Hi Carrie

Just wanted to welcome you to the forum.  Though none of us would choose to join because of the reasoning behind that choice, I have found it to be very supportive and informative in times of need.

I do not have any personal experience of what  you are facing (it was my husband who had cancer of a different type).  I am sure by my replying it will send your post 'to the top of the pile again; so to speak, and hope others will soon be along to chat.  Hopefully you will get clearer details at your follow up appointment tomorrow and do take pen/paper  to help you remember your questions and jot down notes.  It helped us enormously to have notes to refer to after consultations as 'brain fog' set in whilst there!  I am not sure of the age of your children but there is a section on the main Cancer Research UK site on how to speak to children which may be worth a look when the time is right for you to let them know what is happening.  all the very best with the further treatment and do let the foru m know how you get on if you would like to.  Jules 54

Hello Carrie,

Firstly welcome to Cancer Chat. I am so sorry to hear about your results, hopefully you will feel a little calmer when you have seen your haemotologist tomorrow. There are many types of lymphoma, both Hodgkins,which is generally aggresive, and non Hodgkins, which can be both aggresive or indolent. Treatment will vary according to which type you have.

I have had Follicula Non Hodgkins lymphoma for eight years, with one relapse two years ago. Once you have a treatment plan things do start to fall into place and the shock does start to fade.

My advice to you is to tell your children though as best you can. When I was in my early teens my Mother had breast cancer and my parents chose not to tell me and I found out in a very cruel way from a third party. There is always someone who will tell them if you don't, it is far less of a shock when it comes from you.

I hope your appointment tomorrow is helpful and you can start to see your way forward.

Thinking of you,

Christine.

Hello Carrieanne,

I noticed you have already received a very warm welcome on the forum and some great advice from jules54 and Wolfhound. I am glad you can talk to someone else here like Wolfhound who has also had lymphoma.

So I will just add the link to the page Jules was suggesting which looks into how to talk to children about cancer. You can find it here and I hope it is useful to you.

Best wishes and a big welcome to our forum,

Lucie, Cancer Chat Moderator

Thank you for your responses, it was really helpful to read them before I went off to my appointment yesterday.  It's nice to feel that I'm not on my own so I really appreciate your support.

The appointment was very informative, and very overwhelming! But I was prepared with pen and paper as advised :-)

I have high grade NHL lymphoma, and the consultant seemed very positive about my prognosis which was a relief  I am due to start 6 rounds of chemotherapy ASAP which is pretty scary, but I feel better knowing that there is a plan in place. 

I have also now discussed it all with my children, I felt better placed to once I had information to hand to answer any questions they have. 

So now I just have to begin the treatment, it is a real help reading your posts, thank you x

. 

Hello Carrie,

It's good to hear that your consultant was positive and that your appointment was constructive. It is very overwhelming to begin with, I remember my first appointment with my chap and feeling as though I was having some sort of out of body experience, as though I was looking at myself having this conversation! I was told later that this is a form of shock. Very strange!

Chemo is not as frightening as we first think, I have been through this twice and the medication to stop side effects and the support we are given is very good.

I do hope all goes well for you, I expect it will all start very quickly now,

Christine x

Hi Carrie

I am sure you felt totally overwhelmed and its a lot to take in but that appointment behind you now and you have a treatment plan which your consultant sounds very good about which can lift your spirits a little. My hubby had a bit of chemo and  you may well sale through it (a friend of mine who had a good few cycles for breast cancer and whose side effects differed every time  said  it was worth the effort to feel better at the end of treatment). 

I am glad you have discussed your health with the children (not sure how old they might be).  When you have the facts its somehow easier to put it into words to the family, maybe because we feel more in control once we understand.

Hope the forum can continue to be a source of support whenever you need to chat things through. Enjoy whats left of the weekend.  I had family buffet lunch yesterday (kids, grandkids and sister in law) and much fun in the garden with 'Swingball' and sand/water table (new treat for this year) whilst I watched and enjoyed a chat.  Take care.  Jules

Thank you wolfhound,

How are you now? 

In a strange way I want to get the chemo started... It's scary, but I want to feel that I'm on my way to being well again. 

X

 Hello, Carrie, its certainly good to hear you sounding so much more positive and I do hope your chemo starts soon.  I am glad Wolfhound can provide some help to you, always good to have someone who has been through it.  Wishing you all the best.

Hi Carrie, having seen a close family member go through chemotherapy for NHL eighteen months ago, and am now myself currently having radiotherapy for bilateral breast cancer, I  can totally understand where your are at the moment.

He had to go to London for two days of treatment each month and really had to be persuaded to attend the last two sessions but since then has had the all clear at each review and is, I am happy to say, back to living life to the full.

Our attitudes towards it all were at total opposites though, he was in complete denial and just went along with the treatment in "blissful ignorance" whereas I want to know anything and everything all the way through . My consultant jokes with me about all my questions but is more than happy to spend the time answering them all, for which I am very grateful.

I wish you all the very best for your treatment and hope you don't have too long a wait to start. Like anything in life, the anticipation is often worse than the actual process and I am sure you will soon get used to the routine. 

Take care  Sue xx

Hi Carrieanne

Like you I am newly-ish diagnosed. I had surgery four weeks ago and I am starting chemotherapy on Thursday. I am anxious and scared but at the same time I am keen to start as it means that I am on my way to being rid of this awful disease. I am making a point of staying as positive as possible....my oncologist laughed when I said I intended to have no side effects lol 

Stay strong and stay in touch 

M x