Lymphoma Newbie

The cancer gods have thrown me a double whammy. After kicking anal cancer last year, I've now been diagnosed with Stage III (Maybe IV) Hodgkins Lymphoma, so I guess I'm moving to this forum now. I had a marrow biopsy to see if it was Stage III or IV but it was inconclusive, and I ain't letting 'em do another (ouch) since it wouldn't make a difference in my treatment anyway. Just started ABVD chemotherapy last Friday. So far the only side effect I have noticed is a painful tongue ... not so much the tongue hurts, but my taste buds hurt when I first start eating or drinking. Is there something I can do about this other than swish with Magic Mouthwash which will kill the taste of my food?

Matt

 

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Comments

  • Max Former Hodgkins Stage 3
    Max Former Hodgkins Stage 3 Member Posts: 3,803 Member
    Welcome

    Welcome, Matt.  Sorry about a new cancer fight on your plate.

    Like several folks here, I did six cycles (12 infusions, or six months) of r-abvd- which is the most common first-line treatment for HL. I also was Stage III.  Exactly as you noted, my doctor, when I asked about my bone marrow biopsy being negative, stated that it is better to be negative than not negative, but that my treatment would have been identical either way.

    What strain of HL do you have ? (There are five common strains of HL, and 25 or more relatively common strains of NHL.)

    Regarding tastes: I do not recall having taste changes after only one infusion, but I did eventually lose essentially all sense of taste. I didn't get the common "metal mouth."  My mouth tasted like it was full of salt all the time, but most foods i could not really taste at all. Rarely, I had very odd taste sensations, such as when once I started drinking a glass of tap water, and it tasted like mud.  Fortunately, that only happened once.

    I never got mouth sores, but it seems many people do. When I was about to receive the Adrimycine ("Red Devil") the infusion nuse always had me start eating ice, and I ate ice until that cylinder was finished.  No one else here has mentioned being instructed to eat ice while receiving that med, but I did, and never had a mouth sore.  There is certainly no reason to NOT eat ice during any part of the infusion process, so you might want to ask your nurse about it.

    Neary all abvd folks lose their hair shortly after the second infusion. I lost ALL my hair, including my eyebrows and eyelashes, so plan on that beginning soon.

    ABVD is usually very effective, and most HLs go into remission during treatment,so hope for the best.  Do mention what strain you have, since that can make some difference in exactly what you can expect. The strain should be discussed on your biopsy report, whcih your doctor should have given you. If not, he will,  at no charge -- you paid for it !

    max

     

     

  • jimwins
    jimwins Member Posts: 2,107
    Welcome

    Hi Matt and welcome to this forum! I meant to respond to you on your other post and I think I think there was a problem with the site or my computer that night so it didn't get posted.  My chemo was different (R-EPOCH) and had an issue with a mouth sore once.  What helped me after that was to avoid anything acidic during and for a few days after treatment.  I avoided organge juice, ketchup, tomatoes/sauce, vinegar based anything, etc.  I never had issues with my mouth after that.  Don't know if this will help you but it certainly shouldn't cause a problem to try it.  

    Sorry you are having to deal with a double whammy but know you are not alone here.  I hope things improve for you and sending positive thoughts your way.

    Hugs - Jim

  • illead
    illead Member Posts: 884 Member
    jimwins said:

    Welcome

    Hi Matt and welcome to this forum! I meant to respond to you on your other post and I think I think there was a problem with the site or my computer that night so it didn't get posted.  My chemo was different (R-EPOCH) and had an issue with a mouth sore once.  What helped me after that was to avoid anything acidic during and for a few days after treatment.  I avoided organge juice, ketchup, tomatoes/sauce, vinegar based anything, etc.  I never had issues with my mouth after that.  Don't know if this will help you but it certainly shouldn't cause a problem to try it.  

    Sorry you are having to deal with a double whammy but know you are not alone here.  I hope things improve for you and sending positive thoughts your way.

    Hugs - Jim

    Welcome Matt

    Got a laugh out of the title Undecided Just wanted to add our welcome.  You will find very kind folks here with a great sense of humor.  Sorry you are fighting your 2nd battle, we hope it is a successful one.  We look forward to hearing from you, please come back anytime, and of course let us know how things are going.

    Bill & Becky

  • MattButts
    MattButts Member Posts: 37
    What's Ahead?

    The acrid taste, I figured out, was buildup on my dentures. Guess I have to clean them after every meal instead of just at night. But I'm wondering what's in store as therapy continues. Will the side effects get worse? Will they back off a little as I get used to the treatment?

  • jimwins
    jimwins Member Posts: 2,107
    MattButts said:

    What's Ahead?

    The acrid taste, I figured out, was buildup on my dentures. Guess I have to clean them after every meal instead of just at night. But I'm wondering what's in store as therapy continues. Will the side effects get worse? Will they back off a little as I get used to the treatment?

    Hi Matt

    Man, I'm having a week of waking up in the middle of the night !  (I've been up since 2:00am and I'm beginning to feel like Sue - our loveable night owl here in the group. :)).

    I don't have experience with ABVD but generally some side effects will get worse with most chemo - especially fatigue.  I saw you had chemo before with Mitomycin (which I found out is an antibiotic used for certain cancers and has similar side effects).  Some side effects seem to be somewhat individual but fatigue, hair loss and lower blood counts are fairly common.  Prednisone (steroid) has its own set of reactions as well.  There are folks here with ABVD experience who should chime in soon.  

    Hang in there!

    Jim

  • Max Former Hodgkins Stage 3
    Max Former Hodgkins Stage 3 Member Posts: 3,803 Member
    jimwins said:

    Hi Matt

    Man, I'm having a week of waking up in the middle of the night !  (I've been up since 2:00am and I'm beginning to feel like Sue - our loveable night owl here in the group. :)).

    I don't have experience with ABVD but generally some side effects will get worse with most chemo - especially fatigue.  I saw you had chemo before with Mitomycin (which I found out is an antibiotic used for certain cancers and has similar side effects).  Some side effects seem to be somewhat individual but fatigue, hair loss and lower blood counts are fairly common.  Prednisone (steroid) has its own set of reactions as well.  There are folks here with ABVD experience who should chime in soon.  

    Hang in there!

    Jim

    Cumulative

    Greetings again, Matt.

    As Jim noted, most chemos are indeed "cumulative" in the intensity of their side-effects.  I did abvd, as I noted above, and it is pretty common, so you should get a lot of imput.  All of these alphabet soup combinations usually share at least one or two drugs, but packaged together, each has its differences. CHOP and ABVD both have Adrimycin, for instance, and ABVD has Vinblastine, whereas CHOP has Vincristine, which are almost identical chemically and in side-effects.

    Another determanitive in how severe your side-effects become is how many cycles you receive. Patients who are late stage (III or IV) almost always get six cycles (=12 infusions; six months of treatment) and NO radiation, whereas early-stage Hodgkins's will normally get fewer cycles, and may or may not receive radiation (application of radiation usually depends on the presence or absence of what is called "bulky disease"). ABVD "cycles" are very different from most other combinations, in that all drugs are given together at the same sitting. One day at the infusion clinic normally lasted 8 or more hours for me. I got there before most of the nurses arrived, and was there when they went home that afternoon.

    One other common factor in severity is the patient's AGE. Usually, the older the patient, the more severe the side-effects can become. This is a general truth, and some older patients have little trouble.

    So, experiences on ABVD can vary dramatically. Ater three infusions, I actually went back to work for a few weeks, and I have heard of people waltzing through treatment like it was nothing.  A perfect storm later came my way, however.  Because I was relatively older during treatment (began at 53), late stage (III), and required six cycles, by my third month ABVD had stomped my ****. Think of the fight scene in the original Godfather movie, when Sonny beats his brother-in-law in the head almost to death with a steel trash can lid.  If felt about like that....

    My experience during my last three months was as follows: 

    I slept about 18 hours per day.

    I had no sense of taste. 

    My breathing was severely impared (a common side-effect of Bleomycin) such that even while motionless in bed at times I could only pant like a dog to breath. Bleomycin causes lung toxicity in 10% of all users, and fibrosis in 1-2% of all users. You you develop a severe cough, call your doc right away.   http://chemocare.com/chemotherapy/drug-info/bleomycin.aspx#.UxdjRTAo670

    I got severe neuropathy, and could not feel my feet at all much of the time. My hands were severely numb as well.  Nearly five years later, I can type only with two fingers, and cannot turn the pages of a book without wetting them. I have been in a clinical trial for neuropathy since, to no benefit at all.  My nails turned purple and became very gritty.

    I lost all hair, including my eyebrows, eyelashes -- even my nose hairs (tyring to avoid TMI here). 

    I felt like I had the flu all the time (severe muscle pain; this is listed in chemo side-effects as "Flu-Like Symptoms"). Three of the drugs in r-ABVD cause Flulike Syndrome, so the chance of gettin it is pretty high. Rituxan is one of these drugs (you did not mention if you are getting Rituxan or not; if you are, your combo will be written as "r-ABVD").

    http://chemocare.com/chemotherapy/side-effects/flulike-syndrome.aspx#.UxdgjjAo670

    Friends told me I was grey-colored, and my kids said I smelled like chemicals all the time.  I felt like I had lighter fluid in my veins.

    I lost my memory and ability to concentrate, which is termed "chemo fog" or "chemo brain."

    THAT is what late term ABVD CAN (may or may not) do for you.  Strap into your chair and be ready.  Most of these side-effects in most patients diminish or go away over time.  I believe ABVD used on terrorists at Gitmo could get them to talk.

     

    Finally, and most importantly, note: I am cancer free for nearly five years now.  I would start 50 cycles of ABVD tomorrow, if necessary.

    This link lists all of the drugs in r-ABVD, with detailed, statistical info regarding all side-effects:

    http://chemocare.com/chemotherapy/acronyms/abvd.aspx#.UxdhkDAo670  It also has the data on all FDA-approved chemo drugs in use in the US.  It is partially run by Scott Hamilton, former ice skating champion.  The info is all rock-solid, and the site is very easy to get around in.

    Wishing you the best. You can do this thing !

    max

  • allmost60
    allmost60 Member Posts: 3,178 Member

    Cumulative

    Greetings again, Matt.

    As Jim noted, most chemos are indeed "cumulative" in the intensity of their side-effects.  I did abvd, as I noted above, and it is pretty common, so you should get a lot of imput.  All of these alphabet soup combinations usually share at least one or two drugs, but packaged together, each has its differences. CHOP and ABVD both have Adrimycin, for instance, and ABVD has Vinblastine, whereas CHOP has Vincristine, which are almost identical chemically and in side-effects.

    Another determanitive in how severe your side-effects become is how many cycles you receive. Patients who are late stage (III or IV) almost always get six cycles (=12 infusions; six months of treatment) and NO radiation, whereas early-stage Hodgkins's will normally get fewer cycles, and may or may not receive radiation (application of radiation usually depends on the presence or absence of what is called "bulky disease"). ABVD "cycles" are very different from most other combinations, in that all drugs are given together at the same sitting. One day at the infusion clinic normally lasted 8 or more hours for me. I got there before most of the nurses arrived, and was there when they went home that afternoon.

    One other common factor in severity is the patient's AGE. Usually, the older the patient, the more severe the side-effects can become. This is a general truth, and some older patients have little trouble.

    So, experiences on ABVD can vary dramatically. Ater three infusions, I actually went back to work for a few weeks, and I have heard of people waltzing through treatment like it was nothing.  A perfect storm later came my way, however.  Because I was relatively older during treatment (began at 53), late stage (III), and required six cycles, by my third month ABVD had stomped my ****. Think of the fight scene in the original Godfather movie, when Sonny beats his brother-in-law in the head almost to death with a steel trash can lid.  If felt about like that....

    My experience during my last three months was as follows: 

    I slept about 18 hours per day.

    I had no sense of taste. 

    My breathing was severely impared (a common side-effect of Bleomycin) such that even while motionless in bed at times I could only pant like a dog to breath. Bleomycin causes lung toxicity in 10% of all users, and fibrosis in 1-2% of all users. You you develop a severe cough, call your doc right away.   http://chemocare.com/chemotherapy/drug-info/bleomycin.aspx#.UxdjRTAo670

    I got severe neuropathy, and could not feel my feet at all much of the time. My hands were severely numb as well.  Nearly five years later, I can type only with two fingers, and cannot turn the pages of a book without wetting them. I have been in a clinical trial for neuropathy since, to no benefit at all.  My nails turned purple and became very gritty.

    I lost all hair, including my eyebrows, eyelashes -- even my nose hairs (tyring to avoid TMI here). 

    I felt like I had the flu all the time (severe muscle pain; this is listed in chemo side-effects as "Flu-Like Symptoms"). Three of the drugs in r-ABVD cause Flulike Syndrome, so the chance of gettin it is pretty high. Rituxan is one of these drugs (you did not mention if you are getting Rituxan or not; if you are, your combo will be written as "r-ABVD").

    http://chemocare.com/chemotherapy/side-effects/flulike-syndrome.aspx#.UxdgjjAo670

    Friends told me I was grey-colored, and my kids said I smelled like chemicals all the time.  I felt like I had lighter fluid in my veins.

    I lost my memory and ability to concentrate, which is termed "chemo fog" or "chemo brain."

    THAT is what late term ABVD CAN (may or may not) do for you.  Strap into your chair and be ready.  Most of these side-effects in most patients diminish or go away over time.  I believe ABVD used on terrorists at Gitmo could get them to talk.

     

    Finally, and most importantly, note: I am cancer free for nearly five years now.  I would start 50 cycles of ABVD tomorrow, if necessary.

    This link lists all of the drugs in r-ABVD, with detailed, statistical info regarding all side-effects:

    http://chemocare.com/chemotherapy/acronyms/abvd.aspx#.UxdhkDAo670  It also has the data on all FDA-approved chemo drugs in use in the US.  It is partially run by Scott Hamilton, former ice skating champion.  The info is all rock-solid, and the site is very easy to get around in.

    Wishing you the best. You can do this thing !

    max

    Awesome!

    Awesome post Max! That's why I bumped it up..I knew you could give Matt all the answers he needed! Good job! Sue Smile

  • Max Former Hodgkins Stage 3
    Max Former Hodgkins Stage 3 Member Posts: 3,803 Member
    allmost60 said:

    Awesome!

    Awesome post Max! That's why I bumped it up..I knew you could give Matt all the answers he needed! Good job! Sue Smile

    Bless you

    Thank you Sue. We have not spoken in some time.

    Stay well and bless your health,

    max

  • Rocquie
    Rocquie Member Posts: 868 Member
    MattButts said:

    What's Ahead?

    The acrid taste, I figured out, was buildup on my dentures. Guess I have to clean them after every meal instead of just at night. But I'm wondering what's in store as therapy continues. Will the side effects get worse? Will they back off a little as I get used to the treatment?

    Side Effects

    Matt, I had a different chemo--R-CHOP. I think almost everyone here says the more times they had chemo, the worse it got. I just wanted you to know that was NOT the case for me. Mine got easier over time. By easier, I mean I had learned exactly what my side-effects were going to be and when, and had learned how to handle them. I knew which days to take a laxative and which to take kaopectate. I knew which days my blood counts were going to be lowest, so I knew not to be around people then. I learned how to handle the pain from the Neulasta shots. I knew when I needed a blood transfusion and could drive myself to get it. 

    I also didn't mind the Prednisone. On those days, I went ahead and took an Ativan along with it (to temper the "edginess")  and enjoyed the extra energy. I would tell my Doctor when he asked, "Oh, I feel fine today, I'm on performance enhancing drugs".  

    Everyone's experience is different. 

    Hugs,

    Rocquie

     

  • MattButts
    MattButts Member Posts: 37

    Cumulative

    Greetings again, Matt.

    As Jim noted, most chemos are indeed "cumulative" in the intensity of their side-effects.  I did abvd, as I noted above, and it is pretty common, so you should get a lot of imput.  All of these alphabet soup combinations usually share at least one or two drugs, but packaged together, each has its differences. CHOP and ABVD both have Adrimycin, for instance, and ABVD has Vinblastine, whereas CHOP has Vincristine, which are almost identical chemically and in side-effects.

    Another determanitive in how severe your side-effects become is how many cycles you receive. Patients who are late stage (III or IV) almost always get six cycles (=12 infusions; six months of treatment) and NO radiation, whereas early-stage Hodgkins's will normally get fewer cycles, and may or may not receive radiation (application of radiation usually depends on the presence or absence of what is called "bulky disease"). ABVD "cycles" are very different from most other combinations, in that all drugs are given together at the same sitting. One day at the infusion clinic normally lasted 8 or more hours for me. I got there before most of the nurses arrived, and was there when they went home that afternoon.

    One other common factor in severity is the patient's AGE. Usually, the older the patient, the more severe the side-effects can become. This is a general truth, and some older patients have little trouble.

    So, experiences on ABVD can vary dramatically. Ater three infusions, I actually went back to work for a few weeks, and I have heard of people waltzing through treatment like it was nothing.  A perfect storm later came my way, however.  Because I was relatively older during treatment (began at 53), late stage (III), and required six cycles, by my third month ABVD had stomped my ****. Think of the fight scene in the original Godfather movie, when Sonny beats his brother-in-law in the head almost to death with a steel trash can lid.  If felt about like that....

    My experience during my last three months was as follows: 

    I slept about 18 hours per day.

    I had no sense of taste. 

    My breathing was severely impared (a common side-effect of Bleomycin) such that even while motionless in bed at times I could only pant like a dog to breath. Bleomycin causes lung toxicity in 10% of all users, and fibrosis in 1-2% of all users. You you develop a severe cough, call your doc right away.   http://chemocare.com/chemotherapy/drug-info/bleomycin.aspx#.UxdjRTAo670

    I got severe neuropathy, and could not feel my feet at all much of the time. My hands were severely numb as well.  Nearly five years later, I can type only with two fingers, and cannot turn the pages of a book without wetting them. I have been in a clinical trial for neuropathy since, to no benefit at all.  My nails turned purple and became very gritty.

    I lost all hair, including my eyebrows, eyelashes -- even my nose hairs (tyring to avoid TMI here). 

    I felt like I had the flu all the time (severe muscle pain; this is listed in chemo side-effects as "Flu-Like Symptoms"). Three of the drugs in r-ABVD cause Flulike Syndrome, so the chance of gettin it is pretty high. Rituxan is one of these drugs (you did not mention if you are getting Rituxan or not; if you are, your combo will be written as "r-ABVD").

    http://chemocare.com/chemotherapy/side-effects/flulike-syndrome.aspx#.UxdgjjAo670

    Friends told me I was grey-colored, and my kids said I smelled like chemicals all the time.  I felt like I had lighter fluid in my veins.

    I lost my memory and ability to concentrate, which is termed "chemo fog" or "chemo brain."

    THAT is what late term ABVD CAN (may or may not) do for you.  Strap into your chair and be ready.  Most of these side-effects in most patients diminish or go away over time.  I believe ABVD used on terrorists at Gitmo could get them to talk.

     

    Finally, and most importantly, note: I am cancer free for nearly five years now.  I would start 50 cycles of ABVD tomorrow, if necessary.

    This link lists all of the drugs in r-ABVD, with detailed, statistical info regarding all side-effects:

    http://chemocare.com/chemotherapy/acronyms/abvd.aspx#.UxdhkDAo670  It also has the data on all FDA-approved chemo drugs in use in the US.  It is partially run by Scott Hamilton, former ice skating champion.  The info is all rock-solid, and the site is very easy to get around in.

    Wishing you the best. You can do this thing !

    max

    Thanks!

    Thanks, Max, for the straight dope. They've got me slated for six cycles, too. Tomorrow is the second half of my first cycle. The worst part has been the symptoms that are TMI. (Let's just say I have a vague idea what giving birth might feel like!) But that just resolved today and I'm actually feeling okay. Thanks to all of you for holding my virtual hand.

     

  • Max Former Hodgkins Stage 3
    Max Former Hodgkins Stage 3 Member Posts: 3,803 Member
    MattButts said:

    Thanks!

    Thanks, Max, for the straight dope. They've got me slated for six cycles, too. Tomorrow is the second half of my first cycle. The worst part has been the symptoms that are TMI. (Let's just say I have a vague idea what giving birth might feel like!) But that just resolved today and I'm actually feeling okay. Thanks to all of you for holding my virtual hand.

     

    Freebies

    Matt,

    Air, water, advice, and hand-holding are all free at CSN !

    Even 'TMI' issues can be addressed here privately -- there is a feature for you to e-mail any registered contributor, if you feel the need.

    As all responders stated, every case is unique, and your experience (statistically speaking) should be much milder than mine ; most are. All that mattered to me, however, was SUCCESS, and I was blessed with that.

     

    max

  • MattButts
    MattButts Member Posts: 37
    Cycle 2

    I just started Cycle #2 today. Side effects usually set in at about 24 hours for me. I've been suffering from weakness and instability, too. I fall down a lot and get dizzy standing. Dehydration of course. They have me coming in for IV fluids every other day for a while and a full-blown blood transfusion on Friday. I'm also getting a walker to help me get around the house. It has a seat that lets me sit at the right height to work at the kitchen counter so I can feed myself. That, and when I am waiting for the bus, I will always have a place to sit. :)

    The hair is gone now. I kinda cheated there. When it started getting patchy and ugly, I took the clippers to it and finished the job. I'm actually liking the look, actually, and may choose "to baldly go" from now on.

  • Hang in there Matt!. Your

    Hang in there Matt!. Your smile is inspiring. All my best wishes!

  • allmost60
    allmost60 Member Posts: 3,178 Member
    MattButts said:

    Cycle 2

    I just started Cycle #2 today. Side effects usually set in at about 24 hours for me. I've been suffering from weakness and instability, too. I fall down a lot and get dizzy standing. Dehydration of course. They have me coming in for IV fluids every other day for a while and a full-blown blood transfusion on Friday. I'm also getting a walker to help me get around the house. It has a seat that lets me sit at the right height to work at the kitchen counter so I can feed myself. That, and when I am waiting for the bus, I will always have a place to sit. :)

    The hair is gone now. I kinda cheated there. When it started getting patchy and ugly, I took the clippers to it and finished the job. I'm actually liking the look, actually, and may choose "to baldly go" from now on.

    Cycle 2...

    Hi Matt,

      Dang...sounds like you have had a rough go of it with this treatment...so sorry! I personally like the "bald" look on men...looks sexy! WinkMy hubby is thinning big time and I've told him to shave it off, but he won't do it. You hang in there and I'll be sending good positive thoughts your way with my prayers. Best wishes...Sue

    (FNHL-stg3-grd2-typA-Dx 6/10-age 63)

  • Max Former Hodgkins Stage 3
    Max Former Hodgkins Stage 3 Member Posts: 3,803 Member
    MattButts said:

    Cycle 2

    I just started Cycle #2 today. Side effects usually set in at about 24 hours for me. I've been suffering from weakness and instability, too. I fall down a lot and get dizzy standing. Dehydration of course. They have me coming in for IV fluids every other day for a while and a full-blown blood transfusion on Friday. I'm also getting a walker to help me get around the house. It has a seat that lets me sit at the right height to work at the kitchen counter so I can feed myself. That, and when I am waiting for the bus, I will always have a place to sit. :)

    The hair is gone now. I kinda cheated there. When it started getting patchy and ugly, I took the clippers to it and finished the job. I'm actually liking the look, actually, and may choose "to baldly go" from now on.

    Matt ?

    Is that you Matt ? I thought you were Bruce Willis ! Or some other dashing young movie star !

    Six months on abvd is a long trek. Just be mentally geared for the long haul.

    I recommend you ask your oncologist: "What will my final, total dose of Adrimycin be?"   It is a question worth asking.  He or she will know exactly what you are getting at.

    max

  • illead
    illead Member Posts: 884 Member
    You do look like Bruce Willis

    Stick with us new friend, we're here to support, comfort, and give good laughs when needed.  Better to look like Bruce Willis.  Bill never lost hair but with age it started looking like Frank Barones in the back (Evby loves Raymond)  He now gets it buzzed with a No 2 and looks great except he has a bald spot on the nape of his neck....weirdCry

    Hang in there, Becky

  • jimwins
    jimwins Member Posts: 2,107
    MattButts said:

    Cycle 2

    I just started Cycle #2 today. Side effects usually set in at about 24 hours for me. I've been suffering from weakness and instability, too. I fall down a lot and get dizzy standing. Dehydration of course. They have me coming in for IV fluids every other day for a while and a full-blown blood transfusion on Friday. I'm also getting a walker to help me get around the house. It has a seat that lets me sit at the right height to work at the kitchen counter so I can feed myself. That, and when I am waiting for the bus, I will always have a place to sit. :)

    The hair is gone now. I kinda cheated there. When it started getting patchy and ugly, I took the clippers to it and finished the job. I'm actually liking the look, actually, and may choose "to baldly go" from now on.

    To "Baldly go" :)

    Hi Matt!  Thanks for checking in.  I think you look better than Bruce Willis ;).  I had to get my drivers license renewed with photo shortly after I finished chemo so I refer to it as my "Legal Alien" ID complete with no hair or eyebrows and a scant few eyelashes :).  I haven't had the picture taken again yet because it reminds me of how far I have come thankfully.  I got pulled over a year ago because of my lead foot and the officer was double taking the ID and me.  I said "that was taken right after chemo".  He let me off with a much reduced infraction.  Now I don't recommend chemo as way to get a reduced speeding ticket!

    I hope the side effects lessen and you feel better soon.  Try some fun hats or head gear.  I wore knit caps to keep me warm and funky "dew rags" that kept the nurses guessing.  I had to get a fedora also and wore that often when I went out.

    Hang in there and big hugs,

    Jim

  • Max Former Hodgkins Stage 3
    Max Former Hodgkins Stage 3 Member Posts: 3,803 Member
    illead said:

    You do look like Bruce Willis

    Stick with us new friend, we're here to support, comfort, and give good laughs when needed.  Better to look like Bruce Willis.  Bill never lost hair but with age it started looking like Frank Barones in the back (Evby loves Raymond)  He now gets it buzzed with a No 2 and looks great except he has a bald spot on the nape of his neck....weirdCry

    Hang in there, Becky

    High-dollar hairstyle

    B & B,

    Since chemo, I buzz my own hair with a #4 guard at home. Guess I am a "long hair" compared to Bill...

    My favorite line from the old man (now deceased) on Everybody Loves Raymond :  Raymond and Deborah had been fighting. Raymond is over with his mom and dad, and the mom says, "Raymond, I told you Deborah was much too pretty a woman for you to marry !"

    The old man chimes in: "Yea ! I never made that mistake !"

    max

  • MattButts
    MattButts Member Posts: 37

    High-dollar hairstyle

    B & B,

    Since chemo, I buzz my own hair with a #4 guard at home. Guess I am a "long hair" compared to Bill...

    My favorite line from the old man (now deceased) on Everybody Loves Raymond :  Raymond and Deborah had been fighting. Raymond is over with his mom and dad, and the mom says, "Raymond, I told you Deborah was much too pretty a woman for you to marry !"

    The old man chimes in: "Yea ! I never made that mistake !"

    max

    Saves Money, Too!

    Since it's almost impossible to mess up a haircut like this, I can do it myself and save money on hair stylists and shampoo. Laughing

    Bruce Willis, eh? Yippee ki yay, mother... um... lymphoma!

  • Max Former Hodgkins Stage 3
    Max Former Hodgkins Stage 3 Member Posts: 3,803 Member
    MattButts said:

    Saves Money, Too!

    Since it's almost impossible to mess up a haircut like this, I can do it myself and save money on hair stylists and shampoo. Laughing

    Bruce Willis, eh? Yippee ki yay, mother... um... lymphoma!

    Great line....

    Matt,

    I remember that line...keep being a superhero.

    max