Tips for others on how to deal with the physical side effects of chemo/cancer:
Neulasta-premedicate with aleve 2 hours prior to injection. Take the zofran so you can keep eatting and drinking. When your body says go to bed, go to bed. Eat yogurt-choibani has tons of protein and easy to tolerate..great for gut and vaginal problems.

Tips for others on how to deal with the mental struggles of chemo/cancer:
Allow yourself to feel it. Grieve it. Journal it, talk to people who have been through it. Ask for meds to help get you through like xanax for anxiety or antidressants. Take care of yourself and take one day at a time.

Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma Symptoms:

Fatigue, shortness of breath, abdominal pain and fullness.

Surgery Description, Dates & Side Effects:

Lymph node removal right neck. Smooth surgery. No problems. 5/2011

Chemotherapy Description, Dates & Side Effects:

R-Chop-6 cycles. I had one treatment of Treanda and Rituxan before my second biopsy confirmed the presence of b-cell lymphoma, then it changed to 6 cycles of R-Chop. Started treatment in June and ended Oct. 27, 2011. Now receiving 2 years or Rituxan every other month.
Side effects were fatigue, nausea, change in taste , diarrhea, bloating and weight gain from prednisone..anxiety..immune suppression that lead to infections towards the end-staph infection in my face and uti-had to reduce the days I was working due to the immunesuppression.

Immune Therapy Description, Dates & Side Effects:

Received Neulasta after each chemo treatment..bone pain and fatigue.

Stats

Posts: 15

Photos: 4

Events: 0

My Supporters: 40

I Support: 68

Comments: 236

Eileen's Cancer Blog

Finally found a passion

Love roses! During my treatment, I would buy myself a dozen roses before my treatment and I would get up and smell them and admire them before I would have to go back to bed after treatment. When I got up..they were always there..I got my diagnosis after I had planted a lot of new flowers that I had never planted before..it was my make it or break it garden. I watched them grow or die and I would go out on the front porch and try to come up with a plan for next spring gardening without any success, because I was so drugged up or so caught up in the process of treatment and cancer..and because of my immunity, I could not garden..it was frustrating.
I use to make jewlery..beaded jewelry..not for money..gave a lot of it up for causes like aids or breast cancer..and just lost interest in it…I continue to buy roses and fell in love with the colors and the shapes..the cabbage roses are my favorites..and now I have decided to grow my own.
To me roses signify a renewal of life..I have found a passion after so long and I am embracing it..there are a few pictures of some of the roses I bought..I have yet to put them in the ground..waiting for my mother in law who is visiting this weekend to help me put them in the ground. I feel like it is rebirth..I am so excited ..and love it..have not felt this way in such a long time..I love all of you in this community..you have helped me to smell the roses. Without you..it would not have been possible. I am the luckiest girl in the world..whatever happens…I feel so fortunate to have met the most wonderful people ..it just sucks that it had to be through cancer..Love you!

Posted on February 20, 2012 at 4:08:42 PM by Eileen (Finally found a passion, 4 comments, 254 views)

Jessicafk11 likes this.

Mike, Fred sent you a hug.

What a beautiful passion! They are beautiful! Good for you..

Posted on February 20, 2012 at 4:38:57 PM by Private User

I love roses too! This year I stuck about a dozen plant food spikes into the earth around my white rose bush. It grew so high, and had so many roses, that I was able to cut a stem for visitors for a few weeks. Then, once I thought winter had hit, I trimmed it back a bit so it wouldn’t be damaged by the weather. Bad idea! We had a hot streak for about ten days, and the rose bush grew even higher than before and had another (third) bout of blooming. It was definitely my garden’s delight this year.

Posted on February 20, 2012 at 6:52:34 PM by 1 Very Palpable Hit

I hope to have luck like that..I am going to try the plant food spikes..they make so much sense..I am sooo excited about this! I love roses and they have become so much more than just a flower to me..I bet your roses were beautiful! Any more helpful hints? I am a beginner.. a little nervous putting them in the ground this weekend..don’t want to kill them..but, here we go..exciting! Hope today finds you well and thanks so much for your post!

Posted on February 22, 2012 at 3:44:33 AM by Eileen

Your roses are beautiful. Nature’s beauty has been very good medicine for me and I see it is proving to be for you as well. Wishing you many beautiful blooms to enjoy!

Posted on February 21, 2012 at 5:08:22 AM by CarolS

Thanks Carol! I am excited about this! They were good medicine for me when I was down..and now I am excited about growing my own…thanks for your post and hope today finds you well! Sending you hugs!

Posted on February 22, 2012 at 3:46:54 AM by Eileen

That is great…we grow roses out here in El Paso would you believe? They do very well…

Isn’t it ironic about meeting the best people because of this disease? But at least we get lots of lemonade from our lemons!

Posted on February 21, 2012 at 6:08:21 PM by Private User

Helen, The people on this site are beautiful! Because of the support I got and am able to give, it makes navigating through this disease easier and this community has become very important to me..and I care about everyone. I use to say..when you have lemons, make lemonade…so true…Apparently most roses from nurseries come from Arizona, Texas and California..harvested and shipped during their dormant phases..I didn’t know that roses grew out there..I am excited..I put my first roses in the ground this weekend..reading books to make sure I do everything to ensure success…I will love to fill my house with fresh cut roses! Thanks for your post..I hope today finds you well! I am overwhelmed by the love and generosity of the people on this site. Hope you have a great day!

Posted on February 22, 2012 at 3:52:35 AM by Eileen

There is a municipal rose garden – it’s so dry here that some of the fungal diseases just don’t show up…Seems strange to have roses amid the cactus but it’s beautiful.

Posted on February 22, 2012 at 7:31:02 AM by Private User

"Nothing to worry about"

Well, I got tired of waiting and being depressed..so I called my GI doctor who did the scope last Mon and he wasn’t in. I spoke with his nurse who was able to access the pathology report and read it..saying “there is nothing to worry about here.” I don’t think I will not ever not worry about anything anymore, but, there it is and I am sooooo relieved.
Apparently I get a written report by next week, but, for now..the best Valentines Day gift ever..nothing to worry about-for today..I will take it and run with it!
Thanks to everyone that sent me words of encouragement and recommended coping strategies…I appreciate them so much! It made getting through these last couple of weeks tolerable.
I will feel free when my brain is free..Cancer attacked my lymph nodes, but, it also attacked my brain..that frustrates me so much…
Have a wonderful day! I hope today finds everyone well and happy! Love all of you! Thanks so much again!

Posted on February 14, 2012 at 7:45:03 AM by Eileen ("Nothing to worry about", 12 comments, 415 views)

5 people like this.

6 people sent you a hug.

Great news. Breath a little easier now. Get out and enjoy the day, make you hubby take you for a nice dinner and a movie. I’m so happy to hear the news.

Posted on February 14, 2012 at 7:50:22 AM by Kathysman

Thanks Blair..just planning on taking it easy..have been getting out for walks..enjoying them more than I use to..hope things are going well for you and Kathy. So weird..don’t know why I am jumping up and down for joy! I hate Cancer! Happy Valentines Day!

Posted on February 14, 2012 at 8:17:31 AM by Eileen

Great news! I am so glad for you. Take a deep breath and enjoy this Valentines day!

Posted on February 14, 2012 at 8:19:18 AM by Private User

Thanks so much! I hope you are having a great day!

Posted on February 14, 2012 at 8:33:35 AM by Eileen

Woo hoo! Nothing to worry about here. I love the sound of that! BIGHUGS and Happy Valentines Day to YOU!

Posted on February 14, 2012 at 8:51:36 AM by Danni Malone

Thanks Danni! So do I ! Now if I could get my brain to do that! lol! Yikes! Thanks for the hugs and Happy Valentines Day to you too! Sending you lots of love! Have a wonderful day!

Posted on February 14, 2012 at 9:00:50 AM by Eileen

Always nice to hear when others get good news. Now you can relax, stop worrying and start enjoying yourself again.

OD@aT

Posted on February 14, 2012 at 9:30:09 AM by Texas Jeff

How are you doing? Are things better? I am so aggrivated with myself for not being able to relax and stop worrying. I take meds for this and try the other coping strategies and I just get frustrated, because it is still there..Cancer stole my ability to be free and who I was before..wha wha..just feel like a whiner..I am going to stop…there are so many people that are going through hell right now..I just need to stop and be greatful..what is wrong with me? I hate myself right now for not being able to just be able to happy. Hope you are getting better. I read your posts and think about you…Hope today was a better day for you! Thanks again Jeff.

Posted on February 14, 2012 at 9:42:30 AM by Eileen

Eillen, sometimes the meds can make you feel this way also.

Posted on February 14, 2012 at 11:02:58 AM by Paul

That’s a relief, and can relax and enjoy yourself. Waiting is the worst. After any test, I want the results by the next day, but of course have to wait until my next visit usually.

Posted on February 14, 2012 at 9:46:00 AM by Paul

Thanks Paul..I agree..it is a relief, but, for some reason, I can’t move on in my head..thinking about going to talk to someone. I am sure it is grieving in some form..just the process..but, I should be dancing in the streets and I feel like screaming instead..I am greatful and appreciative..it is like a bunch of jumbled feelings and I am so angry that at this moment my brain feels like it has been hijacked by cancer..and I feel terrible feeling this way..when I am so lucky and there are others that are fighting to stay alive. So frustrating. Hope all is well with you..I couldn’t wait anymore..it had been an week and I understand why ..but, I was lucky there was a sympathetic nurse that felt comfortable telling me the results even though the doctor had not read them yet..any new recipes? Love ya Paul! Hope you are having a good day! I appreciate your support.

Posted on February 14, 2012 at 10:24:55 AM by Eileen

Everyone is different when dealing with a loss, which what this is. Each stage takes time. I think I’m still in the angry stage, but I like that lol. Don’t feel guilty about anything, and feel obligated to feel a certain way, because you are just showing emotions, which is part of living. I would be worried when you don’t have any emotions. Take care and chat soon.

Posted on February 14, 2012 at 11:00:29 AM by Paul

Thanks Paul. You know the right things to say. I love ya!

Posted on February 14, 2012 at 12:14:27 PM by Eileen

Great news! Now you can relax for a while and enjoy Valentines day.

Posted on February 14, 2012 at 12:12:29 PM by Charlie

Thanks Charlie! I will. Hope all is well with you! Hope you are having a good day!

Posted on February 14, 2012 at 12:15:05 PM by Eileen

Awesome news! You deserve a break and hope you have a great Valentines day filled with love and laughter. The sad news about me is that your post just reminded me it is Valentine’s Day so now I have that last minute shopping to do.

Take care,
Cathy

Posted on February 14, 2012 at 1:10:33 PM by Cathy

Hi. My last treatment was back in May (about 8.5 months ago). It took at least 3-4 months for thoughts about cancer to stop being all-consuming. I called it my own kind of post-traumatic stress dis-order. At maybe 5-6 months, I could sometimes go a few hours where I wasn’t thinking about cancer. Now, I’m to the point where I can go a whole day!

It is a type of grief I think, and you have to give yourself time to mentally heal from it. I thought the day would never come that I wasn’t thinking about my “new normal” and how cancer affected every aspect of my life. But that day has come. I am able to feel real joy and to not be angry about what cancer did to me. I am able to appreciate the perspective it gave me on life (to live with gratitude and appreciation for the things you have).

I still have a bad day here and there – particularly when I suspect cancer (like when I have a swollen sweat gland or am feeling rundown), but for the most part I’m free again. I hope you will be too. You just need time.

Posted on February 14, 2012 at 1:37:16 PM by Kelly

Kelly, thanks so much! You really helped me..I can’t control it and that makes me angry..I can’t wait to get to where you are-I do think this is the fall out or delayed reaction after treatment. It is grieving..I believe that..thanks so much! You give me hope. So happy to hear things are good for you! You are an angel for me! Thanks so much again!

Posted on February 15, 2012 at 11:56:59 PM by Eileen

That’s great news Eileen! I hope you had a very nice Valentines day especially with the relief. :)
Take Care,
Jeff

Posted on February 15, 2012 at 6:07:38 AM by Jeff

Wow what a good news for u and Ur family..I’m just new here and I wanted to read blogs from people who are fighting cervical cancer and as well to cancer survival like you..maybe I can have sone ideas here that can atleast imparted to my mother who is suffering stage 3B cervical cancer..tomorrow will be her 1st session of chemotherapy (6 session every thu.) and everday radiation therapy (25 sessions) an another therapy after these two completed…I hope everything will be fine for her..she is also drinking some alternatives like the “soursop”/guyabano, she just boil the leaves then make it as a tea..

Posted on February 15, 2012 at 7:23:27 AM by Jlynjulaton

So sorry to hear about your Mother. I will be praying for her. This is a wonderful site. Any questions or concerns or vents or expressions..this is the place to get in touch with some pretty incredible people who have been or are going through cancer and can help or just listen. It has helped me a lot. These are some amazingly wonderful people. Anytime you need anything we are here. Love to you and your Mother.

Posted on February 16, 2012 at 12:01:44 AM by Eileen