A Patient’s Perspective on Lymphoma Melanie Phillips

February 2008: Feeling unwell, tired and generally miserable! GP visits: never same doctor twice 6+ months of investigation Nov 2008: Found a permanent GP Referral to Haematology Unit at Wythenshawe Progress at last! Summer 2008: planning a trip round the world

Investigation and Diagnosis November - December 2008 Investigations at Wythenshawe Hospital continue Blood tests, bone marrow biopsy (ouch!), chest X-ray and Lymph Node biopsy January 4 th 2010: Diagnosis of Hodgkin Lymphoma And referral to Christies (and date of scheduled departure for round the world trip) December 13th – Mel’s Leaving Do becomes ‘Mel’s not leaving do’

Treatment January 2010: Consultation with Christies Team Joined Clinical Trial February 6 th : First Chemotherapy I set up a facebook blog and online calendar to keep friends and family up to date

Treatment February 6 cycles of 2 doses of ABVD Neulasta injections at start as part of clinical trial Support from friends, family online ‘Buddies’ & Beechwood Jennifer : My Facebook pal and fellow patient across the Atlantic

Treatment Good bits: Great support from Nurses Lots of positive assurance about outcomes Regular contact with GP Still getting out and about lots! Still smiling! Still got hair (well mostly)! Bad bits  Waiting times at hospital on treatment days Smell of hospital Anticipatory Nausea Chemotherapy – length of time Feb 2009: bring me sunshine!

Treatment Summer Chemo continues, good time for short hair! (and being out in the garden to lift spirits) Chemo every fortnight- gruelling but starting to feel improvements

June 2009: End almost in sight Weddings and wigs! July Finished chemo after straight ‘run’ of treatment

October 2009 Cycling to radiotherapy each day 10 sessions, daily Monday to Friday for 2 weeks A mid- radiotherapy weekend in Paris!

Happy Travels!

2010 Back to reality – back to work - Fewer holidays! quarterly check-ups Team on hand with any questions or worries Feeling good!

ANY QUESTIONS?