It wasn't ovarian, it was lymphoma

[Ohjoyohbliss]

My original thread is nearly full, hence starting this one.

I knew I probably had cancer in late July 2025 but it took until the end of August to get a definitive diagnosis: Diffuse Large B-cell Lymphoma, Stage 4.

I have had six rounds of chemo, the last of which was on 12 December. Had a lot of nausea and vomiting, plus an infection which left me hospitalised on oxygen and IV antibiotics for a while. I am extremely weak now, and waiting to find out whether the cancer is still active. (A scan at the half way point showed it was.)

Obviously things will be very different in 2026 and go one of two ways, depending on the scan result, which I will find out on Friday 16th January.

Previous thread:
https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/cancer/5382361-likely-ovarian-terrified-anyone-available-for-a-hand-hold

(Not sure why that takes you to the middle of the thread; sorry.)

Lovely Robin! Thinking of you.

Robin and Blackbird are the first arrivais in the morning. They love dried mealworms. ( on the ground.)

I've recently set up a feeder station thing where I can see it and am learning about garden birds. It's giving me a lot of pleasure especially on low energy days.

I really hope you get good news.

Reading, lurking and thinking of you ♥️ xx
@Ohjoyohbliss does the little robin have a name? We have one that visits us and I’m trying to pick a name for mine. Hope your gurgling belly has settled a little bit 🥴

I don't know if it's a boy or girl robin so no name other than robin redbreast.

Not my garden, but this photo appeared in the Times about a year ago. I just loved it.

I continuously had a robin in front of the garden window when I was doing chemo I don’t know if they are usually there and I don’t notice whereas lying on the sofa opposite the window I saw him/ her all the time.

We saw this one yesterday ❤️

Their little legs are so spindly aren't they :)

Today's visitors are a group of Long-tailed Tits (flying lollipops.) No photos as they move so quickly, but lovely to see them.

I've started making notes in preparation for my consultant appointment on Friday.

I hope you have better news on Friday and your health starts to improve; it’s so hard when you’re feeling so rubbish. If the anti-emetics they’ve given you aren’t working then ask for different ones - they can be hit and miss and it will make all the difference.

That is a very good idea making notes ready for your appointment @Ohjoyohbliss . When my DH was being treated for his Lymphoma, I always had a pen and piece of paper to hand, and was forever jotting something down I needed to ask / do.

I'm so glad you have flying lollipops in your garden! They are so lovely aren't they! They are regular visitors in our garden too. In fact, one year, there were loads of fledglings, and in total there must have been 14 of them altogether. I took in one of the birdfeeders to re-fill it - and as I walked out into the garden, I was bombarded by the babies who flew straight onto the feeder whilst I was holding it! To say I was shocked was an understatement!

I will have absolutely everything crossed for your appointment on Friday. 🤗

I've had pretty much all the anti-emetics available. Thankfully the sickness has largely gone now, but I do still seem extremely prone to travel sickness.

Wow, that's lovely about the lollipops. What were you feeding them that they were so desperate for? I don't see them very often, but it's nice when I do.

I have two feeders in the garden; one for peanuts, and another for fat balls. The fat balls I use are the 'Peckish Extra Goodness' ones. They have more fat and whole seeds in them, and are a yellowy / green colour. The majority you see for sale are quite pale, sandy looking, and gritty in texture, and the birds in our garden really aren't keen on them.

I hope the lollipops visit your garden more often - they really are lovely to watch!

After two days' blissful relief, the diarrhoea has returned. Perhaps it's the iron tablets. Fed up of this.

Oh joy :( could it be a bug rather than side effects? I hope it passes soon x

I take my temperature several times a day and it is normal, so I don't think it's a bug. As I'm so immunocompromised, (virtually no white blood cells to fight infection,) any bug I pick up would most likely make me very ill indeed. The previous one (September) saw me in hospital on high dose oxygen and IV antibiotics, and drifting in and out of consciousness for a few days.

It's either an after-effect of the chemo, an effect of some of the medication I'm on, or the chemo or the cancer itself has damaged my digestive tract to the extent that this is my new normal. I hope not.

your body has been through a lot and will take time to heal and get back to normal. Probiotics are a big win for me (I have inflammatory bowel disease)and hep after my treatment.

Hope you are feeling better today.

Today's the day I find out whether the chemo has worked or not. . I'm shitting myself. Not literally, thank goodness; my last bout of diarrhoea was at about 3am yesterday morning. I didn't get back to sleep after it, as I was fretting about today. Consequently last night I was so tired that I slept much better although waking about an hour before the alarm.

If the chemo hasn't been completely successful, there are various options for further treatment. Some will only be available if I am fit enough. Obviously I can't control my blood test results - a close relative wasn't able to go on a drug trial as her kidneys weren't functioning well enough. But I'm going to control the things I can.

I normally wear a hat to appointments but today I will wear a wig; it makes me look younger and healthier. Everyone who sees me says "Oh, you do look well!" DH and I have it on our bingo card.

Ever since getting the infection in September, I've been attending appointments in a wheelchair. Today I want to walk in, although I will need to use my wheeled walking frame. Still better than a wheelchair though, yes? Or should I try just to lean on DH and not take the frame? No, because getting to the appt is only half of it - I need to get back to the car too.

Thinking of you and wishing you good news today.

Crossing everything for you 🤞

I've been following your journey and rooting for you, thinking all good thoughts for you at your appointment today.
So interesting about your robin, I had abdominal surgery on Monday, the day before I woke up was consumed by terror ( even though I'm mid sixties I had never had an op or hospital stay before) looked out my bedroom window and saw a little goldcrest in the holly bush in my tiny front garden. I live in a busy city so felt that was an amazing thing to see, and I thought of it as some kind of a gift.
On the practical front I wouldn't rely on leaning on your husband, hospitals are weirdly planned places and often you end up having to walk further than you realise, if you don't want to use the wheelchair go for the walking frame.

thinking of you today. Wear your wig with pride and use whatever you need for mobility. I really hope you get good news and you, your wig and DH can go and celebrate.

what time is your appointment? The waiting must be truly horrific x

I've been following your journey and rooting for you. Thinking of you today and keeping everything crossed for good news

Just catching up on your threads, I remember your last one.

My son was diagnosed with Burkitts Lymphoma in 2024 which has a very similar treatment plan to Diffuse Large B Cell Lymphoma. He was stage 3 and has been in remission for 16 months now.

Fingers crossed for good news today xx