Teeenagers, who'd have 'em

Oy, I am just reading this. THere is nothing worse than having one of your
children sick, and this must be so much more wrecking. Good thoughts and
wishes to you and your family.

Yikes, dp.

Fingers crossed. Treatment has advanced considerably since your grandmother's day!

I'm sorry dadpad. That’s grave and distressing news and I feel worried and upset for you all.

OH DadMumPads

So sorry son and y'all are going thru this. Will be keeping you in my thoughts and sending healing wishes Down Under. xxxx((((((((((((((((DadMum+Pads)))))))))))))))

*^&%^%#)(&* paperwork will kill us all first!

Paperwork, dadpad?

unbelievable ms O.
medical history of the entire extended family.
names, dates, ages, shoe size. contact details.
They like numbers (over and over again)
medicare
P'vate health insurance
phone
mob fax
bank account (pay first treat later)

ARRRRRRRGGGG!

Jeez.

How's your son coping, dadpad?

He's not sick. working split shifts at ski hire, 6.00 am till noon am then 5.00 pm till 8.00. 7 days a week.
Its all a bit of an adventure for him. I dont think he realises this wiil be with him for the rest of his life.

He probably doesn't, dadpad. Something to do with being a super active 18 year old.
Meanwhile, his mum & dad do the fretting & worrying for him, hey?

so... oncologist today
Hodkins lymphoma stage 2 - 3b (possibly 4) has probably had this for 2 years at least.
enlarged lymh nodes in chest, r.arm pit, left side of neck.
cure rate around 80%
7% chance of Lukemia from chemo
risk of infertility from chemo.

IV chemo fortnightly for 8 months.
Possible to participate in clinical trial which will reduce the chemo to 6 months

Further medicals:
Another ct scan thin section, more blood work, spirometry (measures lung function) and oximetry (measures blood oxygenation)
bone marrow biopsy, PET scan.

3 monthly check ups for two years, 4 monthly for a further 2 years,
6 monthly for another year, then annually.

easy peasy.

How be you all, yopu pads?


((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((The Pads)))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))

Bit stressed out here rabbit. But having a direction to go in now is helping.

sending more hugs to all the (((((((( pads )))))))

I can't really fathom the stress and worry and schedule but I know you'll get through it. What else?

Fukcing cancer.

Steady as she goes dadpad.

Very, very similar to the experience my, er, patient had. During chemo, it's pretty vital to keep him from getting colds, flu, etc., because chemo can end up being delayed. Because of my patient having chemo, and now being past chemo but still rather susceptible, I get a flu shot every year.

Foods are interesting - appetite will probably be dicey but not necessarily fully absent. My patient liked Italian food a LOT, and Mexican was also okay, but Chinese did not appeal at all. That might have had something to do with tomatoes, I dunno.

alcohol is limited to 1 (read 'em and weep) ONE glass of red wine per day.


Thanks Jess

Enjoy the wine - you could buy now a more expensive bottle!

Keep your pecker up!

Hi Dad. You asked me to look at this post.

I'm not so sure that I'll be able to throw any light on anything here, as my situation is exactly the opposite, but here goes.

Back in 1995, (I was 45) I was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. I had no symptoms that were related to this cancer, so I at least thought at the time. It was discovered accidently while I had a stomach scope, trying to find the reason for a big internal bleed that put me into hospital. The very experienced doctor I had, found the cancer in the exit of my stomach. Complete shock on my part.

With this type of cancer, I have read, once you have symptoms, you don't have long to live, as it gets into your lymph system. My wife knew someone, and that situation happened to them.

Years and years later, I found that sometimes a big bleed can mean that you have this type of cancer.

My treatment consisted of 2o intense days of radiation therapy, radiating all my organs, front and back. Subsequently, I appear to have been found to be free of the disease to this day. But, I think this was only because it was caught early and it's slow-growing. It's always in the back of my mind whether or not it'll come back, or that you may get another form of cancer later on in life. Apparently, this can happen.

I'm sorry to read that your son has the Hodgkin's type (don't ask me to explain the difference). 18 is awfully young to be sick like that. I hope all goes well.

It's probably not of interest now, but later on it could. Perhaps he could
have some frozen samples put in a sperm bank , just in case.