Rchop

Hi and welcome to our corner of the Community and sorry to hear you are on a second cancer journey.

Blood cancer treatment can be intense and has to be as surgery can’t do the job.

Treatments like R-CHOP are designed to clear out the cancer build up where ever it may be in the body.

For some Nausea can be a challenge but remember not to suffer in silence when it comes to nausea there are lots of tools available - but your team need to know how you are getting on as often a change of meds can help.

Fatigue may well build up over time so take each day as it comes. It’s important to remember that this is all temporary and will pass.

I think about the number of treatment cycles as the same as having a course of antibiotics for an infection..... if you don’t complete the course the infection will continue or even get worse.

Do talk with your team about how you feel as in certain circumstances changes can help made to treatments but this has to be looked at with regards to the greater good in all this.

I have been on my NHL journey for over 21 years now (hit my name for my story) and my zest for life was actually my driving force to get me through my long journey and out the other end.

((hugs))

Hi, and a second welcome, I had 8 rounds of rchop and had a number of side effects to like many do who have this treatment, the stomach ache and diarrhoea talk to your team or GP about buscopan as I found I went from being constipated to having diarrhoea a lot of the time and buscopan helps with the muscle cramps which are not nice when they are constantly there. The metallic taste in the mouth is normal to and I found I coped better with certain foods like home made soups, spicy foods but comfort foods to, some days I just ate because I knew I had to. But for a short time in reality, it was worth persevering because I am 11 years in remission. Do try to hang in there and see treatment through as it is very effective and most people go on to recover and enjoy life.

What type of lymphoma do you have, I had dlbc

John   

Thank you both for your kind and supportive replies. I have DLBC too. 

The analogy with the treatment course and antibiotics is a helpful one. I am trying to take one day at a time and I will and have spoken to my team. It is hard to imagine life not feeling so awful but I know there is light ahead. 

I want to make sure I give myself the best chance of getting well so will do what is required . 

Hugs back 

I think the Nelson Mandela quote I use at the bottom of my posts “It always seems impossible until its done” is so true.

I am sure that John would agree that sometimes the treatment journey can become overwhelming but keeping an eye on the end goal is so important..... and you have been on this road before so understand.

Blood cancer treatments are relentless but what you are experiencing is temporary and it will pass, it’s all about pushing through the hard times and resting when the road is less rough.

Hello from me as well, Matilda  

Due to my high grade type of lymphoma I had extremely aggressive chemotherapy and was hospitalised for 4 1/2 months to complete my 4 inpatient rounds. I suffered severe nausea and vomiting for 3 months where I could only eat yogurt and lost 45 kilos in total. As my muscle mass wasted away I could not walk - only moved on a wheelchair and later on with a Zimmer frame. 
The benefit of tolerating this chemo nightmare came in January with my end of treatment PET scan showing I’m in complete remission - confirmed by an endoscopy report.

My advise is hang in there and have all required chemo cycles. As my friends above stated, chemotherapy, no matter how horrible it can be, is your major weapon in your fight against your blood cancer!

Good luck with it all and let us know if you need any help

Yannis 

I am guessing you are halfway through treatment so after the next one you are past 2/3rds and so on, doing it in percentages worked for me, it always sounded better. Give it a go or try to find something that makes it work for you and eases the mental stress.

JOhn

I am feeling much more positive this week. Thank you for all the support. I am going to hang in there and do all the treatments prescribed with that wonderful end goal you all speak of in getting rid of the cancer cells. 

I think I hit a real low last week but has helped hearing how so many others have endured the same challenges and come out the other end with good outcomes. I have found this chemo treatment more challenging than my bowel cancer chemo, probs cos my body is a bit weakened by previous health problems and tolerance bit lower.

But onwards I go.

Much appreciation to all that responded to my post. 

Great to hear from you and a positive post.

It’s all about riding the waves (not that I have tried surfing).... in the early days you fall off a lot but as time goes on you learn to get your feet, choose your path then find the freedom so you can enjoy the results.

Do keep posting.

My husband was diagnosed with non hodgkins lymphoma in January 19 had 3 cycles of chemo and went into remission. It returned end of November 2020 but had transformed into a high grade version and then had to have RCHOP, he had 2 cycles before having a 3 way discussion which involved him, me and his consultant. The 2nd cycle saw him hospitalised for 3 weeks and was only discharged on 26 January  and due to begin next round on 7th February, He felt too ill to undergo this and was told that for him the side effects each cycle would cumilatviley get worse. A decision was made not to continue with treatment as he felt it was too much to cope with and he wanted to be home. This was a difficult for us as we knew that he would only have a matter of weeks. but even if he continued with the chemo it was unlikely to change the outcome. His only concern was for me. We discussed everything while we were able to and he sadly passed away last week on 17 February. Even though it was expected I am absolutely devasted,. Ultimately it was his decision but it was a choice we made together, I didnt want to let me go, wanted him with me as long as possible but ensured that he knew that I did want him to linger in discomfort and I wanted him to embrace withh my love what came next peacefully. My opinionin is that everyone is different but its absolutely more than ok to decline treatment when you are ready to do so. My husband would have had to have 6 cycles in total and had had 2. If you have only 1 more to go may be worth talking to your consultant to get a better idea of the prognosis if the go ahead. Whatever you decide to do my thoughts are with you.

My husband was diagnosed with non hodgkins lymphoma in January 19 had 3 cycles of chemo and went into remission. It returned end of November 2020 but had transformed into a high grade version and then had to have RCHOP, he had 2 cycles before having a 3 way discussion which involved him, me and his consultant. The 2nd cycle saw him hospitalised for 3 weeks and was only discharged on 26 January  and due to begin next round on 7th February, He felt too ill to undergo this and was told that for him the side effects each cycle would cumilatviley get worse. A decision was made not to continue with treatment as he felt it was too much to cope with and he wanted to be home. This was a difficult for us as we knew that he would only have a matter of weeks. but even if he continued with the chemo it was unlikely to change the outcome. His only concern was for me. We discussed everything while we were able to and he sadly passed away last week on 17 February. Even though it was expected I am absolutely devasted,. Ultimately it was his decision but it was a choice we made together, I didnt want to let me go, wanted him with me as long as possible but ensured that he knew that I did want him to linger in discomfort and I wanted him to embrace withh my love what came next peacefully. My opinionin is that everyone is different but its absolutely more than ok to decline treatment when you are ready to do so. My husband would have had to have 6 cycles in total and had had 2. If you have only 1 more to go may be worth talking to your consultant to get a better idea of the prognosis if the go ahead. Whatever you decide to do my thoughts are with you.