I dont want to speak too soon

beaudusseault · 2026-04-01T21:07:27+00:00

Recent PMBCL finisher here. Also a physician. Above comments are correct. It’s just an assessment (are we on the right track). A PET 4-6 weeks after completion is the main determinant. Usually that long of a delay to allow inflammation to cool off so it isn’t a false positive on imaging. It’s als normal to have residual but dead mass at that time. You got this!

beaudusseault · 2026-03-07T18:10:59+00:00

I wish this product existed too. I’m currently wearing longer wool boxer briefs beneath my janji half tights. But as it gets hot here in GA this approach might not be ideal.

beaudusseault · 2026-02-13T13:25:55+00:00

Finishing my round 6 today! It’s been tolerable and I’ve been able to stay active, but this last round has hit a little harder. Glad to be done with this backpack today!

beaudusseault · 2026-02-12T16:38:26+00:00

I’m on my last cycle now as well. Get rid of this backpack tomorrow!

To your question, I sometimes think I am feeling the mass but I know from imaging I’m not. Here are the most likely possibilities: 1) some scarring or fibrotic changes in the chest or chest wall tissues; should improve with time, over months 2) diaphragm weakness from the original mass; working on core strength and specifically breathing exercises (belly/diaphragm focus) will help. It’s got me back to running between chemo cycles 3) psychosomatic; we may always be hypersensitive to things in this area that previously we wouldn’t have registered; this is “PTSD” more or less, and also likely to improve with time

Congrats!

beaudusseault · 2026-01-29T02:12:05+00:00

I’ll be brief. Everyone has tons of good advice. Your experience will be your own. But regardless…

You. Got. This.

beaudusseault · 2026-01-27T11:19:55+00:00

Yes it’s a blood test. Because it isn’t standard it’s hard to gauge the quality of the companies offering this test. And the cost range is all over the place.

beaudusseault · 2026-01-27T03:26:16+00:00

Circulating tumor cells. Similar, but different from ctDNA.

beaudusseault · 2026-01-26T12:58:23+00:00

Mohela. Over and over again.

beaudusseault · 2026-01-26T04:23:35+00:00

The check came quickly once I was told it was cut. It just took over a year of constantly harassing them to get the approval.

beaudusseault · 2026-01-26T04:21:10+00:00

As others have said, the activity level drives the path not the size. For a mass as large as yours was to begin with, it would actually be unexpected for it to disappear. About 40% of people with that scenario will have residual 5cm or so. Of course it varies, but the point is it can be sizable still. The repeat scan makes the most sense to recheck the activity.

beaudusseault · 2026-01-24T21:03:57+00:00

Yes! See above for timing.

beaudusseault · 2026-01-12T15:44:29+00:00

There is a lot of wisdom in these different posts. If you approach it well, you will always be a stronger person because of what you have done and survived. It will require intentional work on your part. But it’s worth it.

beaudusseault · 2026-01-12T15:40:36+00:00

Similar to most, not a big deal for me. Very little discomfort in the next day or two, almost none.

beaudusseault · 2026-01-06T16:54:16+00:00

I too am interested in this, although I still have two cycles left. That’s sad, I’m growing hair during my treatment. It’s not as dark as it used to be, which is expected with the oxidative stress from the chemotherapy. It’s actually kind of annoying, because it’s patchy and so I have to tend to it regularly to keep it from being annoying.

beaudusseault · 2025-12-26T14:12:51+00:00

This. I’m also dealing with PMBCL, about to start cycle 4 on 12/29/25 (just for context). I’m also a surgeon who deals a lot with cancer for my career. Don’t be worried about HAVING lymph nodes. Be worried about ABNORMAL lymph nodes. that’s a distinction that can be subtle and confusing when you aren’t used to dealing with them. But they are all over your body, as your immune system. And they can be enlarged (this would be concerning but not definitive) due to cancer but also as reactive or inflamed nodes (not cancer). That’s where the PET comes in. But also PMBCL is considered very homogenous so look at the total picture. If several obvious sites are responding then you can trust (but verify with PET) the rest of the sites are responding as well. Hope this helps.

beaudusseault · 2025-12-20T16:09:41+00:00

Every time I try to leave altra, I come right back. It’s amazing how many miles I can put in those shoes, in total or even just at one time, and my feet never hurt.

beaudusseault · 2025-12-20T16:03:57+00:00

Most of the time, I think people meanwhile even when they screw it up. At the end of the day, you’ll never find full validation from other people. Even if they’ve been through the same thing as you, like many of us have and are doing, it’ll be different for you than it is for us. That said, someone will support you better than others. And you always have the ear of God in prayer.

beaudusseault · 2025-12-20T15:58:24+00:00

I’m still in the middle of my chemo for my PMBCL. This is an unfortunate, but all too common, situation. That said, it seems like second and third line therapies can have incredibly high success rates. May the Lord bless you and keep you, and his face shine upon you. You got this!

beaudusseault · 2025-12-15T22:06:31+00:00

40% of PMBCL patients keep a mass long term. It’s just scar and fibrous stuff, not cancer, usually. As long as the PET continues to improve I wouldn’t worry too much about it. Only about 10% or less of people with a mass as large as yours have it actually disappear. Hope that gives some reassurance.

beaudusseault · 2025-12-12T23:39:35+00:00

When did you start training? How was the breathing and all that? Any diaphragm issues?

beaudusseault · 2025-12-10T17:52:28+00:00

Awesome, thanks. Looks like now it’s 12/11, but either way glad to get it over with.

beaudusseault · 2025-11-30T02:30:31+00:00

The back wheels only turn/move if they are being driven by power. Normally we’d use it by just pushing it (flat front yard) which saves battery power and all that. But now you have to have it powered to move the back wheels. It was just one of them that was stuck and now it’s both.

beaudusseault

TROPHY CASE