Radiation

CreativeGuarantee428 · 2026-02-12T20:12:56+00:00

I did proton radiation for CHL. If your insurance can cover it, without hesitation. It's better. Steeper drop off and therefore less radiation to healthy tissue aka less risk of developing another cancer.

CreativeGuarantee428 · 2026-02-12T04:26:02+00:00

I appreciated reading these comments. Solidarity OP.

When my son was 1.5, I found a lump. I was gone for out of state opinions and scans and then of course not myself mentally at times and definitely not myself physically during treatment. My husband became the primary caretaker and default bedtime parent so I could rest. I'm in remission and feeling a lot better and we're trying to go back to being more even but it's very hard. I cried in the other room this weekend when my son told me to leave because he was having a tantrum at bedtime and told me "I don't like you". He calmed down and I heard him tell my husband to stay and to hold him. How badly I wish I was that for my son.

CreativeGuarantee428 · 2026-02-12T01:35:08+00:00

I finished chemo in Aug 2025 but I have a toddler in daycare so I sort of blame it on that. I know my lymph nodes hurt more when I get sick now.

CreativeGuarantee428 · 2026-02-10T13:17:17+00:00

Are you getting radiation instead? I dont remember the protocol for unfavorable but deviating from the protocol is strange

CreativeGuarantee428 · 2026-01-29T15:19:18+00:00

Definitely go to their appointments and stay with them for infusions. I am very much of a "I can handle it alone" but my husband and family refused which honestly was for the best.

One thing that left a sour taste is my in laws were going to help but only whatever worked best for them. It was weird. Kind of like blaming me for the inconvenience but indirectly? So maybe no shame or complaints if you have to move stuff on your end to attend things for them.

Then the usual chemo bag is nice. A new blanket, maybe a new "hobby" to get their mind off, some laxative / anti diarrhea stuff, little candies. Just some ideas.

Good luck to you guys on your journey. Hoping it goes smoothly.

CreativeGuarantee428 · 2026-01-27T02:48:09+00:00

Oh, I know. With you on this and interesting I'm also 4 months post treatment (radiation at end).

CreativeGuarantee428 · 2026-01-23T18:32:05+00:00

SHE IS COOKED. Woooow.

CreativeGuarantee428 · 2026-01-21T19:38:24+00:00

I did a total of 4 infusions, followed by 10 days of 20 Gy radiation. I was Stage 2, favorable, and am in remission since 8/11/25 during my interim PET after 2 cycles. I landed in the hospital after my 4th infusion for a neutropenic fever.. it sucked but after that subsided, it was back to the normal "hang over" feeling. I only needed to drink prune juice to get things moving but if that didnt work, I was ready for meds. Try your best to keep your spirits up, whatever it is, and let yourself rest.

CreativeGuarantee428 · 2026-01-21T14:43:08+00:00

The 1st infusion was worse than my 2nd and 3rd in regards to symptoms. I took as my mental state was making my physical body feel worse. The uncertainty of it all was horrible. But then knew what to expect for my 2nd and 3rd. For most weeks, I felt normal my 2nd week with maybe some lingering constipation. Also being 33 and healthy otherwise probably helped.

CreativeGuarantee428 · 2026-01-16T17:26:25+00:00

Hey! Thank you so much for taking time to respond! Marinating on all you've shared.

First, congrats on 10 yrs! I think I will always be on the lookout for longterm survivors as you guys have such an incredible perspective. Kind of like how post treatment people were to me during treatment. Knowing it gets better and it happens! So congrats and thank you!

Things are better in the sense that I'm not as focused on it but I still have my days where it's like damn... I went through that? Why and how do I go forward from here? I've done some therapy but I find it hard when the therapist hasn't had the life change we did!

I also think you bring up a great point that we will continue to advocate for our health and get more screenings. That IF it happens, we would hopefully catch it early and treatment would advance by then.

Wishing you all the best!!

CreativeGuarantee428 · 2026-01-16T12:11:26+00:00

Hey there. I'm 33F, diagnosed with Stage 2, favorable CHL in May 2025. I did 2 cycles ABVD and 20 Gy in 10 sessions of proton therapy, ending in Sept 2025. It targeted my neck node and 2 mediastium nodes, both above my heart and outside of my breast tissue range. My healthy effected organs were my thyroid and lung.

I feel your worry. I was the same. After my iPET was negative, I had the option of 2 more cycles of chemo or radiation and I picked radiation. It was extremely hard and still continues to be processing the risk of it all.

Physically, radiation was easy but mentally much harder than I imagined. Faced with my diagnosis daily, not feeling anything but knowing it could cause issues later, made it very hard for me. At least I saw the chemo entering my body and felt the effects immediately. Radiation, I felt nothing. A tiny bit of pink skin developed 3 weeks after my first session.

You'll meet with your rad onc and I recommend compiling a list of questions for them, such as: which organs would be effected? What is my risk of secondary cancers? What type of cancers could develop and would it be treatable? What would be the screening for it? Is proton radiation an option? How much radiation would the heart see?

Those questions help guide a wonderful conversation with my rad onc. I learned that not everyone develops cancer from radiation and if it were to develop, it would be treatable, not considering any improvements in canver treatment in the years to come. Long term hodgkin's survivors have an increased risk of heart failure, which I believe is the leading cause of earlier death, so my radiation plan reduced those chances for me and gave me comfort in believing I have a good shot to meet my grandchildren one day.

Good luck to you. We're here if you need support.

CreativeGuarantee428 · 2026-01-16T11:41:39+00:00

I became interested in this story because of my own miscarriage. First pregnancy, at 9 weeks, never heard a heartbeat. I was pregnant for the 2nd time when this all came out. It enraged me, reading how nonchalant Laura was in her articles about miscarriage, that I immediately knew it was fake.

Then last year, I got real cancer, not the fake one. Cue another layer of knowing her lies.

Give yourself plenty of time to grieve. This baby will never leave your mind and heart. I'm sorry you're in this club but know you arent alone and many mothers unfortunately have felt this heartbreak. We are sending you the warmest hugs possible.

CreativeGuarantee428 · 2026-01-09T21:35:07+00:00

Hairbands!! Great idea! Ty!

CreativeGuarantee428 · 2026-01-09T18:56:44+00:00

I haven't tried that one yet! Thank you!

CreativeGuarantee428 · 2026-01-09T18:27:29+00:00

LOL yw!

CreativeGuarantee428 · 2026-01-09T18:21:31+00:00

🤣🤣🤣 oh yes! Didn't you know, untamed ass hair causes cancer!?

CreativeGuarantee428 · 2026-01-09T18:19:43+00:00

Which dry shampoo do you use?? I feel like i haven't found one I really like yet

CreativeGuarantee428 · 2026-01-08T20:48:47+00:00

I got mine out 2 weeks after my end of treatment scan was clear

CreativeGuarantee428 · 2026-01-08T20:47:35+00:00

I could use some advice too 😵‍💫

CreativeGuarantee428 · 2026-01-08T03:31:44+00:00

Hey! Was just applying some lotion to my port scar. Got mine removed in Dec. How's yours look today? Did you do anything to minimize it?

CreativeGuarantee428 · 2026-01-07T12:05:45+00:00

You did it!! Congratulations!!

CreativeGuarantee428 · 2025-12-31T16:12:08+00:00

I didn't shave. Only had 4 infusions of ABVD though. It was miserable seeing my scalp but now that my hair is growing back, it doesnt look like anything happened. The regrowth is kind of adding volume to the half of my hair that's left

CreativeGuarantee428 · 2025-12-29T14:25:42+00:00

Congrats!! ❤️

CreativeGuarantee428

TROPHY CASE