hi gabrielle

i too was diagnosed with a low grade nhl also known as chronic lymphocytic luekeamia/small lymphocytic lymphoma and after four months needed chemotherapy which was a combination of drugs known as fcr which stands for fludarabine,cyclophosphimide,and rituximab,which worked well although i did have a few problems but did not lose any hair although they do warn you that it can happen but does not seem to happen to many people but as they say everyone is different,and what happens for one may not happen to the next,and they also say that this combination of drugs is usually well tolerated,but again you can never tell,as it was with me the chemo tablets which were the fludarabine and cyclophosphimide that i took did knock me for six,but then when i had to go to hospital for the rituximab,which was intravenusley fed that was no problem and actually quite relaxing as it takes up to 5 hrs to get into your system and i enjoyed talking to other people who where recieving treatment for different cancers,but were always upbeat and very uplifting,so try not to worry too much and see what they have to say on monday and hopefully your fears may not be realised,so take care and if you dont mind let me know what happens.

jeff hugz to you x

To dad1929 , thank you so much for your reply. I am glad that I joined this site as I am sure it will help, especially when I'm feeling really down. I will certainly post you on the outcome of Monday. You don't mention how you are yourself at the moment - feeling well I hope.

Hugs from me too x

hi gabrielle

well that`s good news for you and it`s funny that you mention cures as they are making inroads towards treatment and are hopeful of good results in the future,and you can find the information on a site called patient power  and when you get to the site look under health topics and it guides you to where you will find the latest updates on cll,so it`s worth a look,but you are right it can hang over you but you must try to get on with things the best you can,so as for me i am back at hospital on the 23rd jan and depending on how my blood results are and how i am feeling in general will determine how my working life will pan out in the coming months,but i will just have to wait and see,so for now take care and anytime you want to talk just pop on here and i will be glad to listen.

  jeff hugz x

Hi Jeff

I looked at the patient power website thay you mentioned and it is very helpful. Thank you. The fact that you take such a positive outlook is great and I think is helping me to be the same. What is the point of worrying after all....it can't help anything (easier said than done sometimes of course). Many thanks again for the encouraging chats. I will be thinking of you on the 23rd and really hope all goes well. How lovely it would be if you could go back to your old working life.....take care..

gabrielle xx

hi gabrielle

how are you today,and it`s nice to see you feeling a bit more positive and also more support for you from africa and parfait which is always welcome so keep posting as it really does help,so for now take care and take it easy.

jeff hugz to you.

Hi Jeff

I am feeling much more positive about things and hearing all your stories helps a lot. I don't have my ultrasound appointment yet but am not allowing myself to worry about that. Hope you are a bit less fatigued. Keep posting me and let me know how you are getting on.

gabrielle xx

Hi Jeff - hope all goes well for you on Monday. I have my ultrasound on Thursday.

gabrielle xx

hi gabrielle

thanks for that and good luck to you also for thursday,as it is with me,i sort of feel a little bit under pressure as someone at work has requested that the occupational health get my back on my normal job,but then again it doesn`t make any difference because i will only do my normal job if and when i feel fit enough to do so,but you always get one that has to try to chance their arm and make themselves look clever,but again as it is i am having trouble with my stomach which is something i will discuss with my consultant amongst other things,i am also going to mention that site i told you about and how excited that they seem to bee about the future of treatment and see what they know of things so i will keep you informed about everthing as soon as i can,so for noe take care and try to keep them positive thoughts going.

jeff. hugz n xx

Hi Jeff

Just ask all the questions you want answers to. As you say, there is always one at work who tries stir things up. Occupational Health CANNOT make you resume your normal job if you are not up to it. Let me know how you get on. My consultant says the night sweats are not connected with the lymphoma but I am not convinced. Will see if the ultrasound shows up any probs with the spleen etc. Get back to me after Monday and let me know what they say and what answers you get.

Take care

gabrielle xx

hi gabrielle

how did things go for you the other day then,and how are you doing,as for my hospital visit on monday things went reasonably well as my bloods were normal for the second time in succession and everything seems to be going well on the cancer front so i dont have to go back for another 2 months,although i have been having trouble with my stomach which may be the hiatus hernia that i suffer from so the doc recommends that i have the camera down my throat for further investigations but i can honestly say that i am not a fan of that but if it has to be then so be it,anyway i hope all is well with you and i look forward to heariong from you.

  jeff hugz to you x

Hi Jeff

Had my ultrasound - the radiographer said she couldn't find anything "lurking" in my stomach so that's good - next clinic appointment on 20 Feb. Having the camera down your throat is not pleasant I know but I guess the experts know best what to do - hope it's not too bad for you. I am still having the night sweats but not quite as much so don't know what that is all about. Glad your bloods were normal - I'll have a blood test before my next appt. Keep in touch and I hope the stomach troubles improve.

gabrielle xx

hi gabrielle

i just thought i would enquire how are you doing today as i have been busy at work and dont seem to get as much time to check up on how people are doing but its the weekend again so a bit more time on my hands,as for me i have just finished the months supply of tablets that the doc gave me for my stomach and although there has not been a great deal of improvement i am going to try one more week on my normal dose of tablets and then if things are not right i will discuss with the doc about the camera down my throat although i am not convinced that it has anything to do with what i eat but we will see ,and as for work i am not doing too bad either as itold you they wated me back on my normal job but i am not ready for that yet but i feel i am getting stronger and they have got me doing something else for the time being and it can get quite strenous but i can manage so i will keep you up to speed on that one,anyway i hope that you are fine and i look forward to hearing from you so take care and keep positive.

  jeff hugz x

hi gabrielle

i just thought i would enquire how are you doing today as i have been busy at work and dont seem to get as much time to check up on how people are doing but its the weekend again so a bit more time on my hands,as for me i have just finished the months supply of tablets that the doc gave me for my stomach and although there has not been a great deal of improvement i am going to try one more week on my normal dose of tablets and then if things are not right i will discuss with the doc about the camera down my throat although i am not convinced that it has anything to do with what i eat but we will see ,and as for work i am not doing too bad either as itold you they wated me back on my normal job but i am not ready for that yet but i feel i am getting stronger and they have got me doing something else for the time being and it can get quite strenous but i can manage so i will keep you up to speed on that one,anyway i hope that you are fine and i look forward to hearing from you so take care and keep positive.

  jeff hugz x

Hi Jeff

Yes I have been busy too but the weekend gives a bit more time. I'm glad you're managing the work ok although it must be tiring. I'm feeling ok at the mo (inspite of a horrendous cold). Just looking forward to some warmer weather as I'm permanently freezing. Keep in touch and let me know how you are getting on when you have time.

gabrielle xx

Hi Jeff

I think you posted me a message quite recently but for some reason I don't seem to be able to find it!  Hope you're doing ok. I'm still watch and wait - next appointment June 18.

Take care

Gabrielle x

hi gabrielle

i tried to send a message to you but it said you could not receive,but anyway i will keep trying,so just to let you know how i`m doing,i`m back on two shifts at the minute which are dayshift 7-3 and backshift which is 3-11 and its not going too bad,and i have to see occupational health nurse at work on the 26th mar with a view to doing nightshift as well, providing everything is ok,which so far touch wood it is,anyway i hope everything is fine with you and good luck for june so for now take care.

jeff hugz n x