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My Cancer is back and I’m struggling to cope

EllaR27
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Last year I was diagnosed with NH lymphoma after being ill for months. I endured the hell of having 6 rounds of chemo, and despite spending what seemed like most of my life in hospital, I still kept up with schoolwork. I was given the all clear in February, and for the last few months I’ve been enjoying watching my hair grow back and my steroid weight and bloating is finally settling too. But my routine scan from last week showed swollen lymph nodes so I went in for a biopsy 3 days ago. I got a call today and it turns out that my cancer is back. It’s so unfair. I feel like I’ve served my time already. I can’t complain to anyone, because everyone expects me to just cope with it. My parents always tell me to stop moaning because it effects them just as much. But I feel like this isn’t fair of them to say. I can’t bear the thought of having to go through everything again. I don’t know what my treatment will be yet, but I’m hoping for low dose chemo. 

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    Hi Ella,

    How awful to be given the all clear, then to be told that the cancer is back.

    Hopefully the doctors will be able to come up with a treatment plan that is bearable for you. And hopefully you can find some small pleasures in life that will help you to stay positive while your life seems to revolve around the hospital.

  • Offline in reply to millnsy

     

    Hi Millnsy,

    Welcome to our forum.

    I am so sorry to hear about your mum. I have had 2 bouts of breast cancer in the past 11 years. First time I had a lumpectomy, followed by Tamoxifen. Almost a year to the day after my original surgery, I discovered another lump in the same breast. This time I had a double mastectomyfollowed by Letrozole for 6 years.

    I just wanted to let you know that there is still hope for your mum. It is most unfortunate that she has to go through chemo and radiotherapy again, but she will get through this. Try to support her as much as you can and try to keep her as positive as you can. Positivity is the key to getting through all these challenges that she is facing.

    Do please keep us updated on how she is getting on. We are always here for both of you.

    Kind regards,

    Jolamine xx

  • Offline in reply to Jolamine

    Hi Jolamine

    thank you so much for your reply. It’s comforting although not nice to hear that you have been through a similar time to my mum. I’ve never heard of anyone who’s had it come back so quickly.

    she has her oncology appointment tomorrow so we will find out the plan.

    i hope you’re doing well now & I will keep you posted as to how she gets on.

    im such a worrier & fret about everything but I am trying to keep positive she doesn’t need a negative nancy around her.

    thanks again

    ️ ️

  • Offline in reply to millnsy

     

    Hi Millnsy,

    My cancer was Mucinous, grade 1, with no lymph node involvment. This is one of the less aggressive forms of breast cancer, so we were all surprised when it came back. When I had my lumpectomy, the pathology results showed that I didn't have a clear margin post-surgery. However, my surgeon assured me that he had realiszed this at the time and taken an extra sliver.

    I had a different consultant second time around and he and I both suspect that there was still not enough tissue removed during my first operation.

    I hope that all goes well for your mum tomorrow and that she will feel better once she has a plan in place.

    You are quite right, this is not the time for negativity. We only get one life and we should embrace it and live it to the full, regardless of what googlies it throws at us along the way.

    It may be difficult for you, but what your mum needs is support and positivity above all else. I lost my mum to cancer 10 years before I was diagnosed, so I know how hard it can be to remain positive all the time. Howevere, if you can put a brave face on things when you are with your mum and, transmit an air of positivity, this will be of great help to her.

    I look forward to your upate on her plan.

    Kind regards,

    Jolamine xx

     

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