Diagnosed with Hodgkins Two weeks ago...

curryh

I am 25 year old male that was diagnosed with Hodgekins 2 weeks ago. I have a 11 month old son that is my world and I want to be here for him forever. I am wondering if anyone could help me out by telling me how they handel the stress and coping with the fact that they have hodgekins. I am also wondering if anyone else feels week or tired like they are going to pass out because that is how i have been feeling today.....

vinny59

stay positive
Hi and welcome to this site, I have been thru cancer twice in my life. I just got through stage 4 Non Hodgkins Lymphoma, I can tell you from my experience, that the only thing you have control of is your attitude. It's easier said then done, but try to stay positive, listen to your body, when your feeling tired and weak rest! Don't let the "what if's" creep in..... just think of your son and say I'm going to get through this..... praying for you Vinny

dixiegirl

vinny59 said:

stay positive
Hi and welcome to this site, I have been thru cancer twice in my life. I just got through stage 4 Non Hodgkins Lymphoma, I can tell you from my experience, that the only thing you have control of is your attitude. It's easier said then done, but try to stay positive, listen to your body, when your feeling tired and weak rest! Don't let the "what if's" creep in..... just think of your son and say I'm going to get through this..... praying for you Vinny

Say it better
Vinny I couldn't say it better! You are so right. Attitude is everything!! I am currently recovering from a stem cell transplant and there for awhile just logging into the computer to check email was about all I really had the energy for, but gradually every day is getting better.

Hopefully I'll be able to go home soon. Just waiting on my platelet count to start coming back up. The nurses and docs say they are the last to recover. Right now just try to stay positive and know that Hodgkins is very treatable. There are several here on this site that are long term survivors of Hodgkins.

Take care and just take it a minute at a time when the thoughts get overwhelming!

Beth

allmost60

dixiegirl said:

Say it better
Vinny I couldn't say it better! You are so right. Attitude is everything!! I am currently recovering from a stem cell transplant and there for awhile just logging into the computer to check email was about all I really had the energy for, but gradually every day is getting better.

Hopefully I'll be able to go home soon. Just waiting on my platelet count to start coming back up. The nurses and docs say they are the last to recover. Right now just try to stay positive and know that Hodgkins is very treatable. There are several here on this site that are long term survivors of Hodgkins.

Take care and just take it a minute at a time when the thoughts get overwhelming!

Beth

Attitude..
You know what they say about buying property...it's all about location, location, location...well...if you have cancer, it's all about attitude, attitude, attitude. Seriously..if there is one thing I've learned in this last year while battling my cancer, was the fact how my attiude each day affected the way I felt. On the days where I "gave in" to the creepy thoughts in my head, my day would be terrible. On the days where I "fought off" depression or hopeless feelings, my day would be better. Treatment is hard, but it can go alot easier if we stay as positive "as possible". Key word...AS possible. Joining this group and finding all of these wonderful supportive people truely helped me in keeping my attitude in a more positive zone. This cancer business aint easy, but it is do-able. We will be here for you whenever...good days, or bad days. Welcome, and best wishes. Sue
Follicular NHL-grade2-stage3-typeA-diagnosed June 2011.(age 60)

cathyp

Thinking of you curryh
I first had Hodgkins in 1989 and it recurred while I was pregnant with our daughter in 1993. Holding that baby while going through the uncertainty of the treatment outcome was so much harder for me than the first time (no children then). Soon you will sort this all out and figure out how to deal with one day at a time and not look so far ahead. I used to agonize over if I would ever hear my daughter say "mama", see her walk, go to school, etc, etc. Well...just last week I attended her graduation from high school (also have a 15 yr old daughter)!!
Best wishes to you as you embark on your treatments. There is an end in sight and you will start to feel better and stronger as days go by.

Cathy
HD 1989-RADS
HD 1994-ABVD
IDC 2008-DBL MX

michelleb1064

Curryh,
I was also
Curryh,
I was also diagnosed with Hodgkins stage 2b ans I am a single mom with 2 kids. I have a 5 year old and a 13 year old. I know too well what you are going though. When I was first diagnosed I already knew what the diagnosis was going to be. I had done lots of research. When I started chemo and getting Pet scans and CT scans and the bills sarted coming in. I went through a depression stage. I thought to my self "how can anyone afford to live". I got over real fast, I had to remember...these people are saving my life and you cant put a price tag your life.
Have you started chemo yet? If you are feeling weak and tired and havent started chemo than its just the stress of things to come. Try to stay positive. If you have started chemo than the being weak and tired is a side effect. It will go away in time.
Take care, Michelle

JoanieP

curryh
I am so sorry that you are going through this journey. I can't even imagine how hard it is with a young child. I have always heard that hodgekins is very curable. Make sure you are very confident in your doctor, don't try to be superman, depend on your family and friends who want to help, and you will get on the other side of this. If you are a religious person , God's strength will get you through this without a doubt. It won't be easy but you are young and you WILL be o.k. God bless you.

Jeramias

Listen to what everybody is
Listen to what everybody is telling you about a positive attitude. I won't sugar coat it. Yes it is going to take every bit of energy from you, yes you are going to get sick, and yes it is going to have some very painful moments. There is an old Inuit saying that goes like this; You must go until you cannot go anymore then you must keep going then and only then will you find yourself. Your attitude and will to survive are on you. You can use your family for support but at the end of the day only you can win this fight. Be brave for others and strong for yourself good luck.

lmack

Attitude!
Sorry to hear of your diagnosis. It is ALL attitude. Everyone handles and reacts to the meds differently, but if you keep a positive attitude while going through it, you'll feel so much better. Letting it overwhelm you and take over makes your head shut down and your body follows. Everyone has tough days, but stay positive and know you WILL get through this!

Cortney51

been there
Last March I was also 25 when I was diagnosed with stage 2b Hodgkins. I found that laying around made me feel worse. I tried to go about life as normal, only modified a bit. When I felt tired and run down, which happened a lot the few days after each treatment, I upped my fluids. ABVD casued me to dehydrate frequently. The more I moved around, the less tired I felt also. Possitive attitdu does go a long way, but good diet and hydration is also a huge factor! Good luck with everything!!

PearlBoy

Hodgekins Lymphoma
I am 22 male and was diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma after a FNAC ( June 26th 2011). I didn't know the meaning of that and was broken when the first line said it was a type of cancer. The report said that a biopsy would be required to confirm this. I prayed and asked God to give me life and to save me! I was so scared and depressed. I prayed that the biopsy report should bring good news. I asked God to give me strength and hope if the biopsy report wasn't good.

then I got the biopsy report ( 4th July 2011 ) confirming Hodgkin lymphoma!!. To my surprise I was feeling OK. Not depressed but a bit sad. I should have fainted and my heart should have beat fast. It did while I was waiting for the report!!!..Once I got it I was feeling comforted which I am sure it was from God.

My Mom, sis and me used to pray to God to give us good health and long life. We pray to God that we are not interested in money, comfort, fame, position, luxury life but GOOD HEALTH, PEACE AND LONG LIFE! I knew that God would never forsake his children. We continued to pray and ask God to save. Then doctors said it was curable. I was feeling OK.

Then I went to see the doctor and show the report and he said I had stage 2a and needed 12 chemotherapy injections every 14 days! I was worried about my studies. He said that I was going to lose my hair. I am losing my hair after 2 injections. Another 10 more to go.

I am praying and asking God to guide me through this path. I have overcome so many addictions!!..Thanks be to God. Bible says that God puts us into difficult situations so that we will put faith in him and grow stronger in the spiritual relationship with God.

God will never forsake his children! Read the Bible and pray every day. Stay away from all that is evil and get involved in what pleases God. John 14 verse 14 says : “You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it”. Keep praying and read the Bible.

May God guide you, others and me who are going through this dark passage!

God bless you

TJ74

Support System
I'm new to this site and it sure is nice to see all the support out there these days. I was diagnosed with Hodgkin's stage 3a in 1990. I'm reading about how everyone's talking about attitude. It's hard to keep a positive attitude if you don't have a proper, loving, and understanding support system. 20 years ago, it was just me and my mom. I stayed positive for a year and a half of treatments and then lost it half way through my bone marrow transplant. I was 17 and had no support and was driven into isolation. YES, attitude is very important, but a support system is more important. Surround yourself with loving, supportive and accepting people. Do not let yourself be dragged into isolation. As for being tired and weak... that might be something your going to have to live with as 20 years later I have chronic fatigue as one of the side effects. But that is just me and it might not be the same for you. I'm sure my fatigue is worse because of my isolation, so again another reason not to isolate yourself. Sometimes my best method for coping with stress and that I had Hodgkin's was to escape. I'm not saying that you can escape all the time, but sometimes it's ok. Hang in there, you can do it.

LadyStork

My husband..
My husband was just diagnosed two days ago. We have a three year old daughter and a baby boy due in September. He's freaking out just like you are. But all the research I've done shows a 90% survival rate!!!

bluerose

Aren't you the one who was afraid to start your chemo?
I think you are the same person who posted under afraid to get chemo. I think, as I said before that you just have to do it in spite of your fear. We were all afraid of everything in the beginning, the cancer, the treatments, outcome, everything but you have to take that first step for you and your family.

I am a 24 year survivor like I mentioned before and my kids were very young too when I was diagnosed. I went through a tough bone marrow transplant, I had non hodgkins not hodgkins, and with NHL the odds aren't even as good as they are with hodgkins but you have to do what the doctors say and have treatments if they say so. Without the treatments your odds might be far less that you will be here for your kids.

My 2 kids are in their early 20ties today and I was here for one them getting married and both getting into their careers. Without the treatment I would not have seen any of it. You can do it.

As far as the stress is concerned it will go in waves, depending on what is going on at the time. You got over the diagnosis and that for me was the worst part as far as stress is concerned, I mean it comes out of nowhere for most of us. After that you put one foot in front of the other and go for your treatments with the goal in mind that you are doing it for your family. Pray to be able to be there for them as they grow up. I believe in the power of prayer, it helped me immeasureably.

If you need some help in coping talk with your doctor about seeing a counsellor who specializes in trauma/cancer and they will help to get you through as well. Post here as often as you want, people on this site have been there and understand what you are going through so can speak to most of your questions as you are finding out.

Don't wait another day, start the treatments and by so doing begin to put cancer behind you.

All the best.

Bluerose

JesseK

5 months later
I'm 31 guy and was diagnosed a month back. I have my 2nd round of AVBD Monday. I have a 3 year old son and 3 month old daughter. I read your post and its how I feel too. Just wanted to hear how you're doing now.
Jesse