Hi, my son has just started chemotherapy for stage 4 Hodgkin lymphoma which has spread to his lungs. He is on escalated beacopdac. He seemed to tolerate the first lot of chemo pretty well but has spent the last week in hospital after getting a nasty blood E. coli infection while being severely neutropenic. He is ok now, but it was very scary for a while.
I’m so proud of him because he is dealing with everything so well. I feel bad because I am really struggling and am so anxious all the time. I’m putting on a brave face for him but when on my own I’m so overwhelmed.
I’m trying to remain positive but I just don’t know what to expect next. I knew chemo could be hard but I don’t think I was prepared for serious infections, and he’s only had 1 cycle!
Hi Vlow and warm welcome to the Macmillan Community although sorry that you had to find us and especially sorry to hear about your Lymphoma diagnosis. I am Mike and I help out around our Lymphoma groups.
I don’t have Hodgkin's Lymphoma but 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 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.
The issues your son has had are rather normal Side Effects of Treatments but these are all manageable…… the bottom line in all this is you need to view this as a temporary short term challenge in a long life….. this can still have a great outcome.
You may want to join our dedicated Hodgkin's Lymphoma support group.
This group is a safe places to talk to others with a similar diagnosis, treatment experience, to ask questions and get support.
Click on the link above then 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.
