Do you need to talk to someone who survived stage 4 hodgkin's twice?

khaledw
khaledw Member Posts: 6
I've survived stage 4 cancer twice, first time when I was 25 and it was treated with 6 cycles of ABVD, and the next time when I was 27 and it was treated with chemo, radiation and stem cell transplant. Now, I've been in remission for 6 years. If you need to talk or have any questions, I'll be glad to help you.

Thanks

Comments

  • kpc5988
    kpc5988 Member Posts: 9
    Also a two time Cancer Survivor Hodgkins/Testicular
    khaledw, I know how you are feeling. I finished chemo and radiation for Hodgkins at the end of July and have been recovering ever since. I was diagnosed with stage 2 testicular cancer in 2000 at age 23 and I was diagnosed with stage 1B Hodgkins in February 2008 at age 31. And being newly married, we just celebrated our second anniversary in October. It's been a really hard year, but I continue to fight through and enjoy life as much as possible. HAve you had any lon lasting effects from the chemo (ABVD) or radiation? Nice to talk to other people who have been through what I've been through.
  • khaledw
    khaledw Member Posts: 6
    kpc5988 said:

    Also a two time Cancer Survivor Hodgkins/Testicular
    khaledw, I know how you are feeling. I finished chemo and radiation for Hodgkins at the end of July and have been recovering ever since. I was diagnosed with stage 2 testicular cancer in 2000 at age 23 and I was diagnosed with stage 1B Hodgkins in February 2008 at age 31. And being newly married, we just celebrated our second anniversary in October. It's been a really hard year, but I continue to fight through and enjoy life as much as possible. HAve you had any lon lasting effects from the chemo (ABVD) or radiation? Nice to talk to other people who have been through what I've been through.

    Effects from radiation
    well, I finished my transplant back in may of 2002. Between may of 2002 and january of 2004 I was doing well and running like a horse. In January, I started losing sensation in one of my toes and it spread, over a period of one month, all the way to my chest. At that time I did all kind of tests, spinal tabs, ct scans, pet scans, and MRIs, and the only thing they saw was a swelling within the spinal cord. At the beginning they thought it was cancer, but six months later it disappeared leaving me with no sensation, numbness, tingling, stabs, shocks, and all kind of pain. Now it's been almost five years and nothing has changed and doctors couldn't tell or make diagnosis, so finally they said this is a radiation reaction. They blamed it on radiation although my radiologist said it's not. I think I have to live with it for the rest of my lifi
  • winthefight
    winthefight Member Posts: 162
    Transplant
    Hello,

    What type of BMT did you have? I have just informed my dr that I am ready to move fwd with my autogenic transplant (donating my own stem cells). I am trying to connect with individuals that have had this procedure with positive results.

    Thank you so much.
  • khaledw
    khaledw Member Posts: 6

    Transplant
    Hello,

    What type of BMT did you have? I have just informed my dr that I am ready to move fwd with my autogenic transplant (donating my own stem cells). I am trying to connect with individuals that have had this procedure with positive results.

    Thank you so much.

    Transplant
    I had autologous transplant as well. Good luck with your transplant, and let me know if you have any questions.
  • itismepsa
    itismepsa Member Posts: 21 Member
    Non hodgkins
    Bill was diagnosed Sept. 17 with stage 4 non-hodgkins lymphoma his family dr said we had no chance then sent us to an oncologist they have started chemo & he has had 2 so far with the next dose coming Dec 22. His oncologist said he has a 40% chance of being here in 5 years i the chemo does not work. After 2 more treatments he has another PetCT to see where we stand with the cancer. It is so good to see someone who has been through it not once but twice. Thanks for giving me some hope.
    Paula
  • scrummy3
    scrummy3 Member Posts: 10
    itismepsa said:

    Non hodgkins
    Bill was diagnosed Sept. 17 with stage 4 non-hodgkins lymphoma his family dr said we had no chance then sent us to an oncologist they have started chemo & he has had 2 so far with the next dose coming Dec 22. His oncologist said he has a 40% chance of being here in 5 years i the chemo does not work. After 2 more treatments he has another PetCT to see where we stand with the cancer. It is so good to see someone who has been through it not once but twice. Thanks for giving me some hope.
    Paula

    Good luck and good thoughts
    Paula,

    It is way normal to feel overwhelmed. I'm about 4 years past my first bout with nHL (Diffuse, Large B-cell) and about 5 years past the death of a brother to Leukemia. I also know a few people in various stages of diagnosis and treatment. All things considered, I think I had it easier as the patient when compared to watching a loved one or friend go through the same.

    Wishing you nothing but good results and good friends to help you.

    ---
    John