stomach pain with hodgkin's (chemo)

nickydog
nickydog Member Posts: 76
Hi
My daughter was diagnoised with Hodgkin's this summer at the age of 22. She is currently taking ABVD treatment and is doing well. Before she was diagnoised she had stomach pain but this seemed to have went away. She is now at treatment 7, she is going to take 12 or 6 cylces. She has hodgkin's in her chest. This past week she is saying that she is having pain in her stomach again. She just finished a treatment 2 days ago. The pain is in her mid section (bellybutton) area. Since she has started her treatment she has been feeling so great with the exception of being tired . She still has her hair, even tho it has thinned out lots and no nausea.
I guess my question is about her stomach pain. I am wondering if anyone has experienced this as a result of chemo. I am worried that it may be something else. I do know tho that chemo does lots of things to your stomach. Her scan is not until four weeks time, but she has another treatment before then .

Comments

  • COBRA666
    COBRA666 Member Posts: 2,401 Member
    Stomach Pain
    Nicky,
    First of all welcome,you have come to the right place as you will see with all the Responses you will get. I have nhl myself and I also had treatments. Mine was the r-cvp. I am in remission right now. I had tumors in my abdominal area. After my 1st treatment I felt a small amount of pain in that area. It was due to tumor shrinkage. What took years to develope was melting away at a rapid speed and was making my stomach area feel funny. I don't know if that helps or not. I wish your daughter all the best and make sure you keep us informed as to what is going on. The people here are so helpful as you will come to see. John(FNHL-1-4A-5/10)
  • nickydog
    nickydog Member Posts: 76
    COBRA666 said:

    Stomach Pain
    Nicky,
    First of all welcome,you have come to the right place as you will see with all the Responses you will get. I have nhl myself and I also had treatments. Mine was the r-cvp. I am in remission right now. I had tumors in my abdominal area. After my 1st treatment I felt a small amount of pain in that area. It was due to tumor shrinkage. What took years to develope was melting away at a rapid speed and was making my stomach area feel funny. I don't know if that helps or not. I wish your daughter all the best and make sure you keep us informed as to what is going on. The people here are so helpful as you will come to see. John(FNHL-1-4A-5/10)

    Stomach Pain
    Yes it does help thank you.
    It was quite a shock to us when our daughter was diagnoised. She had itchy skin, night sweats and loss weight. She was away in college and seeing her doctor there who in my opinion did nothing for her. We brought her home in July and within a week the doctor here was suspicious of Hodkgin's and within the month she was being treated. I guess why I am so concerned about her stomach pain is that she is just complaining about it, but she did experience a lot of bloating/gassy feelings after treatment. The fact that it was in her chest and the pain is in her stomach I am concerned. Hopefully it is just the treatment getting rid of the tumor in her chest.
  • tcvine
    tcvine Member Posts: 174
    nickydog said:

    Stomach Pain
    Yes it does help thank you.
    It was quite a shock to us when our daughter was diagnoised. She had itchy skin, night sweats and loss weight. She was away in college and seeing her doctor there who in my opinion did nothing for her. We brought her home in July and within a week the doctor here was suspicious of Hodkgin's and within the month she was being treated. I guess why I am so concerned about her stomach pain is that she is just complaining about it, but she did experience a lot of bloating/gassy feelings after treatment. The fact that it was in her chest and the pain is in her stomach I am concerned. Hopefully it is just the treatment getting rid of the tumor in her chest.

    Stomach pain
    Hi Nicky,

    So sorry to hear about your daughter. None of us likes having cancer and the treatment can be much more uncomfortable than the disease. I never had any symptoms until a lump appeared in my neck.

    I do not have Hodgkins, I have Diffuse, Large, B-Cell; very aggressive and very advanced. However, that's why I'm commenting, because I had it all over. When I started my chemo, I had severe pain in the stomach and the chest. I have now come to realize that it was most likely the tumors shrinking. My experience may not be applicable because of different dx, but now, after all but one of my treatments, the tumor pain has long past. Now the side effects are much more related to tiredness, neuropathy, chemo brain. My point is, it may well be that her pain will decrease significantly the further into treatment she gets.

    We all hope so and send our very best wishes.

    Tom (DLBCL-4-7/10)
  • nickydog
    nickydog Member Posts: 76
    tcvine said:

    Stomach pain
    Hi Nicky,

    So sorry to hear about your daughter. None of us likes having cancer and the treatment can be much more uncomfortable than the disease. I never had any symptoms until a lump appeared in my neck.

    I do not have Hodgkins, I have Diffuse, Large, B-Cell; very aggressive and very advanced. However, that's why I'm commenting, because I had it all over. When I started my chemo, I had severe pain in the stomach and the chest. I have now come to realize that it was most likely the tumors shrinking. My experience may not be applicable because of different dx, but now, after all but one of my treatments, the tumor pain has long past. Now the side effects are much more related to tiredness, neuropathy, chemo brain. My point is, it may well be that her pain will decrease significantly the further into treatment she gets.

    We all hope so and send our very best wishes.

    Tom (DLBCL-4-7/10)

    Thanks for your reply.
    I am

    Thanks for your reply.
    I am hoping it is due to the tumor shrinking. She does have the Hodgkin's in her chest, and I was wondering if this particular tumor shrinking would be felt in her stomach.
    I am new to this site, and I think it is great.
    Very best wishes to you too.
  • allmost60
    allmost60 Member Posts: 3,178 Member
    nickydog said:

    Thanks for your reply.
    I am

    Thanks for your reply.
    I am hoping it is due to the tumor shrinking. She does have the Hodgkin's in her chest, and I was wondering if this particular tumor shrinking would be felt in her stomach.
    I am new to this site, and I think it is great.
    Very best wishes to you too.

    Tummy pain
    Hi Nicky,
    I had tumors in my groin, neck and abdomen when I started treatment on Aug 31/10. Immediately after my first round of chemo my tummy did all kinds of weird things. It rumbled and quivered and at times it felt like someone was squeezing on it from the inside.My midway CT scan(after round 3) showed 50% or greater tumor shrinkage, so that shows you how fast the chemo shrinks the tumors. I have Follicular Non Hodkins stage 3 and have been treated with the CVP-R chemo cocktail. The best advice I have is to call your daughters oncologist and just tell him whats going on in her stomach and ask him if this is normal or not. When in doubt...call the doctor, is my moto. Please keep us informed and know we all have you and your daughter in our prayers. Keep posting...we will be here for you.
    Best wishes...Sue (FNHL-2-3A-6/10)>= kind of cancer-grade-stage/type-date of Dx.
  • cookingirl
    cookingirl Member Posts: 183 Member
    Stpmach pain with Hodgkin's (chemo)
    Hi Nicky, I have NHL, stage 4, Indolent b cell - different from your young daughter. But when I started chemo June 2 (CVP-R), I ended up spending 9 days in the hospital due to severe stomach pain. My large tumor is about two inches above my belly button, so the Dr.'s never did determine what was causing such severe pain - I compared it to childbirth pain. After 3 days of no relief, a pain Dr. was called in who prescribed way too much morphine and put me in a stupor. When I finally was released from the hospital, looking like a DOA on checking into the hospital my Oncologist told me later, the pain had completely disappeared and they never did determine the cause. So I go along with others on this site that it was the tumor shrinking - it was a very big one. My second chemo was much milder pain in the stomach, and then no more for the last 4. Hang in there and I'll be praying for your family. Fran
  • MNK
    MNK Member Posts: 12
    Stomach Pain
    Nickydog:

    I completed ABVD treatments in March of this year. In April I posted at this site in this section "Lymphoma" under the topic "Another Question about ABVD", dated 4/11/10. I suggested eating yogurt for stomach pain. You may want to read my post in that topic.

    Good Luck,

    Michael
  • CiAnnaBananna
    CiAnnaBananna Member Posts: 105
    stomach pain
    Nickydog-

    First off, welcome. Secondly I am sorry to hear about your daughters diagnosis. I am a 28 yr old female and have just finished up 6 cyles of ABVD for Hodgkins myself and am currently going through radiation. My tumors were also in my chest and neck and I experienced some terrible stomach pain during one of my treatments. It was so bad that i was hovered in the floor in so much pain. Sadly, I don't really have any advice as to what can help. I dont know if it had anything to do with the tumors shrinking, but as just a side effect of the chemo. Your daughter will experience all kinds of weird things during chemo i'm sure. I just tried to sleep it off as much as possible and did try eating yogurt to help with the pain. My doctor just always said it was a side effect and I'd just have to work my way through it. That's amazing that she still has the majority of her hair and is halfway through treatment! I'm jealous! I will keep the two of you in my prayers and I hope for a speedy recovery!
  • Tracie1981
    Tracie1981 Member Posts: 125
    Hi and about that stomach pain
    I think I'm a pro at this one! lol, I just recently finished 6 cycles of ABVd and 3 weeks of radiation for Hodgkins. I had horrible stomach pain, that after about 3 cycles figured out that it was the meds. Steroids in particular! Do not let them put her on an acid reducer unless its a low low dose. They ended up putting me on prilosec, 40mgs a day, which is double the norm. It really messed me up for weeks. Steroids if not taken with food can cause ulcers which is what happened to me. The chemo itself weakens your digestive tract, but the combination of steroids, chemo and pain meds made my quality of life suck for about 4 months. Just becareful how she takes her medicine and make sure she drinks a LOT of water. It will help her out incredibly, Take care and God Bless!
  • nickydog
    nickydog Member Posts: 76

    Hi and about that stomach pain
    I think I'm a pro at this one! lol, I just recently finished 6 cycles of ABVd and 3 weeks of radiation for Hodgkins. I had horrible stomach pain, that after about 3 cycles figured out that it was the meds. Steroids in particular! Do not let them put her on an acid reducer unless its a low low dose. They ended up putting me on prilosec, 40mgs a day, which is double the norm. It really messed me up for weeks. Steroids if not taken with food can cause ulcers which is what happened to me. The chemo itself weakens your digestive tract, but the combination of steroids, chemo and pain meds made my quality of life suck for about 4 months. Just becareful how she takes her medicine and make sure she drinks a LOT of water. It will help her out incredibly, Take care and God Bless!

    Thanks for your reply. I
    Thanks for your reply. I spoke to her chemo nurse yesterday and she told me the same thing you are saying. She said the meds will give her stomach pain. I was worried because up until this treatment she wasn't feeling much of anything-a bit "gassy" but nothing too serious.
    There is only 5 more to go and she will be finished!!!
    Take care and God Bless.
  • WonderWoman88
    WonderWoman88 Member Posts: 19
    nickydog said:

    Thanks for your reply. I
    Thanks for your reply. I spoke to her chemo nurse yesterday and she told me the same thing you are saying. She said the meds will give her stomach pain. I was worried because up until this treatment she wasn't feeling much of anything-a bit "gassy" but nothing too serious.
    There is only 5 more to go and she will be finished!!!
    Take care and God Bless.

    Tummy Pain
    Hello Nicky.

    I am sorry to hear about your daughter. I have just completed 6 cycles of R-CHOP for nhl. My tumor was localized only in my neck but I did experience severe stomach pain at one point. One of the medicines I was taking was a steroid and my stomach not being able to handle it, caused me great pain and ended up ripping my stomach lining. Sometimes medications just make your tummy feel funny and do all sorts of weird things. Luckily she isnt getting too much nausea; I got plenty of that and still do at times!

    I wish her the best and for your family as well. The end is in sight with only 5 more treatments, thank God!

    Take care for now.

    --WW--
  • nickydog
    nickydog Member Posts: 76

    Tummy Pain
    Hello Nicky.

    I am sorry to hear about your daughter. I have just completed 6 cycles of R-CHOP for nhl. My tumor was localized only in my neck but I did experience severe stomach pain at one point. One of the medicines I was taking was a steroid and my stomach not being able to handle it, caused me great pain and ended up ripping my stomach lining. Sometimes medications just make your tummy feel funny and do all sorts of weird things. Luckily she isnt getting too much nausea; I got plenty of that and still do at times!

    I wish her the best and for your family as well. The end is in sight with only 5 more treatments, thank God!

    Take care for now.

    --WW--

    Stomach pain
    Hi
    We spoke to the chemo nurse who said that the stomach pain/discomfort is a result of her treatment, and is not uncommon. She also went on to say that it is not uncommon for people to experience this after taking several treatments. We are thankful that things have gone so well and hopefully will continue to do so. The pain she has been feeling hasn't been so intense that she cannot go about her regular day. (she did give up work) Her day consists mainly of reading, painting that type of hobby. She will soon be having a CT scan; the first one since she started her treatments in August.
    Keep us in your prayers.
  • webozo
    webozo Member Posts: 82 Member
    my daughter was diagnoised
    my daughter was diagnoised with hodgkins stage 2 in feb 2010. she hurt all over. see did not even want to be touched. i am not sure if the chemo was the same as your girls but it did a number on her. her stomach hurt so bad she would cry. her hips and shoulders would hurt her really bad too. she is now n.e.d. and we are blessed to be where we are. and i ask her if she had to go through it all again would she and she said yes. she is 28 has two small children. anything to stay alive to raise her children.
  • truckingalong
    truckingalong Member Posts: 445 Member
    nickydog said:

    Stomach pain
    Hi
    We spoke to the chemo nurse who said that the stomach pain/discomfort is a result of her treatment, and is not uncommon. She also went on to say that it is not uncommon for people to experience this after taking several treatments. We are thankful that things have gone so well and hopefully will continue to do so. The pain she has been feeling hasn't been so intense that she cannot go about her regular day. (she did give up work) Her day consists mainly of reading, painting that type of hobby. She will soon be having a CT scan; the first one since she started her treatments in August.
    Keep us in your prayers.

    Likewise
    I have Hodgkins Stage 4B since Aug. just finished 7th chemo going 4th out of 6th round. I experience more and more stomach pain now right after getting chemo. It appears that it hits my stomach lining harder and it became more sensitive. So now on day of getting it, I eat only noodle soup, broths, crackers, Gaterade and lots of water. Then the next day, I add rice, bananas (I like to cook it in brown sugar - yummy), yogurt, toast, oatmeal, etc. You get the idea. I also take Prilosec. It seems to help a bit. But I still get constipated then little of diarrhea but not much and also headaches. So I take different OTC medicines including for reducing gas and bloating. So I imagine you will have to experiment what would be comfortable at that time for your daughter to take. Good luck!

    I will have CAT and PET scans first week of Dec. I will be thinking of your daughter and me with hopes and prayers!

    Liz
  • nickydog
    nickydog Member Posts: 76

    Likewise
    I have Hodgkins Stage 4B since Aug. just finished 7th chemo going 4th out of 6th round. I experience more and more stomach pain now right after getting chemo. It appears that it hits my stomach lining harder and it became more sensitive. So now on day of getting it, I eat only noodle soup, broths, crackers, Gaterade and lots of water. Then the next day, I add rice, bananas (I like to cook it in brown sugar - yummy), yogurt, toast, oatmeal, etc. You get the idea. I also take Prilosec. It seems to help a bit. But I still get constipated then little of diarrhea but not much and also headaches. So I take different OTC medicines including for reducing gas and bloating. So I imagine you will have to experiment what would be comfortable at that time for your daughter to take. Good luck!

    I will have CAT and PET scans first week of Dec. I will be thinking of your daughter and me with hopes and prayers!

    Liz

    It seems your pain is much
    It seems your pain is much like that of my daughter. I was a bit troubled by it since she really did feel much until this last treatment. However, yesterday she did start to feel better. On Wed she will be having her 8th treatment and hopefully all goes well.
    I see your scan is around about the same time as my daughter's. We will be praying for you.
  • truckingalong
    truckingalong Member Posts: 445 Member
    nickydog said:

    It seems your pain is much
    It seems your pain is much like that of my daughter. I was a bit troubled by it since she really did feel much until this last treatment. However, yesterday she did start to feel better. On Wed she will be having her 8th treatment and hopefully all goes well.
    I see your scan is around about the same time as my daughter's. We will be praying for you.

    Thanks
    Thanks for praying for me! Likewise.

    My doctor suggested me to take Prilosec every morning and that seemed to help a little. There are helpful cookbooks for people with cancer. I find them helpful.

    With positive thoughts,
    Liz
  • truckingalong
    truckingalong Member Posts: 445 Member
    webozo said:

    my daughter was diagnoised
    my daughter was diagnoised with hodgkins stage 2 in feb 2010. she hurt all over. see did not even want to be touched. i am not sure if the chemo was the same as your girls but it did a number on her. her stomach hurt so bad she would cry. her hips and shoulders would hurt her really bad too. she is now n.e.d. and we are blessed to be where we are. and i ask her if she had to go through it all again would she and she said yes. she is 28 has two small children. anything to stay alive to raise her children.

    ??
    Did you say your daughter is in remission - n.e.d.? If so, great!

    Liz
  • allmost60
    allmost60 Member Posts: 3,178 Member

    ??
    Did you say your daughter is in remission - n.e.d.? If so, great!

    Liz

    NED..
    Hi Liz,
    If memory serves me right NED means no evidence of disease. I imagine that is the same as remission, but not positive. Love...Sue (FNHL-2-3A-6/10)
  • truckingalong
    truckingalong Member Posts: 445 Member
    allmost60 said:

    NED..
    Hi Liz,
    If memory serves me right NED means no evidence of disease. I imagine that is the same as remission, but not positive. Love...Sue (FNHL-2-3A-6/10)

    Got it
    Thanks for the clarification!!
    Love,
    Liz
  • DadysGirl
    DadysGirl Member Posts: 346

    Stpmach pain with Hodgkin's (chemo)
    Hi Nicky, I have NHL, stage 4, Indolent b cell - different from your young daughter. But when I started chemo June 2 (CVP-R), I ended up spending 9 days in the hospital due to severe stomach pain. My large tumor is about two inches above my belly button, so the Dr.'s never did determine what was causing such severe pain - I compared it to childbirth pain. After 3 days of no relief, a pain Dr. was called in who prescribed way too much morphine and put me in a stupor. When I finally was released from the hospital, looking like a DOA on checking into the hospital my Oncologist told me later, the pain had completely disappeared and they never did determine the cause. So I go along with others on this site that it was the tumor shrinking - it was a very big one. My second chemo was much milder pain in the stomach, and then no more for the last 4. Hang in there and I'll be praying for your family. Fran

    How are you doing? My dad
    How are you doing? My dad also just got diagnosed with NHL large diffuse b cell lymphoma, waiting for PET scan results, but looks like he is gonna be stage 4 :(