Recurrent HL

Hello, everybody!  

I first was diagnosed with classic HL in 2011, 2A with a mass in the right supraclavicular node, and another mediastinal mass.  I must have joined this network then, because my email was registered when I went to "join" tonight.  I just don't remember posting here.  I think I read a lot, but didn't feel I had much to contribute.

I went through 4 courses (8 total treatments) of ABVD in 2011, from May through Mid-August.  PET scan after the last chemo was clear.

In September, 2011, I had a total of 4 zaps of radiation before I developed pericardits, and had to stop.  In November, after recovering somewhat from the pericarditis, and getting a second opinion about this - it was decided that I would not have any further radiation treatment.

In February of 2012, after a 6 month CT scan, I was found to have pleural effusion in both lungs (and I HAD wondered why I was still short of breath).  There was enough in the right lung to have it drained (thoracentsis).  The fluid was found not to contain cancer cells - big relief.

In the meantime, actually in December of 2011, my husband was diagnosed with stage IV bladder cancer, and started treatment, had lots of complications.  He had seen me through HL and chemo (I had a lot of pain and whatnot), and now I could see him through his treatments.  I am so grateful that I had chemo before him - it really helped me to understand what he was going through, emotionally and physically. 

Doug fought the bladder cancer until he went into the arms of God and angels on 3/17/2013.   I still cry, am crying now.  My best friend, the love of my life.  My superman.  I had promised to love him all the way through the door when it was time, and God granted me the gift of being with him through it all.  We loved/love each other - twin flames and soul mates. 

I spent most of the rest of 2013 just existing.  I had inflammation in the old HL tumor site near my right collarbone (supraclavicular node), but I'd had enough of hospitals and doctors, and I was lost without Doug.  I did nothing.  I just didn't care.  I ate too much, drank too much, vegetated, hugged my dog and cat.

Finally, I started meeting with a therapist for grief counseling in the fall of 2013, which helped.  In Januray, 2014, I went to see my oncologist, and after tests, and surgery on the old tumor site in March, I was diagnosed with recurrent Hodgkin's Lymphoma.

So this time around I will be receiving ICE, then radiation, then stem cell transplant.  All this will start in mid-July.  The reason for the delay is that HL has returned to ONLY the area near my neck, and it's not in the lymph nodes but in the subcutaneous tissue near my collarbone (which Dr. Takvorian has said is VERY unusual), and I am lucky that there is no need to rush.  My sister can't come to help until late July, and I live alone and so I'm lucky and blessed she'll be able to come out.  What an angel she is - and she's an RN!

Long post, and I hope nobody got bored! I just want to introduce myself, and I hope I can contribute in some way to this forum, and I know I'll learn and receive a lot from all the other survivors here!  

(((Hugs)))