Newly diagnosed with HL

jerbear · Regular Joined: 04 Sep 2006 Posts: 12

I'm glad I found this place. Lots of information.

I was diagnosed with HL just last month.
I am stage IIA.

It all started when I went to the Dr. to get a refill on one of my meds. I told him about not being able to move my arm. He checked and noticed my node was swollen.

Sent me for blood work the next day. Along with a CT and a visit to the ENT. The ENT sent me in to have a biopsy. But I have a fear of needles so they ended up doing surgery.

A couple days later they send me to the cancer Dr. I had known before then what they were going to tell me.

I have to have chemo for at least 6 months every 2 weeks. So far it's only in 3 nodes. Both sides of my neck and in my media stinum.

So far I'm in debt close to $50,000 and have NO insurance or income. I've applied for medicaid and hope they come through soon.

I don't need bill collecters knocking on my door.

Also how fast did your hair come out after starting chemo? Just 2 treatments in and I already have a good sized bald spot. It's got some hair but not much. My hair wasn't thick to begin with though.

Good thing I bought my bandanas early. Laughing

liwe · New User Joined: 19 Sep 2006 Posts: 4

Hi! Hope your treatments are going ok. I was in your same boat over a year ago. It took about two treatments before my hair fell out. After four months of chemo I was actually one of the few people who still had hair remaining-not a lot though! Every time I took a shower it looked like a small rat was in the drain hole and a lot fell out on my pillow every night. I went through a lot of swiffers to pick up all that hair every day! Maybe those girls that shaved their hair had it right! Anyways, as far as trouble with your bills you may want to try to contact the American Cancer Society or other cancer groups in your area like Gilda's Club. Many of them have financial assistance or can at least point you in the right direction. The American Cancer Society also does this fun thing called Look Good Feel Better. They have a professional come to help with make-up and hair tips, or no hair tips I should say, for those going through chemo. If nothing else it is a fun way to spend a couple of hours and you get a lot of fun free stuff. Good luck with the treatments and the bills!

SHANELLE85 · Regular Joined: 06 Jun 2006 Posts: 31

Hi Jerbear,
As i read ur story i couldnt believe how alike out situations r.. well were!
i also got diagnosed with HL but it was in NOV05 at the age of 20 and had 2 have 6 months of chemo every 2 weeks and im pretty sure that it was in a very early stage 2 end of stage 1.
i started chemo in December 05 and finished in may06 and my hair started falling out pretty fast.. i noticed it in the 1st treatment, but i had pretty long hair.. so i refused 2 cut it ( so stubborn) lol
anyway 2 months went by.. and my hair looks so bad, most of it was gone from the top of my head that i finally had the courage 2 shave it.. i can tell ya it was the best thing i ever done.. it made life so much easier at the time.. even though it was hard 2 come 2 terms with having a bald head.. it wasnt like it was gonna last 4ever.
how old r u????
i just really wore a beanie the last 3 months of treatment and a few months after.. but about 3 months after i finished treatment i finally had enough hair.. 2 stop wearing anything at all!... it was hard at 1st.. with ppl looking at u all the time.. but it finally stopped.
HL is a very curable cancer and it has a 97% curable rate... which obviously goes down slightly with age and health conditions.
and chemo is a very hard thing 2 go through. that goes without saying but u will get there and wen its gone u'l b a stronger person 4 it.. u really dont relize how strong u r until u go through something so devestating.
anyway keep me posted with u.. im very interested coz ur case is so similar 2 mine.
goodluck with everything Wink

jerbear · Regular Joined: 04 Sep 2006 Posts: 12

I'm good so far. The only side effects from treatment, besides the hair loss which is still just strands at a time as apposed to clumps at a time, is being tired and constipation after treatment.

Actually I'm getting ready to have my hubby shave my head tonight. My hair is short anyway and the top just looks awful now.

Plus I'm sick of waking up with hair in my mouth from where I shed in bed.

OH BTW I'm only 29 so right at the end of the "typical" age for a person to get HL.

The hair loss thing doesn't bother me. All though I wouldn't mind loosing the hair on my legs. I hate to shave every other day as it takes away precious(sp) energy to do so. Laughing

I have noticed my leg and armpit hair getting softer since the 2nd treatment.

As of this up coming Wed.(9/2 Cool

I will be 2 months down and 4 to go. Mr. Green

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