ,but have always felt that we can get strength from others and no one really understands, even though have support around you, unless you have/going through cancer.
I want to now move forward in my life and something I have thought about over these last few months leading up to Christmas and the New Year is how can I help others , not from a leaflet book, a doctor/consultant or nurse perspective, but from a person who fought a recent battle.
There were times when you think is this right should I be feeling like this, who can I turn too to ask, so I have written down some of my thoughts and over next week or so will post these on this forum.
I hope you feel that this may be helpful ? even in some small way, though I do understand that each diagnosis is different and with it the treatment, but its the mind set and tips that helped me during my treatment, that I like to pass on.
Hi StLuke and warm welcome to the Macmillan Community…….. I am Mike and I help out around our Lymphoma groups.
For some context I was diagnosed way back in 1999 at 43 with a rare (8 in a million) incurable but treatable type of Cutaneous T-Cell NHL (a type of slow growing Low-grade non-Hodgkin lymphoma) ……. eventually reaching Stage 4a in late 2013 when a second, also rare (4 in a million) type of aggressive Peripheral T-Cell - Not Otherwise Specified NHL (a type of fast growing High-grade non-Hodgkin lymphoma) was then presenting so although my Lymphoma ‘type’ my be different I most definitely appreciate the challenges of this journey rather well.
With over 60 types and sub-types of Lymphoma so we can’t have a group for every type but these are our main Lymphoma groups below.
General Non Hodgkin's Lymphoma
These groups are safe places to talk to others with a similar diagnosis, treatment experience and get support.
Have a look at the group list above…… then click on the link that best fits your type of Lymphoma……. and when the group page opens you will see a [Black - Click to Join - Banner] at the bottom of the page, click in this box and this will then confirm that you have joined the group.
When you are ready……. you can introduce yourself by putting up your very own post by clicking [+ Create new post] or [+] in the top right of the group page.
You can copy and paste the text from this post into your new post.
I will keep an eye open for you but if you are not sure what type you have pleased do get back to me on this post and I will help you out further.
