Being diagbosed with hodgkin lymphoma at 26

Hello,

and welcome, though sad you’ve found your way here. To be honest, everyone reacts in their own individual way, we are all a statistic of one. I guess if this is how you’re coping then so be it! But remember if it does ‘get to you’ then getting counselling help early is a good idea, as you’ve probably got a few months of treatment ahead of you.

keep posting, and keep reading too...please also spare a few minutes to fill a bit of info on your profile, it helps everyone know where you’re coming from, doesn’t have to be long. Click on your user name, and then on ‘edit profile’ and then when you’ve done, save it. 

sending you a hug xxx

Hi and a second welcome and I am pleased to see that moomy was the first to welcome you as she understands the HL journey far better me as I had NHL.

‘Go’ your friends mum, take encouragement from this as HL can be treated successfully.

How people deal with a diagnosis can be so different. We were a ‘face this head on and make plans to get though and out the other side’ and this included taking all our family and friends on the rollercoaster like it or not.

Do try putting some information in your profile. This really helps others when answering. Just click on YOUR username, select 'Edit Profile'. Put as much or as little in your profile and you can amend it at any time - you can see members profiles by hitting our forum names.

You may find our various Macmillan Support Line Services to be helpful - call them on 0808 808 00 00This free service covers Emotional Support, Practical Information. Clinical Information, Financial Support and Work Guidance mostly open 8.00 to 8.00 but check the link.

Talking to people face to face can help a lot so check to see if you have any Local Macmillan Supportin your area or a Maggie’s Centre as these folks are amazing.

..... and another ((hug))

Hello

Firstly I'm sorry to hear your diagnosis. Its of course perfectly normal to feel anxious when you are waiting for your scan result. I was the same. Just know that whatever your staging treatments are available.

I'm reminded of something my haematologist said to me and that is that staging for Hodgkins is really not as critical as other cancers. Some people respond great at stage 4 and others less so at stage 1 and that overall, if treatment is effective in one area it should be effective in all areas (and its effective for a lot of us, especially someone at your age). 

With regards to handling the diagnosis in general. For me, although there was a definitive moment that I got the official diagnosis it was kind of broken to me in stages over several weeks which made it easier. I would say the hardest part was actually after the GP called me in to express her concerns it might be cancer. That's when I drove straight to my parents house and broke down in tears. I had a hard time thinking about anything but cancer for a while. There was a lot pacing, a lot of staring at the TV but not actually watching it. A lot of reflection on how I'd lived my life and anticipation for the future.

What helped me through it? Family... You mention you have a partner and children which is great, being alone is when it affected me the most. I practically lived on my parents sofa for about a week just watching TV and it really helped just to be in company. Also keep busy and your mind on other things. We did a lot of dog walking, cinema trips, trips out with my nephews bowling and things. It's also perfectly ok to use humour to cope. I've done the same thing. Someone will ask me to do something like get up and answer the door and I'll be like "cant, got cancer..." with a grin on my face, just using it as a fun way to be a bit annoying.

So to summarise, your loved ones will help you through this. Keep your mind busy and focused on other things. Were humans, we adapt and this will get easier. Morbid humour is a perfectly valid coping mechanism. Always accept help if its offered, you deserve it. Those people who say Hodgkins is the cancer to get can be a bit annoying but there is truth in what they say. The remission rates are very high and even if first line treatments dont do the whole job, there are second line, third line treatments as well. 

You have a great chance of getting through this and living a normal life again, its just going to be a bit of a journey for you.

I wish you all the best.

Mike