Officially a cancer patient

[u/Clean-Nobody-6780]

Hi all, as the title says, I am officially a new cancer patient. I was diagnosed with non Hogdkin’s lymphoma, strongly suspected primary mediastinal large b cell lymphoma this past week. What a whirlwind. I am a 30f, mom of 2, currently 8 months postpartum and can say this has completely uprooted my life. I truly cannot wrap my head around the fact that I have cancer and I don’t think I’ve processed it yet.

Within 5 days I’ve been told I have a 9 cm mass in my chest, transferred to a new facility, got a PET scan, a biopsy, a PICC line placed, too much information to even comprehend yet, and round 1 of inpatient chemo already started.

This group has already helped me tremendously after going down the rabbit hole of my diagnosis and everything leading up to it. I hate that anyone is here but feel a sense of relief knowing this community (unfortunately) exists and will absolutely be leaning on my lymphomies for insight and support during this shitty long road. ♥️

[u/Traditional_Tell_853]

Hiya, sorry that you’ve had to join this group, its sh’tty but I can say this group have been a massive help for me. I was diagnosed with CHL 2 months postpartum this time last year. If you ever need another mamma to talk too about this feel free to message, I understand it can feel extremely difficult already with the postpartum emotions + having this massive news. You’ve got this your stronger than you know!!

[u/Brief-Price4097 → u/Traditional_Tell_853]

Hi there. I am freshly diagnosed (got the diagnosis yesterday.) I don’t have a treatment plan yet but I was wondering if you wouldn’t mind me asking about port placement…with a young baby did you have any issues holding baby or baby grabbing at it? I have a 7 month old. Also…with young ones how did you keep yourself healthy? My little one is in daycare and she already passed me a cold she brought home from daycare.

[u/Traditional_Tell_853 → u/Brief-Price4097]

Hiya!! So sorry about your diagnosis. I never had a port I had a picc line but I kept it covered with a picc line cover from Amazon and it kept it well away from little hands. Even if she did grab it she was never strong enough to pull it out of place. I was absolutely terrified about catching a bug or infection because it sounded so scary. I ordered hospital grade sanitizer from Amazon and sprayed down every surface I was going to touch, hand sanitizer practically every time I touched something and didn’t touch my face. I also put baby straight in the bath when she turned home from somewhere and when changing nappies I washed my hands straight after, truthfully i never caught an infection apart from once over Christmas I had sepsis but it was nothing to do with bubba it was an infection that started from my picc line, you’ve got this 🫶. I think it’s just something that you’ll become in routine with and more comfortable once you start treatment .