Hi, my husband has recently been diagnosed with NHL, we are hoping he will start his treatment soon. I'm so scared and I really don't know the best way to support him. I want to be strong but at the same time I want him to know how scared I am without making him feel bad. He is being so positive but I am naturally a very pessimistic person and I suffer with anxiety so I see the worst in everything.
Please tell me I'm not alone.
Hi and welcome to this corner of the Community although always sorry to see folks joining us. I am Mike and I help out around our Lymphoma groups.
You are not alone in this as there are lots of folks around to help and support you and your husband.
I was diagnosed way back in 1999 with a rare incurable but treatable type of skin Non Hodgkin’s Lymphoma Stage 4a and although my NHL ‘type’ may be different I have experienced most types of treatments used but not necessarily the exact same drug mix.
You need to hear that NHL is very treatable with great results, yes it’s cancer but unlike solid tumour cancers like liver, lung, prostrate…. blood cancers like NHL can be treated very effectively even if it’s stage 4.
So we can help you more, do you know the exact type of NHL he has?…… as there are over 60 types and do you know the exact name of the treatment he is going to have?
I asked my wife who has walked my 22 years with me what she would say to you “….. Although it all sound rather scary at the moment the more information you gather….. not Google information but info from people who have walked this walk and from your medical teams you will start to understand that this is all do-able. Keep an open conversation going, everyone is allowed a down day but always look for the positive days and not dwell on the bumps on the road. You will most likely not experience the challenges Mike and I had to deal with as his case was rather challenging but we are 6 years out from treatment and living a great life - even with Covid going around”
Well there you have it from my long suffering wife.
You have lots of questions so do ask them as we are around to help ((hugs))
Hi again and good that you found my (and my wife’s) post helpful.
CHOP is a standard treatment widely used and very effective. Although unusual for someone to be in hospital for a period of time having it there will be a very good reason behind this.
I had a different type of treatment called R-EPOCH so had a number of the CHOP drugs and on the whole did well with it all.
I was also in hospital 5 days/nights for each of my 6 cycles and yes it was intense but the treatment was also being used to prepare me for going into Stem Cell Transplant…… it’s a rather longer story but you can hit my community name and have a look.
Being in hospital during treatment means he will be well looked after and staff will be on hand to deal with any initial challenges that may come along.
Do see if you can find out his NHL type as I can find some helpful information for you ((hugs))
