Wondering about Radiation

hollynn
hollynn Member Posts: 6
edited March 2014 in Lymphoma (Hodgkin and Non-Hodgkin) #1
My name is Holly and I have Non-Hodgkins Lymphma, of the agressive, diffuse large B cell type. I'm attending college right now, and somehow made it through even with the chemotherapy treatments. Right now, I'm unbelievably tired! I need to take 2 summer courses in order to start my nursing classes in the fall, but I am going to have to have radiation directed at the chest and possibly the neck, and was wondering what your experiences were like, and in your opinion, if taking classes would be a good idea. Thank you for all of your help.

Comments

  • tamis
    tamis Member Posts: 33
    #2
    Hi Holly, I have Hodgkins and also had radiation to the neck/chest. I tolerated the radiation much better than the chemo. I was tired from it but not nearly as bad as the chemo made me. It really wasn't bad for me the radiation. You will get some discomfort maybe in you neck area, if they hit your jaw area at all it will cause you mouth to be dry, but again, these are just minor things in my opinion compared to chemo. Good luck with your treatment and I send my best to you!
  • cjam
    cjam Member Posts: 2
    #3
    Hi Holly. My name is Carrie and I had Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma, diffuse large B cell when I was attending High School 12 years ago. I would go to my radiation every morning before school. I also had it to the chest and neck area. I had the radiation for approximately 3 months. The only really bad experience I had, was that I caught pnemonia from the intense radiation to the chest area. The pnemonia went undetected for about a month before it was found. My advise is that if you start to notice any changes in breathing or coughing, let your doctor know immediately so that it doesn't get out of hand. My advise is to take the classes. It will be good on your morale to lead as normal life as possible. When I was going through it during high school, my teachers knew what was going on and were understanding when exeptions needed to made. Go for it and don't let this stand in the way of your nursing classes.
  • michele31
    michele31 Member Posts: 5
    #4
    HI HOLLY, THIS IS MICHELE, AND I ALSO HAD NHL, B CELL AS WELL. ALTHOUGH I HAD A SWOLLEN LYMPH NODE IN MY GROIN AREA, MY MOM HAD HL, TWO TUMORS IN HER CHEST AND SHE WENT FOR CHEMO AND RADIATION. SHE HAS SOME TROUBLE SWALLOWING FOOD AND SHE LOST ALOT OF WEIGHT DUE TO THE FACT THAT SHE COULD HARDLY EAT. SHE USED TO HAVE ALOT OF CHOCOLATE SHAKES AND SHE EVEN HAD TO EAT BABY FOOD. I KNOW THAT YOU ARE A COLLEGE STUDENT AND IF YOU FEEL STRONG ENOUGH TO TAKE THE TWO CLASSES THAT YOU WILL NEED, THEN YOU SHOULD DO IT. I KNOW WHAT YOU MEAN ABOUT THE CHEMO MAKING YOU VERY TIRED!!!! IT MADE ME VERY TIRED AS WELL. I AM NOW 31 YEARS OLD AND IN REMISSION FOR A YEAR NOW. I AM TAKING COLLEGE CLASSES ONLINE WITH SUNY EMPIRE STATE COLLEGE AND I HOPE TO EITHER BE A NURSE WORKING IN ONCOLOGY OR A NYPD OFFICER.

    I WISH YOU ALL OF THE BEST AND THE BEST OF HEALTH TOO.

    TO ME, RADIATION WAS LIKE A WALK IN THE PARK COMPARED TO HAVING CHEMOTHERAPY. I LAYED ON THE TABLE FOR ONLY THREE MINUTES AND IT WAS DONE!!!! I AM NOT SURE HOW LONG YOU HAVE TO LIE ON THE TABLE FOR THE RADIATION, BUT I AM SURE THAT IT WILL BE APPROXIMATELY AROUND THE SAME TIME!!!!!!

    TAKE CARE AND HOPE TO HEAR FROM YOU SOON.

    MICHELE

    I can also be reached at michele.cerami@verizon.net

    P.S. GOOD LUCK IN YOUR STUDIES!!!!!!!!!!!

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