Update after my 4th treatment. 
I had my 4th treatment las5 Thursday. I really did not want to go because I have not had a good day for about 3 weeks. I was originally told that I would be taking a break to have tests and scans. 
It has been decided that I will continue my programme without a break. I keep getting reminded that the Chemo is the most important thing. I have seen my consultant today and my PET scan will take place over the next few days. The results will take sometime will determine if the cancer is reducing. I will also be reducing one of my Chemo meds to protect my Lungs but this is standard after the amount of chemo I have had so far. 
I’ve managed a walk today for the first time in a while. Hopefully I can keep it up and move a lot more over the nex5 week until my next treatment. 
im staying positive and hoping for more “normal” days. 

Best wishes to all 

Update after 5th Treatment. 
I had my PET-CT scan last Tuesday. I was stressing about the result. As long as the cancer cells reduced then I could continue with my treatment. 
I had my 5th treatment on Thursday. They did not have my result and the other two who are on the same programme as me didn’t get there’s either. 
the hospital did decide to reduce the chemo medication that could damage the lungs if used to much. 
I contacted the treatment centre yesterday to ask about the results. I was told that the cells are reducing as required. I was not given a figure but as long as it is going in the right direction. 
my only concern is my immune system numbers are on the very low side. It’s making me more aware of my surroundings. 
my heart meds have also been changed due to low blood pressure. 
I had a good week leading up to my treatment. Fingers crossed I have a few more of them to come. 
onwards and upwards with a positive attitude

Best wishes to all 

Well done i bet it’s a relief to know it’s all going on the right direction wishing you luck with treatment 6  - I had my treatment delayed because of low bloods count so I know how u feel about that , it makes you very aware of being extra careful not to pick any nasty bugs up off anyone.

Update after treatment 6. 
The chemo day went well. I’ve felt my usual after treatment mainly fatigue. My blood pressure is consistent after a reduction in my medication. Luckily my local GP asks for weekly readings. I got a copy of my PET-SCAN report. The cancer nurse explained it to me. I wanted to know if the cells were reducing in size or disappearing. Apparently it’s both. The cancer has reduced by about 95%. This is amazing news and it means I can continue with my present course of 6 more sessions. The downside is that my immune system is still reducing. Again I have been advised to be more careful of being around people and to monitor any temperature rise. 
onwards and upwards. 
regards 

Very well done that’s such good news 95% improvement at only halfway point is amazing and I’m genuinely so happy for you Freckkledon. Update on myself is I have had cycle 2 and it went just that sam as the first cycle only this time I have to inject myself for 5 days with Filgrastim to boost my white blood cells. Onwards and upwards for us and I look forward to hearing about your chemo 7 good l k- stay strong  positive

Hi Freckledone I was wondering how you are doing and hope all is well with you. I have one more chemo to go and my halfway scan was looking fairly good  by 75% shrinkage of a bulky mass so not as good as yours but still good  hope your nearly finished with chemo.

Update after treatment 7,8 & 9

sorry for the delay in my updates. I went back to get treatment No7 but the day before I had a temperature. The decision was made to delay treatment for a week. I was told not to take paracetamol to get my temperature down. All it does is surppress the infection. I was told to go to hospital in the future so that they can find out what the infection is. 

I  returned a week later and my blood results were really good. This to me was a positive sign that when my chemo is over my body should be able to recover. I also thought because my blood results were good that I was going to have an easier time during treatment no7. I was so wrong. 
I suffered for 2 weeks. Fatigue, dizziness, loss of appetite, shakes. I seemed to go from one treatment to the next without a break.

I have got treatment No10 on Thursday. I have to keep looking at the positives and realise that I only have 3 more treatments to go.

Other positives are my finger nails are growing, I’m not used to having to trim them so much. I have gained weight after my initial weight loss and the hair on my face has started to grow back. ( feeling like a teenager again with bum fluff)  

 
I noticed that a couple of my toe nails had turned black. I arranged through my doctor to see a chiropodist. She explained that it was a side effect of the chemo and that it was nothing to worry about, She has asked me to see if anymore go black and to contact her if I have anymore concerns. 

Rebecca, That is really good news. Thank you for posting the reply it gave me the incentive to put this update.

Thanks for the update I’m So glad to hear from you and u seem to be doing much better now and treatment is nearer to the end. You’re not alone with felling worn out with it all I feel the same too, I think the more cycles you have the more tired you get and it takes longer to get over,. I havnt had any probs with nails but hair is still non existent. 

Update after treatment 10 & 11. 
Again I must apologise for not putting an update after each treatment. I feel that the chemo has really started to take its toll on me. My blood levels are still dropping and this is causing the rest of body to go into reserve mode. I feel like I am running on fumes. I have lost my appetite and I am so tired. I know that these side effects are not unusual but they are a lot worse at the moment. I cannot get any normal days in between treatment. 

my white blood cell count should be between 1 & 7. At the last test it had dropped to 0.07 

I ending up in A&E yesterday due to struggling to breath and felling like all my organs had been kicked to pieces. It appears that my body is struggling to process my waste and it is backed up causing pressure on my organs. I was allowed home after some time spent on an antibiotic and a painkiller drip. I want to get my last treatment out of the way next week and then spend time getting over the side effects. Christmas can wait until I am fit enough and I have an appetite

I have also been getting assistance from McMillan Cancer care at the hospital. I have had complimentary treatment and they have assisted me in arranging some rehabilitation work to get my fitness back. If you get the chance, speak to the staff who are very helpful 

I would finally like to add my praise for the cancer team I have been dealing with. They are all so friendly and take a genuine interest in what I am doing and my treatment. 

I shall make an effort next week to put an update after my final treatment. 

Hi Freckledone,thanks for updating , I know how you feel as I feel the same I feel like I have been kicked everywhere, I had my last cycle last week, also lost my appetite, white blood cells are always low- I started drinking ensure supplements to try and maintain my weight, and also been offered help from cancer care nurse with exercise to build myself up but I haven't got the energy just yet - the thing I am finding the hardest is I will now have to wait 6 weeks for a scan and then probably 10 days for results. I do hope you start to feel better soon and o am wishing you well.

Thank you Rebecca. Please keep me updated. 

Hello. It’s been a while since I sat and put anything on this forum and I apologise for that because I know that it was good for me to put down in writing what I was going through. 
I had my last chemo session in December and I got to ring the bell which was a very satisfying day.
During December I started to get severe back pain. This began to get worse after my last treatment. I spoke to my doctor and I was prescribed various painkillers including patches. These had no effect and I was eventually given morphine tablets and morphine syrup to take as required. This really started to slow me down but it was still not reducing the pain. I was sent for an MRI in January and it showed that I had 3 fractured bones in my spine. The probable Cause of this was the chemotherapy. I was given a zoldronic acid infusion to strengthen my bones. 
I contined on the strong medication but the pain was so much that I was admitted into hospital and I was seen by a specialist spinal department who put me on a waiting list!

We also saw the haematologist who told me that there was no evidence of disease. This should have been a jubilant day but the back pain was causing so many problems.

 I was sent for another MRI and x-rays. I was seen by 2 consultants. One was at a specialist spinal unit. He said that I had at least 3 fractures and he recommended a procedure called Elevative Balloon Kyphoplasty. This involved inserting a needle into the collapsed bone, filling it up with a balloon and then injecting cement into the cavity to fill the gap and to stabilise the bone. The consultant believed the damage was caused due to a mixture of the cancer and the chemo. 

Four weeks ago I underwent surgery. The consultant said that he would fill the bones that had collapsed. He eventually filled 6 bones. The surgery took 5 hours. The difference was immediate. I have been able to sit up straighter but the jubilation was short lived. I feel that I have not progressed much in the last 4 weeks. The wounds have healed up and so I am allowed to go swimming and do exercises in the pool as well as use an exercise bike. 
We saw the consultant again last week and after another x-Ray he wants me to see the haematologist for a follow up as he has concerns for another 4 bones in my spine. 
I was due to have follow up appointments after being told there was no evidence of disease. I have called to arrange this but I have been told that I don’t need so many follow up appointments and that I am on a list. 
I have a phone appointment tomorrow with a rheumatologist who might be able to chase up the haematologist. 
I have not been able to reduce my pain medication at the present time. 

Sorry it’s not the best news after my treatment. It’s been a long 12 months since my diagnosis and I was hoping by now I would be back on my feet and getting my “normal” life back. It’s just another obstacle that I am sure with the help of my ever supporting wife we will get through. 

Hello. It’s been a while since I sat and put anything on this forum and I apologise for that because I know that it was good for me to put down in writing what I was going through. 
I had my last chemo session in December and I got to ring the bell which was a very satisfying day.
During December I started to get severe back pain. This began to get worse after my last treatment. I spoke to my doctor and I was prescribed various painkillers including patches. These had no effect and I was eventually given morphine tablets and morphine syrup to take as required. This really started to slow me down but it was still not reducing the pain. I was sent for an MRI in January and it showed that I had 3 fractured bones in my spine. The probable Cause of this was the chemotherapy. I was given a zoldronic acid infusion to strengthen my bones. 
I contined on the strong medication but the pain was so much that I was admitted into hospital and I was seen by a specialist spinal department who put me on a waiting list!

We also saw the haematologist who told me that there was no evidence of disease. This should have been a jubilant day but the back pain was causing so many problems.

 I was sent for another MRI and x-rays. I was seen by 2 consultants. One was at a specialist spinal unit. He said that I had at least 3 fractures and he recommended a procedure called Elevative Balloon Kyphoplasty. This involved inserting a needle into the collapsed bone, filling it up with a balloon and then injecting cement into the cavity to fill the gap and to stabilise the bone. The consultant believed the damage was caused due to a mixture of the cancer and the chemo. 

Four weeks ago I underwent surgery. The consultant said that he would fill the bones that had collapsed. He eventually filled 6 bones. The surgery took 5 hours. The difference was immediate. I have been able to sit up straighter but the jubilation was short lived. I feel that I have not progressed much in the last 4 weeks. The wounds have healed up and so I am allowed to go swimming and do exercises in the pool as well as use an exercise bike. 
We saw the consultant again last week and after another x-Ray he wants me to see the haematologist for a follow up as he has concerns for another 4 bones in my spine. 
I was due to have follow up appointments after being told there was no evidence of disease. I have called to arrange this but I have been told that I don’t need so many follow up appointments and that I am on a list. 
I have a phone appointment tomorrow with a rheumatologist who might be able to chase up the haematologist. 
I have not been able to reduce my pain medication at the present time. 

Sorry it’s not the best news after my treatment. It’s been a long 12 months since my diagnosis and I was hoping by now I would be back on my feet and getting my “normal” life back. It’s just another obstacle that I am sure with the help of my ever supporting wife we will get through. 

Hi Freckledone

I’m so sorry to hear about all the pain you have been in with your spine and hope you in a better place today, I have been wondering how you were doing I’m so glad you got the all clear from the lymphoma and you won that battle, I think I’m winning too I finished 20 rounds of radiotherapy then waited 3 months for a scan, I have one lymph node still looking active to I waiting for a small operation to remove it and go from there, it’s been a long 12 months here too, and I often think will I ever feel the same again,.

I hope your on the mend and on top of that pain medication, I’m  sure your ever supporting wife is cheering you on to keep on winning and you will soon have to life back to a new normality, Best wishes to you Both.