Hello there. It’s been a while since I have been on this forum. My son was diagnosed with Classic HL in May 2022. He responded well to ABVD chemo treatment and been in remission since. He has his last check up next month and due to be discharged. He has been stating he’s been feeling tired last two- three weeks which he’s very anxious about. No other symptoms. When he was initially diagnosed he had a mass on his neck but no other symptoms. He has had a lot of work stress lately so am hoping it is due to that followed by a heavy cold from which he has recovered. The worry and anxiety has kicked in again for us all. He’s requested a blood test and having it today. What’s the likelihood he may have relapsed?
Hi again Distressedmum the milestones on the post treatment journey throws up lots of issues…. and we tend to microscopically look at and indeed over think everything……. often missing the obvious.
As you may remember I have lived with and been treated for 2 types of rare NHL (one is incurable) for coming up to 26 years and I relapsed multiple times over the first 16-17 years and every time there was no question….. it was obvious that I had relapsed before so was checked out…… but I am now 9.5 years out from my last treatment.
My understanding is that in HL it is much less likely to relapse after a few years out from treatment but unfortunately there are no certainties in this…..
You have identified a number of reasons that he is feeling like this…. I know well the challenges of work stress combined with a bug like the cold.
My mindset over all my years was ‘until a relapse was confirmed there was no relapse’…… sounds rather simple but we have to position ourselves somewhere on the road between Pessimism and Optimism.
Lets look for this not to be a relapse ((hugs))
You….. and indeed your son may want to make a cuppa and have a look at this great paper
After Treatment Finishes - Then What?
by Dr Peter Harvey as it highlights the post treatment milestones.
over the first few years post treatment if often looked through the paper…… Do come back to me with your thoughts ((hugs))
