living in the cancer shadow

savedbygrace
savedbygrace Member Posts: 9
HI, I have been in remission for 8 years since being diagnosed with diffuse large b cell. Does anyone ever start thinking that there cancer has come back,even after so many years? This is neat to talk with other NHL'ers.

Comments

  • twinsmamaw
    twinsmamaw Member Posts: 5
    Hi I'm Kathy, my husband has NHL diffuse large B cell. His remission only lasted 8 months, now he is getting ready for a stem cell transplant. You are very, very blessed. I love your log in name, it fits. Worried in Indiana, Kathy
  • nikkismom
    nikkismom Member Posts: 18
    hi there, I had NHL, stage 4. B cell. Finally in remission after 6 months. They drained 4 1/2 liters out of me. I had Chops and Rituxan for 6 treatments. Doing great now, back to work full time. Still get tired a little bit easy but small price to pay. Thank God and my miracle worker Dr. I am alive today. I had tumors in my kidney, liver, ovaries and up and down aorta.also NHL in bones and in Lymph nodes. They say when I do it I do it right!! Positive Attitude is one of the biggest things to have and Love and Support. God Bless You.
  • rocky5
    rocky5 Member Posts: 16

    Hi I'm Kathy, my husband has NHL diffuse large B cell. His remission only lasted 8 months, now he is getting ready for a stem cell transplant. You are very, very blessed. I love your log in name, it fits. Worried in Indiana, Kathy

    Hi kathy. How old is your husband? I'm afraid my father my be relapsing too, can you please share your experience with me? Thank you.
  • rocky5
    rocky5 Member Posts: 16
    Hi savedbygrace....congratulations! May I ask how old you are and what stage you were diagnosed with? thank you.
  • twinsmamaw
    twinsmamaw Member Posts: 5
    rocky5 said:

    Hi kathy. How old is your husband? I'm afraid my father my be relapsing too, can you please share your experience with me? Thank you.

    rocky5, this is Kathy or twinsmamaw, my husband was 50 when he was diagnosed with NHL diffuse large B cell in his abdomen, it is wrapped around his duodenum. He was having no symptoms except that he was very bloated and constipated. One morning about 2AM he told me he couldn't take it anymore and was going to the ER, which is really unusual for him, he hates hospitals. We were there for 14 hours, not because they were busy, but because they found a 7 cm mass in his abdomen.
    He started CHOP and Rituxin about three weeks later, 6 treatments, then had 20 radiation treatments. Then remission for 8 months. His relapse showed up on his routine follow up CT. In Aug 2003 it was fine, in Dec 2003 there were four new places. In Feb he had chemo to get ready for stem cell transplant, but it didn't work, last week, back to hospital for more chemo. If this goes well he will be going to Indiana University Medical Center in April for the stem cell transplant. We're just living a day at a time. I'm the only one working, his disability pay from his job won't start until the middle of May. But he does have a cancer insurance policy that pays, so we're doing OK. With trust in the Lord God we will get through this stronger than before.
  • cjlahr
    cjlahr Member Posts: 4

    rocky5, this is Kathy or twinsmamaw, my husband was 50 when he was diagnosed with NHL diffuse large B cell in his abdomen, it is wrapped around his duodenum. He was having no symptoms except that he was very bloated and constipated. One morning about 2AM he told me he couldn't take it anymore and was going to the ER, which is really unusual for him, he hates hospitals. We were there for 14 hours, not because they were busy, but because they found a 7 cm mass in his abdomen.
    He started CHOP and Rituxin about three weeks later, 6 treatments, then had 20 radiation treatments. Then remission for 8 months. His relapse showed up on his routine follow up CT. In Aug 2003 it was fine, in Dec 2003 there were four new places. In Feb he had chemo to get ready for stem cell transplant, but it didn't work, last week, back to hospital for more chemo. If this goes well he will be going to Indiana University Medical Center in April for the stem cell transplant. We're just living a day at a time. I'm the only one working, his disability pay from his job won't start until the middle of May. But he does have a cancer insurance policy that pays, so we're doing OK. With trust in the Lord God we will get through this stronger than before.

    Hi Kathy, I too am a fellow Hoosier who was diagnosed with NHL diffuse large B cell at age 45 in 2002. Like many, I had no idea anything was wrong until a mass appeared in a routine mammogram and NHL was found in the right breast. I went to the IU Med Center for a 2nd opinion before deciding what to do and they agreed on the same treatment as my local oncologist and suggested I receive my treatment at home to save the 100 mile trip to Indy. All the staff I dealt with at IU were great and helpful and hope your husband has a good experience with them as well. Best to you and him in finding the right treatment to beat this.
  • savedbygrace
    savedbygrace Member Posts: 9
    rocky5 said:

    Hi savedbygrace....congratulations! May I ask how old you are and what stage you were diagnosed with? thank you.

    HI, I am now 40..I admit it! ha ha I was diagnosed stage 1 diffuse,large cell, with a grapefruit size tumor behind my breast bone,pushing out through my ribs. Enjoy your day.
  • mbcoughlin1
    mbcoughlin1 Member Posts: 2

    HI, I am now 40..I admit it! ha ha I was diagnosed stage 1 diffuse,large cell, with a grapefruit size tumor behind my breast bone,pushing out through my ribs. Enjoy your day.

    Hi--I'm new to this---my daughhter, Sarah, was diagnosed with large B-cell NHL last July--been in remission since Dec. after 6 CHOP and 21 radiation. How long have you been out of treatment---hard to get it off your mind?? Thanks for reply---mbc
  • savedbygrace
    savedbygrace Member Posts: 9

    Hi--I'm new to this---my daughhter, Sarah, was diagnosed with large B-cell NHL last July--been in remission since Dec. after 6 CHOP and 21 radiation. How long have you been out of treatment---hard to get it off your mind?? Thanks for reply---mbc

    dear rbc,it is very hard to get cancer out of one's mind. No matter how long one is in remission,it is always a recent memory. Great to hear that your daughter is in remission. How long ago was she diagnosed? It sounds like she has a great support system in you! Hang in there and try not to live your fear's but your faith.savedbygrace..ephesians 4:8-9
  • i've never done this before. i wait everydy for my cancer to be back. i know that is crazy but i can't get it off my mind..
  • serangels
    serangels Member Posts: 10
    unknown said:

    i've never done this before. i wait everydy for my cancer to be back. i know that is crazy but i can't get it off my mind..

    hi: my name is Susan and first let me say you are not crazy and you are not alone. I have had cancer twice and it Never Leaves Your MIND. I didn't know that it was normal to feel this way until I got on-line with all of you have that experienced it or is going through it with someone. I think savedbygrace said it better than anyone - live by faith not your fears. Even though it is very hard to do - this last time I have been in remission in April it will be 2 years that I was diagnosed and completed treatment in September 2002. I know how you feel and if you need someone to talk to please e-mail me at [email protected]. Sometimes the chat rooms get real busy and I am new to the chat and message board - so if you need to talk to someone please feel free to e-mail me. My thoughts and prayers are with all of you, those fighting the fight, and those fighting the fight with someone.
  • Pongster44
    Pongster44 Member Posts: 1

    Hi--I'm new to this---my daughhter, Sarah, was diagnosed with large B-cell NHL last July--been in remission since Dec. after 6 CHOP and 21 radiation. How long have you been out of treatment---hard to get it off your mind?? Thanks for reply---mbc

    Hi - I'm also new to this. My wife is stage 2 NHL and just took her 2nd CHOP treatment. She just finished 20 days of wretching and gagging with the mucous in her mouth daily. Does anyone know of a way to stop this or had anyone had the same problem?