Newbie

Welcome does not seem to be the correct word, but welcome you are! You do not sound panicky, so that much is very good. Hodgkin's has a very high "lifetime remission" rate. Treatment is well established, research is ongoing and the future for Hodgkin's patients looks ever better. First day... hmmm, it depends somewhat on the facility. Take reading material, snack or lunch, electronics within reason. If they use chairs, then you may end up discussing things with other patients. If they use beds, you can just crash or maybe watch TV. Lots of water and keep the nutrition up over the coming months. This is very general, and 'Max' and others will give you more specific advice and information.

po18guy said:

Welcome, Calvin!

Welcome does not seem to be the correct word, but welcome you are! You do not sound panicky, so that much is very good. Hodgkin's has a very high "lifetime remission" rate. Treatment is well established, research is ongoing and the future for Hodgkin's patients looks ever better. First day... hmmm, it depends somewhat on the facility. Take reading material, snack or lunch, electronics within reason. If they use chairs, then you may end up discussing things with other patients. If they use beds, you can just crash or maybe watch TV. Lots of water and keep the nutrition up over the coming months. This is very general, and 'Max' and others will give you more specific advice and information.

I'm sorry you are facing this at so early an age, but Lymphoma and Leukemia are among the most common cancers in youth and young adults. As Po noted, they are among the most treatable and curable of all cancers, and late stage disease is not usually much tougher to beat than early stage -- a fact very different from what usually is the case with organ cancers.

ABVD is the almost universal first line treatment for classical HL.  Expect a long first day; they will go slow with the delivery she they test your tolerance. IV Benedryl may cause you to sleep a bit. Most clinics require that someone come to drive the patient home, especially the first infusion. I recommend some for of WiFi.

Keep asking questions,

max

I was diagnosed with follicular non-hodgkins lymphoma. Even though the treatment is different there are certain things that are the same. I realize that when you read this you have gotten through your first treatment. One thing that can't be emphasized enough is drinking water. I thought of it as my life line. You need to drink a lot to flush out the un-used drugs and dead cells as quickly as you can. I had a couple of time after treatment where I didn't feel quite right a few days after treatment. Every time it was because I hadn't kept up with drinking a lot of water. My goal was to drink 2 liters day of treatment(s) and for at least 5 days after.

Snacks are also important. My standard was my yougurt (chocolate), apple cut up with skin removed and cheese-its (or cheese nips). All right this last is not really healthy but for osme reason starchy food & snacks seem to be a favorite of many going through cancer treatments. 

Where I went for R-Chop it was 1 day. I brought a book, the daily cross-word puzzle and watched tv, if I wasn't napping. I Was at a hospital for RICE treatments which was 3 days. There I also brought my laptops to keep me mentally going. 

Jeff is right about the constipation. What ever you use start taking it the night before the treament to get ahead of the situation. 

Most of all - keep your positive attitude. Don't get upset with yourself if you have a day you are less than positive. I totally believe that we all deserve a down day now and then. Wallow in it for a day and instruct yourself to be positive the next day. At least that is what I did.

Good luck Calvin and welcome to the club that no one wants to be in.  LOL

My husband started last Wednesday. He also has stage IV. Have you had any side effects? How are things going?