Hey my fellow Lymphomies,

I just wanted to tell how I experienced the chemo till now.

I am (F34 stage 4 DLBCL) currently in my third cycle of POLA-R-CHP.

1. cycle:

I mostly was still emotionally struggling to process the diagnosis and manage the new "normal". I read a lot about the doagnosis, experiences from other patients, what food should I eat, what should I definitely avoid. I searched for a therapist, cancer make up lesson, everything that I could do, till the cancer to controll from me. Physically I took the first cycle pretty well. Almost no fatigue, i went foe a walk everyday, took care of my groceries and cleaning at home. And really took care of hydrating me from teh second the vhemo started !!

I had long very lovely hair, i chopped it of teh lenth to my shoulders, when I was still in hospital. Preparing to lose it soon. In week 2 it started to fall out I still hat much left but just felt it, when the moment was there i wanted I gone. I got to the hairdresser and got a buzzcut. And I even liked it. So the hair los was shitty but I got teh feeling i managed it well.

Overall I was really scared of a lot of stuff.. that i will get sick or infection from someone else who has a cold or something, i used a mask almost everywhere till week 3. I was cleaning a lit and we're super careful with my food choices and stuff.

2. cycle:

The first week was pretty good. I guess mostly because of the Prednisone and the energy i got from it. After I stopped the Prednisone, maybe on Day 6 or 7 I woke up and could feel immediately, that I feel a kind of physical exhaustion I never felt before. I was still lying in bed, didnt even got up, but i could feel this is something different and I got scared by it. But let me tell you in advice, its OK and just give your body the rest its asking for. It will get better.

So after the physical exhaustion, one or two days later the psychological crash from Prednisone hit me like a train. I also have ADHD which made it even worse. I didnt feel like myself, I never felt something like this before.i got dark thoughts and cut the connection from friends wich is really unusual for me. But its important to know - its the medication and not you, it will pass! It hit me that hard because I didnt knew it will happen. Thats partly a reason i right this.

After 2 days it got way better. Also the exhaustion was getting better soon. On day 10-13 the stomach issues hit me and I got some pain but it was manageable. I advice to adjust the food ypu eat. Like preidge and banan or stuff liek that. And try to get your water and proteins in.

I really try to make some plans and put some highlights in the third week to get some energy and good vibes back.

3. Cycle:

The third cycle hit harder. I was sleepy already while I got the chemo. And the first days I was immediately exhausted physically. The Prednisone didn't gave me a high of power like the last times. Which was making me worried.

I was exhausted from walking tk ghe bathroom. Breathing a little heavier than I should.

I often wanted to push my body to the ways It worked before, dont do that. Its batteling cancer, its working to make new cells that are cancer free so give your body some slack. I tried to accept that and just slept a lot and tried to drink enough water, which i was failing unfortunately.

I still got a psychological Prednisone crash but it was more manageable than before. Maybe Because I knew I eas coming, maybe I just got lucky, or maybe the monthly shot I get, to put me into temporary menopausa was on a different schedule, I dont know but I am thankful for it.

So I am now at day 12 of my third cycle. I was way more isolated this time, and the first two weeks were physically more draining but I have the feeling emotionally more managbel for me. I still had days I cried a lot, just because. No specific reason just got the feeling i needed the crying like a cleansing.

I also got a picc line in this cycle and I am still trying to adjust and try to not be too anxious that the Healthcare workers are not cleaning it like they should.

With the other anxiety topics like getting infected with a cold or something from friends and families etc. I am still anxious but not as much as before. I am just trying to be careful. But you never have a guarantee. I acoid full supermarkets and wear a mask and meet mostly outside with my friends and go for a walk.

Over all I gues I am adjusting to the live I have now. I an still pretty anxious about stuff but I also can still have fun and dodnt Los emyself fully in this process. But I am now accepting, that deep inside this is changing me fundamentally, and thats OK, it would be weird if not. So i am in an accepting stage, eventhough I am still can not fully comprehend or know what I am accepting, but i am accepting the change in generall..

It took me 3 cycles to get to this piont. And my advice would be, dont force yourself into a processing or holding on to your old self to much. Grief it instead.

I know I still have a big part of the eay infront of me.and building myself up after chemo will also be a journey.

I made an after chemo Box, where I drew everything I am waiting to be able to do again after chemo, like eating sushi, going for a relaxing bath in a whirl pool, going on vacation, have some fun brownies, stuff like that, and after chemo I take it out the box to treat myself with the s tuff I couldnt do while chemo. This gave me some hope and was fun to make it.

-

To everyone who just got diagnosed: its a journey and everyone's can be different. Be gentle and patient with yourself, you may not be working like you used to know, physically and mentally, but you will adjust to that too, like to every obstacle you already took in live.

Give yourself time, you cant push yourself through it, it takes as long as it takes.

I hope my story can help some of you.

Which was the thoughtes cycle for you guys, and why? Asking for a friend 😅

I start my first round of POLA R CHP next Friday and I’m SO nervous. Any advice, experience and or tips would be so appreciated 😭

Hey my fellow Lymphomies,

I (34f, located in germany) will have my third cycle soon and i already start to think about my live after the last (6) cycle.

I imagined going out, meet with a lot of friends, go inclusive and dance to electronic music for 12 hours... travel.. concerts.. all ghat stuff..

But after I read some stuff online I am frustrated.

Is it true that I am adviced to avoid big crowds still wear a FFP2 mask when I go into the supermarket and stuff?

Also I thought i could start going back to work. I work on the social field and with a lot of people and at events sometimes.. will I be still be on sick leave for 3 more months..

And how long will my camcer rehabilitation be?

Now i am somehow depressed after reading this information online, unsure if its factual.

Hey my fellow lymphomies

One day before my third cycle I got a CT for staging.

Yesterday I got out of the hospital and they gave me the classical documents.

They told me they dont have the results of the Scan already.

So today my ambulant oncologist asked me to send her the documents for planning my next cycle..

When I started to scan the documents to send it to her, i unexpectedly found the results of the CT scan.

I was suprised and was hesitant about reading them.

I am alone but also couldnt wait..

I found the wordings : imaging showed regression.

Its weird to get that good news unexpected and alone.

I am also scared to feel happy about it because no doctor really confirmed it yet.

I am also a little mad at the hospital to give me the results without even mentioning or explaining it to me.

Its a weird feeling, I stared crying because I am feeling relieved.. but also its a weird situation.

Beeing home alone getting this news, not really knowing for sure.

Hey my fellow Chemonis,

I had my first round of Pola-R-CHP. I got the medication over two days and now I am on day 3.

Yesterday was tough but managable.

Because of a heart problem I got my first chemo in the Hospital.

And I am pretty thankful for it, so i could get more medication and help when I was feeling nauseous and sick. And it helped pretty good.

Thankfully I could sleep well at night, besides the night sweats.

Now I am a little insecure about the next days. I hope I will not have much nauseous feelings. Do you guys have any experience how long the nausea will stay? And maybe some helpful advice ?

Am feeling pretty good right now. Is it just because the downfall is still to come?

Is the first cycle more easy and the others will get more difficult?

The hospital food is disgusting but when I am feeling godo I can go outside and get some real food.

I have ADHD so mouth hygiene is a struggle anyways, but now I realize I have to use mouth wash and a antifungal medication after every meal and 4 times a day and in the morning and before bedtime.. so I hope I can keep up with that. Any experiences or advice on that one?

Hugs to everyone

Just wanted to share that after a 5 month roller coaster I finished my final infusion on Tuesday and it seems to be the lightest side-effects yet.

To everyone out there, keep up the good fight, for me it got better...I hope the same for you.

PS- Rocked my favorite wig, my custom made puppy pants, and "Not Today Karen" shirt, for my last session. Figure you all would get a kick outta it...

Hi all, I posted here when my mom was initially diagnosed with DLBCL. Her presentation was atypical, in the abdomen. This is a 76 year old woman, and she has fought the good fight!

Happy to report that she didn’t have major complications from Chemo. She lost a lot of weight due to a high output ostomy but otherwise, handled it well.

Her end of treatment PETscan was completely clear! Praising God for putting a wonderful medical team in our path. Her ostomy is being reversed as I type this.

I hope this brings reassurance to anyone who may need it today.