Hello, my name is Charles and 3 years ago my life fell apart when I learned that I had Stage 4 Hodgkins Lymphoma. My lymphoma was in my lungs and elsewhere in my lymph system. I was diagnosed with Hilar Adenopathy and it was a tough battle to make it through Chemo. I did 6 months of ABVD and went every 2 weeks for treatment. I also took 1 shot of neulasta after my chemo, and I think that helped out a little but was extremely expensive, the neulasta was around $6,200.00 a shot. my hilar lymphnodes in my lungs started to become huge and become lymphoma tumors, also my right lung was filling up with fluid. i had a procedure done while i was waiting to start chemo that took the fluid off my lung and it was 1.5 liters. then a month later i started to die because the fluid was back and this time in my heart also. i was admitted to st. vincents and had a heart surgery 2 days later to save my life! chest tubes and all. i was in the heart ward for a week and could not even walk once the operation was finished. i had 700cc's of fluid on my heart and 2.3 liters of fluid on my right lung and I could barely breathe..I was begging God to spare me on an hourly basis. with the lymph nodes growing in my lungs and the fluid, my lungs were quitting..also with all the fluid on my heart it made it very difficult for my heart muscle to expand and contract. so the cardiologist installed a pericardial window in my heart so that if any more fluid built up during chemo then it would drain and i wouldnt have to have another surgery. once i was finally approved for chemo treatment and finished all the required testing i was amazed at the results. My breathing problems and constant coughing went away in about 2 weeks after starting chemo. Even though my lymphoma symptoms were improving and i was starting to eat again it still was a tough battle enduring the months of treatment. It is a miracle that I am alive today! I am here to help support anyone struggling with this nightmare.
|
|||
|
WOW you are a survivor I read your story and know that you truly are a miracle. I am newly dignosed last friday June 5 2009 and am having a biopsy to do staging of my lymphoma I am very scared of chemo I know there is many options for the hair loss and vomiting but still scared of the unknown. I know i am a fighter and i will survive this and hearing your story i have faith in my life. It is nice knowing there are people out there to support in every way. I also called the cancer society of america and they have so many programs that help with what ever you need. Like rides to and from your appt, money to heplp pay your copays and your bills that also helps so much.
Hello,
I am care giver to my 78 year old mother who has had mantel cell for over 10 years. She was given chemo and then rituxamab for maintenance. Now she has Bronchiactisis. SP?
She is in terrible pain and can barely breath and can not breath without oxygen.
We believe that the rituxamab has caused the Bronchiactisis (a side affect).
My mother has lived a good life, never smoked and had no lung issues until after the maintenance rituxamab.
We question, should she only have taken the rituxamab as a treatment for a flare up of the Mantel cell and not as a maintenance. I wonder how many people who have taken this drug as a maintence procedure now have lung issues?
It is just a question.
K
More than 80% of people with stage I or stage II disease are cured with chemotherapy followed by involved field radiation therapy. The cure rate of people with stage III disease ranges from 70 to 80%. Cure rates for people with stage IV disease, while not as high, are above 50%.
pt caderea parului