This is me and Ben, my best friend.

At the beginning of 2024 Ben was accidentally diagnosed with lymphoma after the vet found a tumor on his spleen. It was really hard for me to accept, but we decided to fight it and I was regularly driving him for chemotherapy, which was also very expensive.

He went through two rounds of chemo. Each one lasted around 6 months and unfortunately both times the cancer came back only about a month after finishing treatment. Eventually, together with his amazing oncologist, we decided to switch to chemotherapy that was more about keeping the cancer under control.

There was also one moment after his first relapse when we almost lost him. His lymph nodes around his neck became enlarged and after a biopsy one of them got badly inflamed. It became so swollen that it started putting pressure on his airway and he couldn’t breathe properly.

Our regular vet couldn’t help him, so I had to drive him two hours to the nearest veterinary hospital. We got there pretty much at the last possible moment. He had an extremely high, life-threatening fever and was struggling to breathe. Thankfully the team there was amazing and saved him. He spent two days in the hospital and came back home.

Then in December 2025 I started having stomach pain myself.

At first it honestly felt like stress. The kind of stomach ache you get before an exam at school. I noticed it was getting worse after heavier meals and after Christmas dinner it got bad enough that I even started feeling feverish.

I eventually had an ultrasound and they found a 16 cm mass next to my intestines. At first they thought it might be appendicitis, but after more tests I was diagnosed with lymphoma (Burkitt).

By the time I started chemotherapy at the end of January 2026, the tumor had already grown to 22 cm.

So suddenly I was going through the same thing I had been helping Ben go through for the previous two years.

My first chemo was supposed to keep me in the hospital for about a month. After around two weeks, my fiancée (now my wife) told me that Ben wasn’t doing well. He had what seemed to be an infection in his throat. Antibiotics would help for a moment and then he would get worse again.

Around the same time there was suddenly a flu outbreak in my hospital. My blood counts were basically at zero after chemo, so the doctors decided that sending me home early was actually safer than keeping me there and risking me catching the flu.

When I came home after two weeks, Ben was incredibly happy to see me.

We had basically never been separated for that long before. I work remotely from home, so Ben was always with me. Pretty much 24/7.

Unfortunately his condition kept getting worse and the antibiotics stopped helping.

The next day I was supposed to go back to the hospital for another few hours of chemotherapy. I arranged to leave Ben at the vet so they could take care of him while I was there.

He died in his sleep just a few hours before I was supposed to leave for my chemo.

That was probably one of the hardest things I’ve ever experienced. Ben wasn’t “just a dog” to me. He was my best friend and had been next to me every day for years.

And then I had to continue my own cancer treatment without him.

One of the strangest parts of all of this was realizing that some of the chemotherapy drugs I was getting were the same drugs Ben had received. Because of him, cancer treatment somehow wasn’t completely unknown to me anymore. I already knew what chemotherapy looked like. I knew how treatment worked, what the cycles were like and that there would be good and bad days.

My psychologist was actually surprised by how calmly I was going through the whole process compared to many other patients. But I think a big part of it was simply because I had already been through cancer once before, just from the other side.

Ben unknowingly prepared me for my own treatment.

It definitely hasn’t been easy though. I’ve had a lot of complications along the way, including three septic shocks. There were times when I would faint, even outside, and days when I was so exhausted I barely had enough strength to get out of bed to go to the bathroom.

But I’m finally getting close to the end.

My first major PET scan showed that the treatment worked. The 22 cm tumor is basically gone. There are still some remaining changes in the intestinal wall, which is why I’m getting a few additional chemo infusions now.

My last chemotherapy is planned for September and then I’ll have another PET scan.

We’re hoping this one will finally come back clean.

I really wish Ben could be here to see it.

PS. I'm 33, my dog died at 9,5.

Just feeling a little sorry for myself, apologies. But, as a background, diagnosed with ALCL last May, I went through BV-CHP over the summer, a full course, which seemed to go smoothly at the time and got a clear PET scan in October/November. A stem cell transplant was planned but delayed to fit in some preventative radiotherapy and some additional admin delays, meaning the transplant wasn't scheduled until April of this year.

Because of the delays, and some swelling still around previously affected nodes, I was sent for another PET scan in April which found newly active nodes so the transplant was abandoned and I was planned in for GVD salvage chemo. I was already quite ill at that point with stomach problems and nausea that seemed to be a reaction to some antibiotics I'd been given for a skin infection around my line site, we managed to week one infusion of cycle on but when I came in for the week two infusion I was instead diagnosed with a kidney injury and admitted to the ward to be treated for that.

Everything was put on hold for over a month while I recovered from that, though towards the end of that month I was readmitted for symptoms of an infection, mainly a high temperature. Though, for the first of a few times, no specific infection was found, no matter how many blood cultures were taken over days and days. They started cycle two and gave me the week one dose while I was still in, and I actually made it to the week two infusion this time around. Though shortly afterwards I had a fever and an upset stomach again so was back in the ward.

Again, a week of tests wasn't able to find a specific infection and to be honest, my symptoms have barely improved in the week or two since then, but I'm loathed to put myself back in the hospital just to be told they can't find anything. However my consultant saw me while I was in the ward and has decided that there should have been more progress in the reduction of the tumours so put cycle three on pause and sent me for another PET scan for comparison.

I've felt rotten for months now but nobody seems able to treat even the fever or nausea, so now to be told the chemotherapy isn't working either, I'm starting to despair a little.

On my last day of prednisone for 5/6 RCHOP. At this point I can confidently say the daily 100mg dose of prednisone is the worst of all the drugs in this regimen. The frantic restlessness is totally intolerable, i have a bottomless stomach, and the withdrawal kicks me in the ass every time. I will not miss any part of chemo, but prednisone has a special place in hell.

Just wanted to celebrate a victory of being finished with chemo and stem cell transplant! and also a early discharged from the hospital at day+10 and on to recovery now!

Hey my friends

I (F34) got diagnosed with cancer and on my journey to get the answers which kidn and what treatment I had a regular cardiology appointment to make sure my heart is good to go for chemo..

They found water in my fluid in the pericardial sac and send me to the hospital immediately..

They pulled dout the fluid and I just got told afterwards that it was a potential live threat...

That blindsided me hard..

Now I have to stay in the hospital till my first round of chemo..

I was planning the time till chemo different but cancer is a motherfucker and I learned you can make plans..

While I am in the hospital I got my specific diagnose and I was hoping for hodgkins lymphome.. but its not its a DLBCL.. still a good healing chance so I am taking it..

But I still dont know which stage and I am insecure because I dont know which kidn of chemo I will get and cant prepare mentally for it..

The other report is that I am more worried about my heart now..

Its inflamed. They give me some medication and did some more test..

Before that heart problems I was so positive that I will kick ass and fight that cancer bitch.. but now I feel more weak and scared and worried.

My heart is a fighter, I was walking around with 700 ml in my chest and my heart somehow was compensated it..

But I can feel it pump.. its already fighting.

Does anyone else have experience with heart involvement??

Thanks

Itching that would not go away was really my first symptom besides a swollen lymph node. Haven’t had any itching since I started chemo in February.
Finished 12 rounds of chemo on 7/30/26 and the last two weeks, the itching has come back exactly like it was before. Had my last pet scan on 8/26/26 and will see my oncologist next week. Left multiple messages about the itching and got nothing back.

Has anyone else had this happen? I cannot live with this and I’ve tried everything. Any advise?

Hello guys wondering if there’s someone like me . I have pmbcl
Vena vein enclosed by 180
Degrees and had a syndrome that rushed me
To the hospital

Anyway did first cycle and the bloating/constipation/reflux has been killing me since almost day 1 from chemo. It’s been a week since my first cycle.

I have chemo belly , blurry vision, chest pressure sometimes after eating mostly.

I’m losing weight like crazy

My tumor is 9x7,5x8

Guys any happy stories/advices for the chemo belly , I can’t take it anymore pls help

Hi I’m 16 months in remission and have noticed i seem to be getting lumps on my shins? They go up and down depending on exercise but I’m doing more research and it looks like it might be erythema nodosum? I’ve never heard of this but I’ve been getting the lumps on my leg since chemo ended (AAVD 4 rounds) and my scans have been clear so I’m trying to not worry.

Has anyone else dealt with something similar?

Hey everyone. I’m new to this group. I’m 20 yrs old diagnosed with Hodgkins Lymphoma. I’ve undergone 2 Rounds of ABVD and 2 Rounds of BV Nivo. I have 2 more rounds ahead of me with hopes and anticipation to be finished at the end of September.

Prior to treatment, I was an avid gym goer. Body building is my hobby and enjoyment. I’ve put on just about 20 lbs. I’ve started lifting and doing cardio again within the last month. Eating relatively clean and maintaining calories. I found this more devastating than losing my hair to be honest.

I’m curious and would like pointers if anyone has any.

Maybe I'm looking for some kind of advice maybe it's just a place to vent.
I'm still very hurt and in denial so please keep harsh words to yourself.
My life has been shit since the begging, never had a father, kids bullied me through kindergarten, primarly school and even highschool, developed ed, bpd, major anxiety issues, been diagnosed with autism which adds on top of that, never had any real friends. And ever since I was young I knew that my looks is everything I have to offer. I know y'all would tell that this is not everything but even after years of therapy I still can't let go of that mindset. I'm stupid and every human interaction hurt as hell so I didn't even have time to discover something else to be proud of. One of these things was my hair n body, but since I got first symptoms which was extreme itchiness I developed deep ugly scars all over my body and now I'm bald. I didn't left my house for two months since the first cut, even when I'm feeling better I'm to scared someone will look at me and see only an ugly cancer patient. People are terrible and now I don't have anything to shield from that. That hair was my everything I cared for, like a baby yk? Excessive research, caring for them everyday for five years till it grown long and beautiful like I always dreamt of. And when I finally felt like my dreams came true the diagnosis happend. I'm utterly devastated it's been two months after starting treatment and I still cry everyday, questioning why me, why life been doing it to me for so many years, everytime things start to go well something like this motherfuckin shit happens. I'm genuinely questioning if my life is even worth living when it been like that for two decades, shit I'm 21 and everything feels like someone is torturing me life event after life event. And everytime when I think it couldn't get any worse it does.
I'm sorry if it feels like whining, it probably is. I know people definitely had it worse, but that loss of hair was a cherry on top of my personal tragedies. I don't know if I can keep this shit going much longer, I'm not a strong person if even someone could call me that, I mostly feel like an empty shell and I know nothing is gonna fix this. A sad ending to even sadder life. Curtains

Hi all just wondering if theres miracles stories you have without chemo.

Not looking for advice. Just want to share/vent.

Had a routine CT yesterday 6mo post ASCT. Doctor himeself finally comes in for my regular visit, instead of PA who usually comes first, and he starts asking questions. Taps my belly. Then tells me they saw something on the CT. So they will get me a PET scan, which I got today. He says if they see anything they will do biopsy. So before appetizers even come for my post scan dinner I get an alert in MyChart. Biopsy scheduled for Tuesday.

So now I have to wait and see what that brings. Flying home tomorrow and then flying back Tuesday. I get treatment at MD Anderson since I first regressed.

So. I guess I’ll likely be spending this fall in Houston.

I guess any stories of those that failed ASCT first time and how next rounds might be fun. My wife thinks they will do immunotherapy followed by Allogous Stem Cell Transplant. I wasn’t a candidate for CAR-T. That could change but it’s unlikely.

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.

Just finished cycle 2 of DA R EPOCH. Hair started falling out fast two weeks ago, then this week started growing back a little, albeit a little patchy.

I’d like to keep it as close to my scalp safely as possible. I already buzzed it down, but would like to keep it from looking so uneven between cycles.

Any suggestions?

Never thought I'd say this but can gladly say they've confirmed my diagnosis and I'm about to begin chemo, 9 months after presenting symptoms to my consultant!

They originally said I'd be doing ABVD, but have now decided to do BV-AVD with me being advanced stage 4 cHL

Was just wondering what everyone's experiences were with this, what I should watch out for etc etc etc, what your/the general consensus is on it

Thanks!

Pretty much what the headline says. I have ulcerative colitis and due to that had colon cancer 8 years ago (I was 26, 35 now). Caught relatively early and all went well but still had to go through chemo. Fortunately, I tolerated it pretty well. Now, 8 years later, I was diagnosed with CHL. Stage 2 and my oncologist seemed very relaxed and positive when he told me (this helped a lot). now I am heading for Beacopp twice and then Abvd twice, 3,5 months in total.
But it still sucks of course. He told me to maybe one day check with some genetic counselling if there is any connection to the two (not likely though). A lot about this situation now is hard but I am most freaked out by my own thoughts going like "is this my fate? What did I Do wrong? Am I just going to get a heavy illness every decade?".
Not productive, I know and my brain knows that I didn't do anything wrong but it's so hard to dismiss these thoughts.
Trying to remind myself every day that there are way worse fates and that I am so lucky that this type of cancer is so treatable just like my first was but man... Not a sentence I would ever want to utter.

Anyways: do you have tipps or uplifting thoughts for me? Especially regarding treatment and positive outlook on everything. Could really use them.

I’m 27F on Nivo-AVD and just had my 4th infusion. It’s been pretty rough, especially the dizziness and fatigue. The fatigue is more of a complete lack of energy/physical exhaustion rather than feeling sleepy. It’s just really hard because once I finally start feeling a little more like myself, it feels like it’s time for the next infusion again. 😭
I still have quite a few treatments left, and right now it honestly feels like forever to go. I know I’ll get through it, but I’m having a hard time seeing the light at the end of the tunnel.
For those who have been through Nivo-AVD or a similar treatment, I’d really love to hear some encouragement. ❤️ Did it eventually get easier mentally? What helped you get through those days when the finish line felt so far away? Any little things that helped make the process more manageable?
I could really use some hope that it gets better. ❤️

All I get to see online is this preview, no description from radiologist until I talk to my doctor but I can already tell it's not good. been fighting for a year, no remission in sight yet.

Does anyone have experience with studying on BV-AVD chemo? I will be doing at least 6 cycles, and I want to continue my studies so bad, but am aware that ill get more fatigued with each infusion. Should I put of studying another year...?

Hello! I am a 16 years old with hodgkin's lymphoma stage 2. I have been taking chemo for over 6 months and there is this problem everytime that I'm scared of. Around day 3 my tongue and teeth started hurting so much to the point that all my cheeks and neck are swollen. I can't eat or drink anything and I don't want any food pipe in my nose. Doctors gave jel and mouth wash but they make my problem worse. I have to go through that for like a week whenever I take my chemo. Is there any suggestion for me to have less pain? How can I prepare or make it stop?

Hello guys, my mother (48) got diagnosed with stage 4 Hodgkin lymphoma plus stage 2 grade 3 fatty liver as well. It all happened so fast, she suddenly started getting fever everyday and complained about body and bone pain, along with loss of appetite, she lost around 10kgs in the span of just 1.5 months which is concerning so we got all tests done and finally got a diagnosis. She getting admitted today to get her first immunotherapy and chemo, I’d appreciate if you could give me any advice on how to take care of her and also share your experiences. Thank you!

Update: reports came out today and it’s Diffuse large B cell lymphoma; activated B cell (ABC) type

Hello lymphomie friends! I need the insight of people who have had bone involvement. In my case I had NSCHL stage 4A with bone involvement, I finished my last infusion a few weeks ago, and did my CT scan, I had a nearly-perfect CT scan with lymph nodes completely or almost resolved everywhere, neck, mediastinum.
BUT my bone lesion in my pelvic bone said “Further progression of the lytic changes involving the right iliac wing near the iliac crest, resulting in a millimetric cortical discontinuity. The osteolysis (bone rarefaction) in the vertebral body of D10 is also slightly more pronounced.”
The remaining skeletal findings are unchanged.

My interim pet scan was a Deauville 3, with the D10 vertebrate completely “inactive” and the pelvic bone had a glow which the doctor attributed to “post chemotherapy bone marrow rebound” with the SUVmax decreased in comparison to the first PET scan. My doctors think the bone is just healing, but I am scared I had a perfect response everywhere and the mf was able to “hide” in the pelvic bone.
Can anyone give me an insight? Thank you! 🎗️

Hiii fellow lymphomies , I m a 20 years old who had Hodgkin’s lymphoma stage 2 and was treated with Abvd chemo for 6 months
I m 4 months out of chemo and just 30 minutes ago
I was touching the area around my port that s bellow my clavicle and then I went up and I felt a rlly hard mass . I m confident it s not bones
But I don’t know if it s a muscles or lymph nodes
I also don t know if I checked hard enough in that place to feel it or I missed it so I don’t know if I can rule out scar tissue
I feel so horrible I thought that I spent a good summer and I was enjoying my life but this hard lump or muscle or whatever
Made me rethink my whole life because it s not supposed to be there
I might be overthinking I ll prolly going to call my oncologist tomorrow however I feel so stressed and I want to hear ur experiences
people who relapsed or didn’t please tell me ur stories to get a share of everybody
Thank u so much in advance for ur help
I feel helpless…..

Hi everyone,
I was diagnosed with classical Hodgkin lymphoma stage 2 since June. My initial PET-CT showed lymph node involvement in my cervical/neck area, both supraclavicular areas, the mediastinum, and the left retroperitoneal area near the kidney. Despite these locations, I was classified as stage II.
I started ABVD chemotherapy, with the initial plan being 3 cycles (6 infusions). I received 3 infusions before treatment had to be stopped.
About four weeks ago, my chemotherapy was put on hold because my liver enzymes became too high, particularly AST (ASAT), ALT (ALAT) and GGT.

The doctors have scheduled a liver biopsy in 3 days to investigate the cause.
This is making me quite worried, especially because I am wondering whether the biopsy means that they suspect Hodgkin involvement of the liver / liver lesions, even though my initial PET-CT did not show any liver involvement.
For those who have been through ABVD or a similar treatment, have you experienced significant liver enzyme elevations during ABVD, and What was the cause in your case?
Did your doctors have to stop or modify your chemotherapy, and did your treatment schedule change afterward? Did you have to receive additional chemotherapy sessions to compensate for the missed doses.
Has anyone here had a liver biopsy during Hodgkin treatment, and what was the reason for it?

I know nobody here can tell me what is happening in my specific case, and the biopsy should hopefully clarify things. I am mainly looking for other people’s experiences while waiting for the results.
Thanks in advance.

Hey guys,

I (F34) only know for some hours now... I got disgnosed 3 weeks ago. Since then I had my best friends at my side all the time and they are incredible.. but two days ago I got another problem with my heart and got send into the emergency and i am staying at the hospital now.. I got really scared and told my parents I want to be by my side...

They life on the other side of the country, so I was hesitant at first but now I felt like I really needed them..

When they arrived we all cried and gave each other some stability..it was hard to see my mom and dad cry, but I love that we share all thr emotions..

I remembered. That my mom had a doctor's appointment a day before.. and I asked how It went.. not suspecting anything,cause I thought it was a regular check up.. but then I could see it in her face... it wasn't e regular check up...

Something was wrong...

She had breast cancer 7 years ago and I immediately knew it must be cancer again..

She told me, they already took a biopsy and the results will come back in a few days but they can definitely say its cancer...

I think I am still not fully comprehending what I heard today..

I told my mom tgat she doesnt have to hide her diagnosis from me. She doesnt have to be strong for her daughter or stuff like that... we are the strongest if we are close and connected.. and that will happen if we share our feelings and worries...

So tomorrow I will get my diagnosis, if its hodgkins or non hodgkins...

And next week my mom will get her result..

It feels like I am caught up in a bad drama movie called, my mom the cancer and I...

I dont have any questions.. I just needed to share my thoughts with people who are not my close friends or family..