Partner has recently been diagnosed with NHL.

Hi again Mybow and good to see you have navigated across to this corner of the community.

In the early days there is certainly a ‘rabbit caught in headlights’ feeling. But the more you get to understand his non-Hodgkin lymphoma the more you are going to understand that although it’s a cancer diagnosis…… it’s a type of cancer that is very treatable with great results.

As I said before I was first diagnosed way back in 1999 with a rare, incurable but treatable type of Non Hodgkin’s Lymphoma (Stage 4a) and look, I am here talking with you today. This is how treatable Lymphoma can be, I was diagnosed when I was 44 and I am turning 67 and living as good a life that any 67 year old can live.

Do you know the exact type of NHL he has been diagnosed with?

Where are things with regards to treatment or is he on Active Monitoring (Watch and Wait)?….. I was on Active Monitoring for 14 years before I needed full on treatment.

Do tell us more so we can help more ((hugs))

Thanks for your help Highlander. 
He had a cyst removed from his throat on 31 Aug. Nothing sinister they said. Then he got his diagnosis on 28 September. He’s waiting to have a PET scan, has got an ecg booked and his first chemo booked for 2 November. It’s all confusing him. 

Do call me Mike…

So his route to diagnose is not that unusual as Lymphoma is often found on the back of being investigated for other conditions. Many people will have Lymphoma and not know.

A PET scan will check if his NHL is presenting in other areas of his body - again this can be normal. I have a skin NHL and at one point (2013) I was about 70% covered in tumours.

The PET scan will also get his stage. But unlike other cancers where a high stage number like stage 4 is a poor prognosis - in lymphoma it’s not….. I was stage 4 in late 2013. This is some good information about Lymphoma Staging

Everyone gets an ECG before going into chemo as it’s all part of the general well-being monitoring going into treatment…… do you know the exact name of the chemo as there are a few different types.

How old is he?….. I was 58 when I started my first chemo.

((hugs))

Hi Mike. 

That’s very interesting and useful. He is having RCHOP, he’s 68

Thanks for the reassurance about the staging; and the very helpful link

Thanks for this, R-CHOP has been successfully used for many years and it is a very effective treatment.

I had the more intense, big brother of R-CHOP - R-EPOCH so unlike his treatment being done as a day case with each treatment being done in one day…… although expect his first day to be longer than the others. I had to be on my two IV pumps for over 120hrs for each of my 6 cycles so had to be in hospital for 5 nights/6 days.

I actually had no real problems with my chemo so lets look for the same for him. This link will be helpful for him getting ready for his treatment Top Tips for the day of your Chemotherapy

Nausea for some can be one of the unfortunate Side Effects of Treatments that can come along. It's not a pleasant feeling.... you just want to be sick but you tend to not actually be sick……. I was only sick once during all my treatments. He will most likely have anti-nausea meds administered through IV in hospital and this tends to be much more effective than in tablet form.

He must not suffer in silence. If this continues more than a few days it needs to be called in to her clinical team........ do you have a contact number for her Specialist Cancer Nurse?....... talk to them as there are lots of different types of nausea meds that can be used and sometimes it's trial and error to get the best one.

You may feel that you need some more support so do check out the Lymphoma Action website. Lymphoma Action is the only UK Lymphoma Specific Charity who have lots of good reliable information, videos and run regular Lymphoma Online Support Groups for patients with a few groups specifically for Family and Carers...... I highly recommend these groups as there is nothing better than talking with other who have walked the journey.

They also have a great Lymphoma Action Buddy Service where people can be linked up with someone who has walked the same treatment journey. They also have a Lymphoma helpline on 0808 808 5555 where Sharon or Nic will be on hand to give you some support - open every week day from 10 till 3.

((Hugs))

It sounds like you had it tough, but it’s heartening to know you didn’t struggle too much with your savage chemo. 

Thanks for the links. 

You are an asset to this community and you are our hero for supporting us.

We will absorb the information and come back when we are calmer. X

Pete says thank you too 

Tell Pete, Mike says it a pleasure to help out.