Hello :)

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  1. Hi. I am glad to be a part of this community. 
    I was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma and have been undergoing chemotherapy since diagnosis at the end of July. I thankfully have not been feeling too bad just very physically exhausted. I am struggling with my appearance though and I hate looking in the mirror and not recognising the person looking back. Does anyone else struggle with this? It feels silly because it’s such a minor part in perspective but I cannot stop thinking about how long it will be until I start to look and feel like myself again. I’ve lost all confidence. 
  • Hi again and great you were able to navigate across to this little corner.

    I am sure that some of the others who are still active on the HL group will come along but often people do move on with life once treatments are finished...... I on the other hand still stick around to help folks out.

    As I said in your New to Community post I don't have HL but was diagnosed way back in 1999 with a rare incurable but treatable type of skin Non Hodgkin’s Lymphoma Stage 4a - my treatment journey is a long story so you can hit my community name and see my profile.

    The first thing I will say is that although what you see in the mirror is hard and you just can't see a way forward..... this is temporary and this will pass. 

    You need to 'get' that your body has been put through so much in such a short time that it is just going to take time to recover - but recover it will.

    You will see from my profile that I had some "interesting" condition presentation issues and these resulted in some full on treatments. This unfortunately for me results in some facial changes so every time I look in the mirror I am reminded of my journey but also some medical post treatment 'left overs'

    But I take the simple view that without these amazing treatments I would not be sitting talking with you today.

    Back in 1999 I was told “Mike, I am sorry to tell you that this type of NHL is incurable, yes treatable but you will never be in remission”...... but after years of various treatments in September 2016 I was told I was in remission for the first time in 17 years - and I am living the dream Slight smile

    Happy to talk more at any time.

    Mike (Thehighlander)

    It always seems impossible until its done - Nelson Mandela

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  • Hi Mike. Thank you for sharing your journey with me.. I’m so glad to hear that you are in remission! 

    It’s such a catch 22 as I am so thankful that I have not been feeling bad and also that my recent PET shows that the chemo is working and the cancer is going away so that’s the important thing. Hair grows and I will eventually look and feel like myself again. 

    I just need to get through the final cycle of chemo now. 

    I am ready to take it on! 

  • It is all hard work and at the start and even well into the journey it all seems impossible but keeping your eyes firmly fixed on the greater good in all this is so important and is one of the main steppingstones to crossing this mad raging river ((hugs))

    Mike (Thehighlander)

    It always seems impossible until its done - Nelson Mandela

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