Chemotherapy

Hi Nicky NMc and welcome to this corner of the Community although I am always sorry to see you joining us and to hear about your wife's journey. I am Mike and I help out around our various Lymphoma groups. I don’t have Hodgkin's Lymphoma but I was diagnosed back in 1999 with a rare, incurable type of Non Hodgkin's Lymphoma Stage 4a so although my Lymphoma ‘type’ is different I understand the challenges of the journey well.

I have talked with many folks who have went through ABVD and I am not aware of someone only having 2 cycles although the link on the left does say 2 - 8 cycles.

As to why the consultant would "always say that" I have no idea why they would if the intention is to have more than 2.

I think an open and honest talk with the consultant is in order.

Always around to help more or just to chat

Thanks. Mike. Yes we have an appointment soon and a PET scan at the end of the month so we’ll know more then.

nicky

Hi Mike, 

I’ve  another couple of  questions. The Dr also said that if I worked (primary school teacher) I’d be best  to isolate from my wife in case of infection so I don’t at the moment. Is this something that you’re familiar with? Is it because she has Lymphoma and a weekend immune system because of that as well as a weakened immune system because if the chemotherapy? 
N

This is often said by consultants especially if you work in a school which is basically an infection factory.

I am a retired College Lecturer but managed to keep a full timetable over the 12 years I worked following my diagnosis and was having treatment for 10-15 weeks every year but I was not having chemo or Radiotherapy so my immune system did ok but often crashed for a week at the end of treatment due to the fatigue.

Obviously it is up to you both as to the precautions you are taking with regards to transferred infection.

A little infection to you, can be a significant infection for your wife.

So good air circulation both in school and at home, good hygiene, controlling visitors to your home so we put the word out to our family and friends abut not visiting if they are not feeling 100%

I actually did ok during my long 2 years of my main chemo, radiotherapy and Stem Cell Transplants (see my profile) and had no infections during treatments but post my treatments I had 5 hospital stays (32 nights) with Chest Infections, Lung Fungal Infections, the RSV Virus, Pneumonia x2, Neutropenic Sepsis x2 (This does not included my A Fib and 6 years on a heart attack all down to the drug damage that happened during my treatments)

Generally it takes about 48 to 72 hours for her body to break down and/or get rid of most chemo drugs. But the effects of the chemo on her growth areas and her general immune system will last for weeks and is important to remember that she may well be more open to infections at about days 7-14 as this tends to be the window when our immune system is at its lowest and there is an increased risk of infections (Side Effects of Treatments)…… then her body recovers in time for your next cycle….. but the more chemo she has the longer the recovery can take so by the end of treatment it could take a few months to recover completely.

Hi Nmc I have to say that when my consultant first gave me my diagnosis ( stage 4b) right off the bat it was I was getting the “ gold standard “ treatment of 6 cycles of ABVD. It subsequently grew to cycles of immunotherapy before the chemo because I took part in a clinical trial . 

Thanks for your reply! Hope you’re doing well now! 

Thank you so much, that’s all very useful info. Yeah I think I’ll stay off for the time being.

I have just had my 1 year check and still all clear, hope everything works well for your wife. Trust the team they are a clever bunch for sure

I was also diagnosed with stage 2, in neck and chest area. I was told I'd  need 6 cycles of abvd chemo becuase I'm not having any radiotherapy (due to being pregnant they also can do their normal pet/ct scans). I had an MRI scan after cycle 3 which was clear for suspect lymph nodes and so i now will be doing the final 3 cycles on just AVD. All the best. 

Thank you!! Ah yes, that sounds the same as my wife. If you weren’t pregnant, would they have done radiotherapy after the three cycles? 
hope all is going well with your pregnancy..
Best wishes