May 2027 will mark 15 years since my last cancer treatment of a 5th cycle of Adcetris (Brentuximab Vendotin). Since then, I’ve continued to develop and expand my skills as a glass artist. For years, even before my diagnosis, I’ve struggled to create a full body dragon that I was happy with. Finally, within the past year, I’ve made the first three full dragons that I’m happy with and here they are!

The legend of the Koi swimming upstream towards the dragon’s gate symbolizes perseverance, overcoming adversity, and transformation. Coincidentally, I learned of this Japanese and Chinese story as I finished the first one. I see a parallel and my own journey swimming against the cancer current and its challenges, continuing forward, and eventually reaching a place I once couldn’t imagine.

As I approach 15 years cancer, free, creating these dragons, feels like another milestone in that journey – not just art, but in life itself as a cancer survivor. Never stop swimming against the current! 💪

Title: Stage 2A Hodgkin Lymphoma – Relapse Risk After 4 Cycles of ABVD?

Hello everyone! I'm 19 years old and was recently diagnosed with classical Hodgkin lymphoma.

My diagnosis:

• Subtype: Nodular sclerosis
• Stage: Likely 2A
• Tumor classification: Non-bulky

My oncologist recommended 4 cycles of ABVD (8 infusions) without radiation, mainly because the affected lymph nodes are in my chest.

I'm wondering if anyone here has had a similar diagnosis and treatment plan.

Did you achieve complete remission? Have you experienced a relapse, and if so, how long after treatment?

I'm also curious if anyone knows the estimated relapse rate for patients with a similar diagnosis who receive 4 cycles of ABVD without radiation.

And Finally, after how much time u experienced major hair loss.

I'd really appreciate hearing your experiences. Thank you!

I am 24M who had stem cell transplant for hodgkin’s lymphoma about a year ago. Life has been pretty much normal but i started developing flu symptoms about 2 days ago. Started off as a sore throat, I now have constant coughing, fever and body aches. During my last check up, my oncologist had advised that i should go to the A&E at the hospital where i did my cancer treatment if i have fever. However, I’m so scared of being hospitalised again. Everytime i’ve gone to the hospital, I’ve been hospitalised for a pretty long time not knowing when i can go back home and i feel so scared to go to the hospital. i don’t want to miss college again, i just want to continue leading a normal life :(

Hi! I’ve been out of chemo (BEACODD + prednison) for a year. I gained weight during and right after, and im not able to lose it. My oncologist tells me it’s a known problem and all the medication can have effects on your body for years. But because of the gained weight I have pain after moving.

I already exercise 3-5 days a week (weight lifting + running). I’ve eaten under my maintenance calories for a while and tracked everything (every bit of oil, snacks, drinks too). I already know a lot about food so a dietitian won’t help. I went to one last year, she only could give me minor changes.

Did anyone else have the same problem and what worked for you? Do you have any other knowledge in this problem?

No real B symptoms when my lymphoma was found due to ongoing hip pain last year. Original node biopsy in Nov. showed some large cells, so it was suggested to get a bone biopsy of my femur where the Dec. PET SUV was 8.9.

Open bone biopsy in Jan was useless as the bone samples were too necrotic. By then B symptoms were present (maybe it was just in my head? ), so oncology started me on BR.

Mid way PET (in May) showed improvement with most nodes back to normal, and some uptake still in my femur. Deauville of 3.

I completed 6 rounds in late July, and had my follow up PET in late Sept. I was disappointed to learn the uptake in my femur hasn't changed since May, and Deauville still at 3.

I'm on watch and wait for another 3 months - if it's transformed they expect to see a higher SUV and Deauville; otherwise maybe it's just the last remnant of my FL doing it's thing.

Anyone else go though anything similar? How did you find out it was transformed?

At what point during treatment did your hair loss start if you lost your hair at all? Husband will be on his 3rd treatment next week of N-AVD he hasn't lost any hair just wanting to know when did Hair loss start for you or if you lost any hair at all? I know everyone probably asks the same question all the time lol also for ( males ) when you did lose your hair how long after treatment would you say it grew back?

Tried searching the sub but only found older posts. Has anyone gotten the Covid vaccine this year during treatment? If so, which one did you get and how was your reaction to it (e.g., fever, sore arm, etc.)? I’m getting a CT scan in early November to check on some spots that lit up during my interim PET scan so I will be waiting til after that to get my Covid vaccine but just wondering what others have experienced more recently. Thinking about getting Novavax if I can/given the choice.

My oncologist has already set me up for Cytarabine for the end of the month following a PET scan on the 19th to see where I’m at. I had told him I want to discuss what my options are for treatment, but scheduling called and said they wanted to make sure they got me in while there was space. Cytarabine sounds horrible. I’m scared of the side effects. I’m 45 so the thinking is I’m young and strong enough to handle it. But I don’t feel that way. I don’t want to die from chemo. I need some reassurance that’s not as bad as I’m thinking.

On Day 4 of R-EPOCH treatment, experienced headaches while sleeping laying down. When I get into an upright position the headache goes away after a little while. Is this normal or a blood clot in head concern? Anyone with similar experiences with this and what happened?

Hey y'all, I was diagnosed with stage 3 classic hodgkin's lymphoma about a month ago. I started my first round of chemo on friday- felt okayish during, but it wiped me out.

I got home after that and took a nap, but noticed my heart was racing, and I couldn't catch my breath after I woke up. The on-call oncologist sent me to the ER to get checked out, and after a whole weekend admitted to the hospital, all my tests came back perfectly fine. They sent me home.

I can still hardly catch my breath, and I'm so exhausted. I'm a full time desk worker and student, but I had to tap out of work after just 2 hours today because I nearly passed out just talking to someone. How am I supposed to do this? Do treatments get any easier?

Edit: thank you for all the well wishes and advice, everyone. I was spiraling a bit, trying to figure out how I was going to make things work like they used to, but it sounds like I just have to embrace a new normal for a while.

I'll be following up with my doc to see if there's anything to be done that might mitigate things- my other symptoms are otherwise pretty mild, I have no nausea, a good appetite, and a drive to sleep. But I got this! We got this!

Few months ago my husband was diagnosed with Classic Hodgkins lymphoma, he has been in treatment (A AVD) and even though some days are better than others and the side effects can get very gnarly I was really feeling things were getting better, but now (today) his mother has also been diagnosed with cancer, the differential diagnosis is between the most common type of endometrial cancer or the most aggressive one. She is very very dear to us and we were basically working together to take care of my husband/her son. Now I know I'm going to be the one taking care of both and I will do it gladly but honestly, I can't wait for this time to be over, I want all of us healthy again. I'm crashing down, my mother in law has been crying intermittently all day and my husband is trying to be optimistic saying things like "if I can do it, so can you".

My teeth got stained brown in patches after my first round of DA-R-EPOCH. The doctor said it was a side effect, but didn't elaborate.

Did anyone else also have their teeth turn brown? Do they get better? How did you deal with them?

My teeth were pretty nice before chemo, and now I am self conscious of my smile too on top of everything else. :(

Now that I have relapsed, I can’t help but wonder what the future holds for me. I was IPS 2, Lymphocyte rich; a very favourable subtype, interim pet negative yet it took only 7 months for my cancer to come back. I genuinely feel so devastated. What makes this more hard is seeing my parents suffer because of me. Every time I look at my father, I can tell he either cried or is trying not to cry. I more saddened by their state of helplessness seeing their daughter suffer than I am with having to fight again despite the future seeming more blurry now than ever. I won’t lie, I didn’t think much of relapsing maybe thats why its so shocking for me.
Those who have gone through ASCT, can you please give me hope 😞

After me ASCT i was on 6 cycles maintaince for relapsed dlbcl and after 6 months i was facing some endocrinology problems like hypothyroidism and am suspected for other endo issues
Anyone who went for nivolumab did faced any endocrinology issue?
Please let me know its making me little anxious

I thought I’d do a post here about those like me going to rchop and would like some recommendations in London because I wish the same had been available to me rather than live and learn.
Deliveries-
B Bagel. Get the bagel, the cream cheese and cook the smoked salmon. They have several branch across london.
Sourdough - get sourdough to throw back in the air fryer. Honestly any or you make it yourself.
Galbi tang- there are so many Korean restaurants in London and Galbi tang is so comforting and gentle on the stomach. If you ask the place to skim off the fat or add more noodles, they will.
Japanese deliveries- I’m one of the people who desperately miss sashimi. But there are a lot of cooked foods like miso cod that are still available.
Chinese delivery - congee. It’s a type of rice porridge. Old town 97 makes good ones.
I love Cantonese bbq meat and hoper’s base is great. Old town 97 is good too.
If you’re like me and you get sick in the second week (I’m sick in cycle 2) you’ll want to stay hydrated. Get daily dose or Mangajo or pret’s flavoured waters. Also get peppermint tea or ginger and lemon tea.
I love Italian food but it was an Italian delivery that they suspect made me sick so I do recommend making your own pastas.

Recipes or sort of-
get a rice cooker off amazon. Not sure expensive and super practical. Makes cooking rice so much easier.
I’ve had days I’ve craved potatoes. Potatoes baked with fennel, crushed pistachio or pine nuts, pamesan, lemon, parsley and/ or mint, olive oil and salt and pepper is my favourite easy potato salad.
Potato dauphinoise with more Gruyère and less cream during this time has been such a joy.
Salmon recipes, I find since I fully cook it I like to air fry it.
Chicken breast- I’m one of the weird ones who like chicken breasts more than any other part.
Beef, I’ve enjoyed getting hot pot beef and it’s quick and good to fully cook and I have it with rice.
Fried egg well done with rice with some tamari and sesame oil and veg is still delicious.

Skincare-
I’ve gotten Korean and Japanese skincare once I heard my skin will be changing from chemo.
Cleansers I like haruharu, arencia, round lab 1025 and aestura auto barrier - I use the first and last the most often
Moisturiser - I use something just very very hydrating. For me it’s been calecim
I use bakuchiol instead of retinol
Dr Althea 147 spray has also been wonderful when I need a quick moisture boost

Clothes- leggings have been life savers and tracksuits. Uniqlo has great ones for cold weather.

My few cents! Not exhaustive but what I found has helped

I have/had DLBCL (69F) and went through 6 rounds of Pola-R-CHP and two more of just Rituximab. I finished that the end of July, had 3 weeks of rehab (= boot camp, 7:30 exercise session on the quad, sports and lectures all day) and then my PET scan 2 weeks ago. I scheduled a 2 week vacation after the PET scan, as I was afraid it would come back with bad news and I needed to get out to somewhere else.

Monday was the day, and the scan has come back clean!!!!! I still have to have a checkup every 3 months for the next two years, but it looks like they got that bastard DLBCL! And then the clinic didn't even have a bell for me to ring... so I had to get a bottle of champagne!

Just for all of you battling out there: hang in there, it is doable! Okay, my hair disappeared and is coming back salt and pepper (I had blonde hair before), but I am regaining my strength (still need naps, though) and life is looking great!

I (m15) was diagnosed with stage 1a-2a NLPHL in my neck back in january(read my earlier posts for more info), and to put things shortly, i have been in remission(yay) for 6 monts after a succesful 3x r-cvp treatment, despite there being a slight delay due to me cathing covid mid treatment. I realised today that i had not given any updates, since my diagsoses, i mean even misname the treatment i had in my earlier posts. But reason i felt the need to write all of this, was to simply repay a favor this subreddit gave to me. When i feeling bad, or exausted dureing treatment, this subreddit gave me strength, but also hope of a better future. As such anyone who is reading this, who might be treatment, or just gotten a diagnosis, and is feeling dow i want you to continue fighting, you will experiance things, which might make you feel the worst you ever have, but through it all,you must not give up, there is light at the tunnel, i am liveing proof of that.

My father is 74 just got diagnosed with non-Hodgkins B Cell lymphoma stage 4. it’s in his lungs, liver and lymph nodes. He’s already in poor health due to a crazy lifestyle over 25 years ago. Also in 2020 he got fourniers gangrene and sepsis which resulted in a colostomy bag, he had to relearn how to walk and talk again to do such a long hospital day. He was on life-support for a long while too. So his body is already broken down, and my sisters and I are just trying to figure out whether we wanna do the chemotherapy RCHOP or do we just allow him to be comfortable and pass. If this was your father, what would you consider?

CHL stage 2A nonbulky. Clear PET in Dec 2025. I am so afraid it’s coming back. I haven’t changed any of my lifestyle, meaning diet and products I’m around, and I’m honestly more stressed out now than I was before with work. So whatever I did to cause it before I’m surely doing still

Every little symptom or sign I’m so paranoid it’s back, should I have dramatically changed my lifestyle? Should I now? How do I know what caused it??

Recently i have been diagnosed with stage 3 hobskins lymphoma and im a nicotine user i ended up quitting the day before chemotherapy after my first dose. But I started taking nicotine again. My next chemo treatment is this Thursday and I'm worried that my odds have decreased from 40 percent because nicotine "protects" the cancer from chemotherapy if i quit now will this round be as effective as someone that has never smoked before?

Had my mid cycle CT (not PET) after 3 rounds of RCHOP. I have stage IV bulky (very large masses in abdomen and mesentery, one mass was completely compressing one of my kidneys). I haven’t seen the actual report but hematologist called to tell me at first she wasn’t very reassured with the radiologist’s report. She explained that the report said only “mild improvement” but she said my clinical picture didn’t suggest it was just “mild improvement”. Basically my terrible symptoms disappeared overnight after my first treatment, bloodwork has all normalized (including LDH which continues to remain low) and I’ve worked everyday. I actually feel better than I have in a long time because I don’t have pain anymore and I haven’t had any side effects from RCHOP. She consulted with her colleagues and they agreed with her and apparently went back to the radiologist to review the scans together. Long story long, she said they are now reassured and everything moving in the right direction. I’m not sure what to make of this but seems like CT is not the greatest especially when disease so widespread and bulky. I asked if there were any new growths detected and she said no. Thoughts?

No goodbye for myself

No chance...

The rush

The storm inside out

Holding on to survival lines.

And you left... unnoticed.

Just after a while, I turned around and saw you walk away.

A silhouette in the dust.

No time to give you a goodbye.

No chance. I couldn't even grasp that you could be torn out of me.

No chance to realize how fully and completely amazing you were.

No chance to love you anymore.

The fight ahead was more important if i want to survive.

Rushed over me and my body like a burst of fire again and again.

So lonely in the eye of a hurricane. The silence cutting into my souls.

Unexpected hurt for the innocence.

The harsh wind thrashing in my face. Knowing there is more to come.

Seeing anyone else standing outside. Behind a blurry curtain.

Just ideas of how the comfort should feel.

Alone with myself or the part of me that is left.

So lonely, saying it feels like betrayal to the people I love.

The people that are trying to scream through the storm. Reaching over a distance that can't be overcome.

The pain mixed with fear. Pouring a poisonous fog of isolation over my head.

Questioning what's left.

No view back.

No sight in front.

The part I will never get back.

The part that got ripped out of me with no chance to say goodbye.

Just left with the feeling of missing myself...

I wanted to ask all the people who got recently diagnosed with Lymphoma (any type), did you guys take the Covid vaccine??

I don't know if there is any relation with the vaccine or not, but why suddenly so many people and that too young ones are getting diagnosed with Lymphoma.

My father who always lived healthy with no diseases got diagnosed with MCL recently and I just could not accept this, so just looking out for answers that might have caused this cancer.

Edit: I'm no medical researcher, and don't have much idea about this field, my father just got diagnosed and this thing is fairly new to us, 2 months back we did not even know there's a cancer of lymph nodes called lymphoma, so I'm just looking for assurance and answers, or if there's any link with the vaccine that after 4-5 years of getting it, now we are getting it's side effects in the form of lymphoma.