Day 125. For the warriors.

I started this blog not only to keep my friends and family updated during my journey, but also with hope that it would help someone who has recently been diagnosed with Hodgkin's.  When I was first told that I have cancer, I found a couple of blogs during my Google searches, and they really helped give me an idea of what to expect.  I'm hoping to return the favor, and that someone who has stumbled across my blog has had their journey become a little easier.

So this post is for you, new Hodgkin's warriors.

No one wants to become a member of the Lymphoma Club.  It's a horrible, stupid club.  But within this awful club are some pretty amazing people.  I was fortunate enough to "meet" some fellow warriors online, through Instagram of all places.  There's a whole hidden lymphoma society on there, and within that society are some of the most incredible, brave, and supportive people I've ever met.  Search for lymphoma-related hashtags - #hodgkinslymphoma, #lymphoma, etc. - and you'll find pictures posted by fellow fighters and survivors.  All I had to do was be a creeper and comment on some pictures explaining that I was recently diagnosed, and I immediately had a new group of supporters.

There's also a group on Facebook called "Lymphoma/Hodgkins" - if you type that into the search bar on Facebook, it should pop up.  That group has been a godsend.  There are thousands of people on there - fighters, survivors, family members.  It's a great place to ask questions.  No question is too stupid, or too embarrassing.

Don't be afraid to ask your oncologist questions, either.  And don't be afraid to call the office if you need something.  I've called mine COUNTLESS times, for all sorts of things.  Joint pain, digestive issues, insomnia, fever.  They're there to help you.

Chemo.  It's not really as bad as you think.  Obviously everyone reacts to it differently, but I imagined I was going to be deathly ill, hugging the toilet everyday.  That's not the case.  Yes, there is some nausea and other side effects, but they're manageable.  I've found that what works best for me as far as the nausea goes is I take one of my anti-nausea meds as soon as they remove the tubes from my port after my chemo infusion.  That way I'm not screwed if the ones they gave me at the beginning of the day wear off on the way home.  I also go straight to bed when I get home, usually around 5pm.  If I don't go straight to bed, I'll be up vomiting all evening.  But I don't throw up at all if I just sleep it off.  I've also learned that it's best to take your anti-nausea meds preventatively, even if you're not feeling nauseous.  Because it's much more difficult to get rid of it once it's set in if you didn't take them.

One of the worst side effects I've dealt with is mouth sores.  They're caused by the Adriamycin - the "red devil."  I've found that sucking on ice cubes while that drug is being administered helps immensely.  I start the ice cubes about 5 minutes before my chemo nurse starts the drug, and continue until a few minutes after it's done.  For me, the ice prevents about 95% of the mouth sores.  I may still get a few, especially at the back of my throat, but it's nothing compared to what I got before discovering the ice cube trick.  Ask your oncologist for a prescription for Magic Mouthwash - it's a special mouthwash that has lidocaine in it, and is great to have on hand.  If you have a sore mouth, saltwater rinses really help.  I also like to drink milk when my mouth is sore, as it coats the mouth and throat.  Dry mouth can also cause a sore mouth, so I'd recommend switching to Biotene toothpaste and mouthwash.

If you have a favorite food, don't eat it during chemo!  There are certain foods I used to love that I now get sick at the sight of.  Subway sandwiches?  Yeah, I had them too many times during my chemo infusions, and I can't eat them now.  I've also steered clear of certain foods in the days after chemo.  Before all of this started, I ate low-carb foods and zero junk food.  Because I want to continue to eat healthy after treatment, I don't want to be grossed out by those foods now, so I've been eating things that I don't mind if I get sick of.  I've put on a few pounds, but to me it's worth it to not be completely grossed out by a salad.

Speaking of putting on a few pounds, don't be embarrassed by your appearance during your journey!  It's not worth the extra stress.  I used to care so much about what people thought of me, and this experience has taught me not to think that way.  Now I don't hesitate to go to the store with no eyebrows and just a beanie on my head.  If people want to make assumptions, so be it!

When my hair started to fall out, I shaved my head.  I gave it just long enough to know that it was going to be too thin to keep whatever was left, and then made the leap to buzzing it. Shaving it was less traumatic than having it come out in clumps, and I'm glad I did it.  It made the process a lot easier.

That being said, it still is really hard to go through your appearance changing so drastically.  My eyebrows falling out has probably been the worst part of this whole experience.  But there are ways to fill in your sparse or missing brows with makeup!  I have a makeup tutorial a few posts back that shows one way to fill them in.  Also, there's this amazing program put on by the American Cancer Society called "Look Good, Feel Better" that I'd recommend checking out.  It's a makeup and skincare workshop, and they teach you the basic ways to use makeup during your chemo process.  They have workshops all over the place - you can find ones near you at www.lookgoodfeelbetter.org.

A lot of the places that offer the LGFB program also offer free wigs and wig fittings to cancer patients.  You may find that you don't wear a wig very often, but it's great to have one on hand just in case.  If you choose to purchase one of a higher quality than the ones they offer during the LGFB program, check out www.wigsbypattispearls.com.  Patti is a wig expert, and sells many different brands of wigs on her website.  She frequently has sales on her site, and you can find wigs for a huge discount.  I purchased a Jon Renau wig during her Black Friday sale for 40% off!  Also check with your health insurance company to see if they cover the cost of a wig.  I would have never thought that mine would, but decided to ask them one day when I was on the phone with them for something else. Come to find out they completely covered the cost of two wigs, with no price limit.  I just had to get a prescription from my oncologist.  Who'da thunk?!

Last but not least, keep your head up.  Positivity is everything, and I truly believe that keeping a positive mindset makes the journey easier.  Treatment is a long, grueling process, but you WILL get to the finish line.  You will kick this thing.  You're a warrior.