From mayoclinic.org:
Hodgkin’s lymphoma was named after the doctor that first documented it, Thomas Hodgkin. It is a blood cancer. Meaning, that it is related to other types of cancer such as multiple myeloma and leukemia. The more common form of lymphoma is non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. The presence of Reed-Sternberg cells is what distinguishes Hodgkin’s from the more common form.
My Story:
In January 2001, I was five months pregnant with my second child. One evening, I casually stretched and rubbed my neck. I felt a large lump on my neck. Being pregnant, I freaked out and went to the emergency room. The doctor sent me to a doctor, who sent me to another doctor. Each time, the doctor’s title became more impressive sounding, e.g. otolaryngologist. I had a needle biopsy, a MRI, and a surgical biopsy.
On April 10, I was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma. I was 25 years old. We weren’t able to find out exactly how bad it was because I was pregnant and the tests would have been harmful to the baby. The whole idea of delaying cancer treatment until after I gave birth concerned my OB-GYN. The moment my pregnancy was considered full term the my OB-GYN induced me. May 18th, I gave birth to a perfectly health daughter.
Two weeks later I started the tests for staging the cancer—a CT scan with compare & contrast dye and a PET scan. The CT was easy. A simple slide through a doughnut-like tube, inject a little dye, then more sliding. The PET involved an injection of radioactive isotope. The doctor walked in with it in a metal box, took one look at our infant in my husband’s arms, turned right around and said, “That baby can’t be here. I’ll come back when you’re gone.” I wasn’t allowed within four feet of either child for hours after. Sadly, the isotope did not make me glow in the dark.
One week later, I was diagnosed with stage 2A Nodular sclerosis Hodgkin’s. My doctor decided that the best course of action was six rounds (12 treatments) of chemotherapy. I was given the standard regimen of ABVD—Adriamycin,Bleomycin, Vinblastine, and Dacarbazine. We decided that I wouldn’t do radiation due to the mixing of potential side effects and my young age. Little things such as scarring my heart and I knew I would need it for a while longer.
I started chemo June 28, 2001. I had my treatments on Thursdays. That allowed me to crash on the weekends when my husband was around to take care of everything. I had some of the usual side effects—nausea, fatigue, hair loss. My doctor’s were fantastic about managing my nausea. When the insurance would only cover one pill a month, my doctor gave me samples. For fatigue, I rested as much as I could the weekend after chemo.
In regards to the hair loss, it didn’t bother me that much. I refused to feel shame that cancer took my hair. I was more worried that my baldness would scare my oldest as she was only five years old at the time. So I decided to make it fun. I let her and some other kids in the family finger paint on my bald head. Pro tip—warm the paints in some water first.
I finished chemo November 29, 2001. I had routine check-ups & scans and was declared cancer-free.
Links I Like:
A nice overview by the American Cancer Society:
http://www.cancer.org/cancer/hodgkindisease/detailedguide/hodgkin-disease-what-is-hodgkin-disease
The paper Dr Thomas Hodgkin wrote in which the disease is first mentioned. Although, it wouldn’t be named Hodgkin’s or lymphoma for many years more:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2116706/?page=1
An overview of the chemotherapy regimen:
another cancer and me 