Treatment Day One

Hi Jona M and welcome to this corner of the Community.

I am Mike Thehighlander and I help out around our blood cancer groups, although I was diagnosed back in 1999 with a different type of incurable stage 4 skin NHL. I am still around doing great and have some experience with regards to most of the treatments used.

What exact treatment are you getting?….. although there are different types the initial thought of going through treatment can be scary but go with the flow, try to understand your condition and do ask your team what is going on when you are receiving treatments - this helps control the noise between the ears.

Do also check out Lymphoma Action, a small UK Lymphoma Specific Charity who have lots of lymphoma information, videos, run regular regional online Lymphoma Zoom support groups and indeed a great Lymphoma Buddy Service.

Happy to answer any questions.

Hi Mike. Thanks for your message and useful tips. I’m on my second day of treatment - Bendamustine and Obinutuzumab. So far all good, no adverse reactions or side effects and getting great support from my wife, family and friends and the medical team are marvellous!!

That is good news. I think we are given so much information and hear so many stories about side effects that we get all set up for the ‘hit’ and it does not come….. “so is it working if I don’t have side effects?”… watch the space between your ears

The two tips I was given at the early stages of treatment were drink 1-2 litres of water everyday during and between treatments as this is the main way to flush out the chemo toxins and protect your kidneys….. the other was to keep some activity going…. I was in hospital for 5 days for my 6 cycles of R-EPOCH but I took my chemo trolley for regular walk and was doing a mile or so just around in the corridors.

Keep well.

Hi Jona, I finished Bendamustine in April. I'm now in remission with a totally clear PET scan. I did have a lot of nausea with the treatment but that was unusual and you shouldn't get that. If you do though they will be able to give you some strong anti-nausea medication as they did with me. So if you do get a side effect don't suffer in silence, they can help.

Thanks. Two sessions done now and thankfully still all good. Lovely stroll on the beach this morning in the sunshine helps body and spirit . . .