A Big Surprise

By ChrisBrown

1 min read

I was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma at the end of April of this year. I had a 6 cm tumor, as well as my spleen, removed. The blood supply to my spleen had been cut off, so it had died. I still had 2 small tumors in my abdomen, so since then I've had 5 chemo treatments, 3 CT scans and 1 PET Scan. I'm scheduled for my 6th (and supposed to be LAST) chemo treatment next Wednesday, 9/15.

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ericincarlsbad Member
Chris, I hope it is your last treatment - your world was rocked for sure! Best to you and adjusting to your new life with NHL. Hope the worst is in the rear view mirror. 
1. ChrisBrown Member
 <inline-mention username="ericincarlsbad" user-id="3642158"/> thank you!
Amanda Brunson Moderator & Contributor
Wow that is a big surprise! That’s a lot in a short period of time 💜🫂I hope your next treatment is your last treatment as well🙏🏾How are you feeling as of now? Amanda🐼(Blood-cancer.com team member🧡)
1. Yolanda Brunson-Sarrabo Moderator & Contributor
 <inline-mention username="ChrisBrown" user-id="4247203"/> Wishing you the very best!
2. Dennis Golden Moderator
 <inline-mention username="ChrisBrown" user-id="4247203"/> YUP that is how it is - day by day -even after the treatment ends and personally found it was best to take it that way
Amanda Brunson Moderator & Contributor
I hope that soreness goes away soon❤️‍🩹 I remember taking Neuprogen shots and they always had me soo achy 😣 continue to get rest💜🫂
Katelynn Bauer Moderator & Contributor
That is a lot to go through! I hope that, that was indeed your last treatment! How are you feeling today? Warm wishes, Katelynn (Team Member) 
1. Dennis Golden Moderator
 Walking out after that last treatment - feels great and I hope your scan turns out well. I also did the 6 treatment protocol for NHL and so far all is good. Give yourself time to recover - I was on R-CHOP and suspect you may have been on something similar. The after effects from the chemo have decreased with time but a few still remain - feeling tired, leg cramps, occasional chemo brain etc. Currently I am 10 months out of treatment and doing well. While the treatment is rough in the end it is a small price to pay to continue enjoying life. Glad to hear chemo is now behind you. 🎉🎉🎉
2. Amanda Brunson Moderator & Contributor
 <inline-mention username="DennisGolden" user-id="3641422"/> 🎉🎉🎉🥳🐼🧡
Daniel Malito Moderator
<inline-mention username="ChrisBrown" user-id="4247203"/> Just wondering how it ended up going. I know I've been exactly where you are before, waiting for the results of that last PET scan to see how things ended up. It can be stressful but fortunately mine came out positive. Keep on keepin' on, DPM
1. Amanda Brunson Moderator & Contributor
 Yessss‼️‼️‼️🎉🥳 ✨ 💃🏾 congratulations 🫂🫂🫂🫂 🔔 I’m so happy for you! Always music 🎶 🎧 to my ears 👂🏾 I’m so excited for you 💜 Did You celebrate by doing something like getting some cheesecake or pizza!? 
2. Daniel Malito Moderator
 <inline-mention username="ChrisBrown" user-id="4247203"/> Wonderful news, so glad to hear it. Sending you all the happy thoughts in the world! DPM
Dennis Golden Moderator
I am always stressed out in advance of seeing test results. And even if you are lucky enough to snag an advance report in the mail just trying to figure out what the many symbols and percents mean is another stress multiplier - These days I just wait and let the white coats explain it all 😀
ChrisBrown Member
Hi. I haven't been for my scan yet, it's next week, but I'm very hopeful <inline-mention username="DennisGolden" user-id="3641422"/> . If i can get past the fatigue, I would be better! I agree about letting the white coats explain everything. When I received my initial diagnosis, I tried to research it and ended up going off down rabbit holes! I just stopped and decided that I would let my dr explain it to me because he should know more than I do!
1. Amanda Brunson Moderator & Contributor
 <inline-mention username="ChrisBrown" user-id="4247203"/> I’ve definitely done that do myself as well. Google is not my friend in this situation 🙈Amanda🐼(team member ❤️)
2. Dennis Golden Moderator
 <inline-mention username="ChrisBrown" user-id="4247203"/> It can be confusing reading those charts - my MD sits down with me and flips the computer screen around and he explains the #'s line by line - Does not get much better than that 😀
Dennis Golden Moderator
Suspect we have all been there - fatigue is not like being tired You do not get over it after a night or two of sleep. I ended treatment in November of 2020 and I still get bouts of fatigue most often in the afternoon where i just want to Z out even after a good nights sleep. Makes no sense but it happens. I have found if you can get some exercise it helps a bit at times - These days when I feel fatigued - I just Z off and do not fight it 
1. Amanda Brunson Moderator & Contributor
 <inline-mention username="Shane.Lee" user-id="3652668"/> at times I still fight fatigue with all I got🤺🤺🤺🤺and I think I should let up because boy boy lately it’s been hitting hard! When I tell my family about the the definitely don’t understand where I’m coming from. I do find working out helps some just to improve my endurance Amanda🐼(blood-cancer.com 💜)
2. Dennis Golden Moderator
 <inline-mention username="Amanda Brunson" user-id="4145474"/> I find keeping active especially in the outdoors helps . It is so easy and tempting to just settle in and veg out. Needed at times? Yes Not needed at other times? Yes So in the spirit of keeping active - I just finished stacking 3 cords of firewood in advance of a New England Winter - and my wife just suggested we may want just one more cord as a back up - 😀 Dennis( <a href='https://blood-cancer.com' target='_blank'>Blood-Cancer.com</a> TEAM)
ChrisBrown Member
I try to fight fatigue too. I've just now gone back to work in my office (I had been working from home) and I have a great Manager who asks me how I feel, if I need to go home and rest, etc. I feel that if I give in to the fatigue and go home, then I'm giving up and I will give in to it more. I'm the type of person that just wants to power through it and build up my stamina and energy. I'll go to bed early or rest when I get home. I've read that the fatigue doesn't ever really go away. Is that true? 
1. Dennis Golden Moderator
 <inline-mention username="ChrisBrown" user-id="4247203"/> Hi Chris - was away for a few days so sorry for the delay - I think we all handle this "stuff" differently and whatever works for you is the best. I still have some fatigue some 10 months after chemo - and there are times I will snooze off when at home and then there are other times I just keep moving. Personally I believe you have to find your own balance as to what is right for you - physically and emotionally. The key for me is keeping aware of how I feel and giving myself permission to take a break when needed. Dennis( <a href='https://blood-cancer.com' target='_blank'>Blood-Cancer.com</a> TEAM) 
2. Dennis Golden Moderator
 <inline-mention username="ChrisBrown" user-id="4247203"/> Fortunate for me that all of my cancers showed up after I retired from corporate America - Now I do a lot of coaching , speaking and writing which allows me to stay out of my wife's hair. Best part I can finally make my own schedules except for those dreaded "Honey Do Lists" 😀
ChrisBrown Member
I really would LOVE to be able to sleep 14 hours straight! Most nights I can't get to sleep and then when I do, I wake up 2-3 times during then night. It's getting better now that I'm actually feeling better and doing something during the day to make me tired. When I first started treatments, I couldn't sleep at all. I would go to sleep, but then wake up at about midnight and stay awake for hours before I could go back to sleep. I just try to do what I can for as long as I can during the week but on the weekends, I may stay in my pajamas all day, sitting in my recliner watching tv. 
1. Amanda Brunson Moderator & Contributor
 <inline-mention username="ChrisBrown" user-id="4247203"/> 🎯 🫂🫂🫂🫂I felt the same💗Community of people who truly understand is a must and so much needed. I’m so glad you found us! Blood-cancer tribe ❤️
2. Dennis Golden Moderator
 <inline-mention username="Amanda Brunson" user-id="4145474"/> 👍
Shane.Lee Moderator
My sleeping pattern is slowly improving a little bit at a time. Up until recently I was waking up 3 to 6 times a night...mostly for potty calls. Now it's like 1 to 3 times. Of course it don't help they changed my piddle pills because of the edema in my legs and feet, caused by all the chemo. November is my last week of chemo maintenance for good. Believe me when I say after 3 years I'm certainly looking forward to ringing that bell. Let the healing begin both physically and mentally. Time to get my body back to where it needs to be. One day, I'll be like a brand new body...just a bit older is all...lol. Shane.
1. Shane.Lee Moderator
 <inline-mention username="Amanda Brunson" user-id="4145474"/> The hardest part is not scratching. Fortunately this time it's in my skin on my arms. My first time was in my skin on my back. You know when you see videos of bears scratching their backs on tree's? Well, I was putting those bears to shame on the corners of my walls...lol Fortunately the meds they gave me including hydrocortisone 2.5 mg worked pretty fast getting them under control. This time took a lot longer on my arms. My wife was using the fly swatter long distance telling me to stop scratching...lol.
2. Katelynn Bauer Moderator & Contributor
 <inline-mention username="Shane.Lee" user-id="3652668"/> Congratulations Shane that's wonderful!!!
Amanda Brunson Moderator & Contributor
Lol! Putting bears to shame! Your wife is too funny! Im glad the medicine has kicked in! I deal with GVHD more internally then externally. But either way GVHD is a struggle 😩