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JDoll 
4:26pm, September 12, 2009
My name is Julie and I am 41 years old. I have an 8-year-old son, Jacob, and a 16-year-old stepdaughter, Elizabeth. I am married to a wonderful guy named Erik. I work as a pharmaceutical sales representative for Pfizer and live near Indianapolis. Aside from this Hodgkin's stuff, I'm a very healthy person. 
I am, in fact, irritated that this interrupted my Tae Bo workouts. Grrrr!!!
My Hodgkin's journey began on February 2, 2009. I noticed a lump near my left clavicle. Fast forward through the month of diagnostic testing to February 26 when I received the official diagnosis: HL mixed cell stage 2a. Shocking, as it is for most. I was blindsided because I never felt sick. I was actually starting to train for a mini marathon. Sigh.
Looking back over time, however, there were some hints. I had unexplained itching on my chest wall for over a year. Through this winter I started itching all over, but I just attributed it to dry winter skin. Over two years ago I had recurrent pinkeye (four or five times!) when no one else in my house had it. Then, this past December I had a double ear infection and sinus infection that took three weeks of antibiotics to kick. I was totally miserable unlike any other bacterial illness I've had.
I met with my oncologist on February 27th and he totally put me at ease. My primary care office was "knee jerking" all month long and had gotten me quite freaked out, but the oncologist acted as though he was treating me for a minor skin rash. It felt good to not be treated like a medical freak show. My Dad is a pediatrician, and he accompanied me to this visit, along with my husband and my Mom. It was great to have the doctor-to-doctor discourse. I then had a second opinion at Indiana University with the hematologist who is in charge of the bone marrow transplant program. He concurred with my oncologist's treatment plan - six cycles of ABVD, no radiation. The reason they don't recommend radiation in my situation is because I had several affected nodes in my chest cavity, and radiation would hit too many vital organs. This would put me at higher risk for secondary cancers down the road.
My ABVD treatments began on March 6th, the day after my son's 8th birthday. I had a PET/CT scan on April 24th (after my fourth treatment), and I was already in remission!!! NED!! I just finished my last (12th) treatment on August 7th. I had a follow-up PET/CT scan on September 9th, and it was all clear. I'm getting my chemo port removed on September 14th. Time to start enjoying 2009!
"That which does not kill us makes us stronger." Friedrich Nietzsche
Comments
You definitely have the right attitude Julie. I never had any symptoms when I was diagnosed with 3A Hodgkins this time last year. With some dietary changes and supplements, I tolerated the 6 cycles of ABVD quite well too. For the 6 months following, I had some 'scar' spots remaining on scans byt they were inactive so I went on with life, getting stronger all the time and in fact, began training for a triathlon in january. Unfortunately, my March CT scan showed growth of my residual nodes and ironically a new one behind my left clavicle. This is definitely cramping my style! I've been told I'm one of the very few that ABVD does not work on and I'll have to have a stem cell transplant. You have a fantastic attitude and I'm sure everyone tells you that that is KEY in this disease. I'm confident that you will do great, as will I and we will be back at our kick boxing classes and training in no time. As you said in your quote, we will just be stronger as a result. You know, I already DO feel stronger physically and spiritually than I was before this disease entered my life. It sounds like you're the kind of person who will find this too.
Warm thoughts for great health!
Dominica
domwilldoit
Fuck CANCER! I know that sounds vulgar.. and I do apologize... but how well does that exactly pinpoint what you wanna say??
God is LOVE!
Cassiopeia
I love your positive attitude. I didn't really feel sick at all either. Some of the symptoms I had such as night swetas had been previously related to another medication I am on. I also had the itchy skin, but like you I figured it was winter so it was dry skin. My oncologist also made me feel more at ease. My health care team and family have been amazing. Good luck with the remaining chemo!
buzzbeamer
I had itchy skin (terrible, terrible itching!) for 2 years. And night sweats. Military health care is terrible- they told me it (the itching) was in my head! I keep reading more and more that others are itchy with Lymphoma.... I really hope word gets out on this symptom! BTW, I also was quite into fitness... going to join the YMCA (again) tomorrow...
shoediva72
I have extremely itchy back, enlarged and growing abdominal lymph nodes and enlarged spleen...I was just referred to a Hematologist....any opinions if this is lymphoma...worried sick.
kolbi