My gp has said from a chest x Ray that it looks highly likely I have lymphoma. I’m due at hospital next week to see a specialist but I’m terrified. Not knowing is horrible and my anxiety is terrible I’ve not slept at all and my appetite is none existent. Is it normal to feel this terrified I don’t know what to do with myself or where to turn.
Hi and welcome to the Online Community, although I am so sorry to see the circumstance that brought you here and so sorry to hear that Lymphoma has been mentioned.
First, from my long experience it is totally normal to be going through the emotions and experiences you are going through now.
This is a hard time for you but we are around to help. I am Mike Thehighlander and I was diagnosed with a rare type of Lymphoma 20 years ago and I am sitting in Inverness talking to you - so even although your GP has used the word Lymphoma nothing has be found (so first encouragement)
There are over 80 types of Lymphoma and if it is one the 80 then you need to know it’s very treatable (second encouragement) I did say ‘if’ and that is important to remember that nothing has been diagnosed (third encouragement)
We have our Online Information and Support Section where you will find some great pages covering cancer diagnosis, treatment and information pages covering most types of cancers. Just look for the Lymphoma pages and have a look through.
Tell me a little about yourself (no real names and stuff like that) but about how old you are, how you ended up at your GP and what has actually been said so far.
Are you going to see a Haematologist next week as they are the Lymphoma experts?
You will most likely not get clear answers next week and if the consultant thinks more tests need to be done then this can take a good few weeks.
This is easy for me to say, but all the worry and stress in the world will make no difference to what this is, but worry and stress will make you ill and run down so you do need to try and distract your mind. A good thing that helps is putting your thoughts in a note book, unpack you brain, especially at silly-o’clock and start listing the questions you want ask as you may well find your mind going black next week. I strongly recommend that you take someone to the appointment as this will help a lot.
You may find talking to someone will help so our various Macmillan Support Line Services on 0808 808 00 00 to be very helpful covering Emotional Support and Practical Information. Clinical Information and Financial Support and Work Guidance mostly open 8.00 to 8.00 but check the link.
Keep coming back with your questions as we can help.
((hugs))
