# So, I've got cancer. Well that's fucking great. **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [March 2, 2018, 8:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-ive-got-cancer-well-thats-fucking-great/809875 "2018-03-02T08:10:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![goldmund](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a4c791/32.png) [@goldmund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/goldmund)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2018, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-ive-got-cancer-well-thats-fucking-great/809875/81 "2018-03-15T19:42:36Z")
> [@slightly\_askew](#): > > Hair started to fall out after first treatment and before second treatment. Don’t recall exactly, but probably a few days to a week after first treatment. My hair was fairly long at the time, so it was kind of a mess to deal with. Got it cut short and it was much easier to handle – no piles of 14 inch strands lying about. About the same here, but it stopped falling out after that. Hair didn’t really grow until I finished chemo, and didn’t have to shave for basically 6 months. ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2018, 2:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-ive-got-cancer-well-thats-fucking-great/809875/82 "2018-03-16T02:38:05Z")
> [@buddha\_david](#): > > Question: For those who suffered alopecia, how long did it take before hair started falling out? The nurse said I was almost certain to suffer hair loss, despite the anecdotes of people who said it never happened to them. With ABVD, hair loss varies widely from person to person. Some people experience little or no hair loss, and others have total alopecia, including eyebrows, pubic hair (THIS seems to freak people out the most), beards, etc. Everyone will react differently; if you have long(ish) hair, you might want to get it cut so the change isn’t so drastic if/when it happens. ---
**Author:** ![buddha\_david](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ee7513/32.png) [@buddha\_david](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/buddha_david)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2018, 4:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-ive-got-cancer-well-thats-fucking-great/809875/83 "2018-03-19T04:30:20Z")
Five days out from the first session, and it’s becoming obvious to me that for some reason, I must be able to tolerate this chemo stuff much more than the normal person. I’ve even caught myself thinking, What’s the big whoop, that everyone complains about? (Of course I know that’s bullshit – chemo’s a right motherfucker, I’ve seen what it can do firsthand.) The biggest issue this weekend was with my tastebuds – sometimes normal, sometimes numb, sometimes burning as with acid reflux. Prilosec’s controlling the actual reflux, so the tongue thing must be physiological. Ginger ale helps a bit, as much as I can stand to drink it. It’s becoming tricker to find foods that I can stomach just from the taste alone, although it’s true, blander is better. I’ve also discovered these wonderful marijuana “edibles” – tiny chocolate chip cookies with 10mg THC each, and just 2 or 3 of them per day keep the nausea away _completely._ I feel sorry for those who, for medical or legal reasons, can’t take advantage of one of the Universe’s greatest herbal gifts to man. (Okay, maybe that’s selling the hype too much, but they really do work well.) Haven’t had any problems with fatigue yet, maybe that comes later. ---
**Author:** ![buddha\_david](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ee7513/32.png) [@buddha\_david](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/buddha_david)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2018, 3:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-ive-got-cancer-well-thats-fucking-great/809875/84 "2018-03-20T03:10:34Z")
Curious visit at the oncologist today – he had to draw blood twice, because he “didn’t trust the results” of the CBC test. Apparently it said my Hemoglobin was “pretty low”, but my WBC & Platelets were perfectly normal, and this concerned him for some reason (except he did say that I probably _don’t_ have cancer in my bones…good grief, no one ever mentioned bone cancer before.) So I go back in two days for another blood draw and possible transfusion – hmm, a blood transfusion during chemo? Has anyone heard of such a thing? ---
**Author:** ![j666](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9de0a6/32.png) [@j666](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/j666)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2018, 3:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-ive-got-cancer-well-thats-fucking-great/809875/85 "2018-03-20T03:39:44Z")
No, between treatments, not during. The chemo was delayed because a transfusion was needed. (Not me, a friend). ---
**Author:** ![Sunny\_Daze](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunny_daze/32/438_2.png) [@Sunny\_Daze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunny_Daze)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2018, 3:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-ive-got-cancer-well-thats-fucking-great/809875/86 "2018-03-20T03:44:48Z")
Actually, yes. I knew someone who had a similar issue. I’m sorry I don’t know a lot about her particular treatment course, but it was colon cancer. ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2018, 3:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-ive-got-cancer-well-thats-fucking-great/809875/87 "2018-03-20T03:58:39Z")
I’m just glad to see that you’re doing relatively well so far. Hope it stays that way. ---
**Author:** ![Iggy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iggy/32/3364_2.png) [@Iggy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Iggy)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2018, 1:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-ive-got-cancer-well-thats-fucking-great/809875/88 "2018-03-20T13:27:36Z")
> [@buddha\_david](#): > > …good grief, no one ever mentioned bone cancer before.) So I go back in two days for another blood draw and possible transfusion – hmm, a blood transfusion during chemo? Has anyone heard of such a thing? My brother had a couple blood transfusions during his cancer treatment. I do not recall whether it was concurrent with a chemo treatment, before, or after. He also was prescribed Erythropoietin (EPO). I do remember that his particular chemo combo was rough on his body’s ability to make red blood cells. After all, chemo is designed to attack rapidly dividing cells… and will hit some healthy cells as well as cancerous ones. ---
**Author:** ![Helena330](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/helena330/32/531_2.png) [@Helena330](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Helena330)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2018, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-ive-got-cancer-well-thats-fucking-great/809875/89 "2018-03-20T19:50:52Z")
I had a couple blood transfusions. I think it’s pretty normal, or at least not uncommon during treatments. ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2018, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-ive-got-cancer-well-thats-fucking-great/809875/90 "2018-03-20T23:23:03Z")
Good to hear you’re doing well. ---
**Author:** ![Iggy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iggy/32/3364_2.png) [@Iggy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Iggy)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2018, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-ive-got-cancer-well-thats-fucking-great/809875/91 "2018-03-20T23:25:28Z")
Today I read that a majority of cancer patients end up anemic. Some cancers it is upwards of 90%. Based upon my brother’s experience, if the doctors suggest a transfusion then accept it. My brother felt MUCH better after a transfusion. ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2018, 3:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-ive-got-cancer-well-thats-fucking-great/809875/92 "2018-03-23T03:29:09Z")
If your doctor recommends a transfusion, take it. You’ll feel better, and will also be able to fight the cancer better if your blood is adequate and healthy, KWIM? ---
**Author:** ![buddha\_david](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ee7513/32.png) [@buddha\_david](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/buddha_david)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2018, 6:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-ive-got-cancer-well-thats-fucking-great/809875/93 "2018-03-25T06:26:34Z")
My doc decided I was anemic due to an iron deficiency (no idea if it was there before I got sick) so he gave me some iron supplements instead of a transfusion. Based on the comments here I was a little disappointed, it sounds like it feels really good. Been short on good feelings lately. Unfortunately, the nausea broke through with a vengeance this week, though it was partly my fault – stopped at Burger King for a Whopper and the cashier told me I could order a second Whopper for just _one dollar more!_ Ooh, and some onion rings and cheesy hash brown bites! Normally my body wouldn’t even blink at that meal, but…damn. Blew out my stomach for three whole days, which is just now starting to re-settle itself. I hate how my health has become such a delicate balance; eat or drink the wrong thing, or take the wrong pill at the wrong time, and everything suddenly goes to crap. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![JackieLikesVariety](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackielikesvariety/32/296_2.png) [@JackieLikesVariety](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JackieLikesVariety)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2018, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-ive-got-cancer-well-thats-fucking-great/809875/94 "2018-03-25T14:30:25Z")
> [@](#): > > I hate how my health has become such a delicate balance; eat or drink the wrong thing, or take the wrong pill at the wrong time, and everything suddenly goes to crap. it’s sucks, for sure - but everybody comes to it, sooner or later. I know this sounds pollyanna-ish but it really can help to focus on how far you’ve come _from almost dying_, instead of how far you are from how healthy you used to be. ---
**Author:** ![buddha\_david](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ee7513/32.png) [@buddha\_david](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/buddha_david)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2018, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-ive-got-cancer-well-thats-fucking-great/809875/95 "2018-03-25T19:38:29Z")
> [@JackieLikesVariety](#): > > I know this sounds pollyanna-ish but it really can help to focus on how far you’ve come _from almost dying_, instead of how far you are from how healthy you used to be. Yeah, it’s true, sometimes it helps to think about the things that changed positively in the last two weeks – like the night sweats, which appear to be completely GONE. Those were really annoying. “How far you’ve come from almost dying”…it’s funny, I haven’t given much thought to that. Probably because I don’t get weirded out by the idea of death like some people do. It’s just weird because before chemo started, sure there was pain & stuff but aside from that, I never really _felt_ sick. Still had lots of energy and could eat anything. Oh well…I’m sure that would have changed eventually, probably sooner than later. ---
**Author:** ![j666](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9de0a6/32.png) [@j666](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/j666)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2018, 1:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-ive-got-cancer-well-thats-fucking-great/809875/96 "2018-03-26T01:24:39Z")
> [@buddha\_david](#): > > … > … – stopped at Burger King for a Whopper and the cashier told me I could order a second Whopper for just _one dollar more!_ Ooh, and some onion rings and cheesy hash brown bites! Normally my body wouldn’t even blink at that meal, but…damn. Blew out my stomach for three whole days, which is just now starting to re-settle itself. I hate how my health has become such a delicate balance; eat or drink the wrong thing, or take the wrong pill at the wrong time, and everything suddenly goes to crap. ☹ That just sounds like coming up on 60 to me, no cancer necessary, but you probably don’t want hear that. Ask your doctor if the iron supplements might be upsetting your system. As for night sweats, they can be enjoyable, if you get the right mind set. ---
**Author:** ![nelliebly](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nelliebly/32/5422_2.png) [@nelliebly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nelliebly)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2018, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-ive-got-cancer-well-thats-fucking-great/809875/97 "2018-03-26T18:32:26Z")
Buddha\_David, do you find it helps your frame of mind to consider all the other people who also have non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (When my cousin was diagnosed, I read that something like 75,000 Americans are diagnosed each year), or do they seem irrelevant to you? I ask because I belong to an online support group for women with breast cancer, and some days it helps me to realize there are women who are stage 4 and are raising three kids alone (Suck it up, nellie. There are women who’d gladly trade places with you.), and some days it doesn’t because no matter what their situation is, I still have to deal with mine. (Right now it’s the surgical mutilation done to save my life.) Thanks for sharing your experiences with us. ---
**Author:** ![slightly\_askew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d07c76/32.png) [@slightly\_askew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/slightly_askew)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2018, 12:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-ive-got-cancer-well-thats-fucking-great/809875/98 "2018-03-27T00:54:19Z")
Just checking in to see how **buddha-david** is doing. Still have hair or looking a little more buddha like? 🙂 Anyway, just wanted to add that the docs did warn me that each treatment would likely make me a little weaker than the one before. I found this too be true. (Although chemo was a cakewalk for me compared to what I’ve seen friends and family go through.) So take it easy on yourself and make sure you get enough rest. ---
**Author:** ![buddha\_david](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ee7513/32.png) [@buddha\_david](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/buddha_david)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2018, 1:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-ive-got-cancer-well-thats-fucking-great/809875/99 "2018-03-27T01:52:17Z")
**nelliebly:** I don’t do support groups, they just don’t work for me for various reasons. It does help, though, to think of how much better off I am than many others in this situation – it’s much easier to keep a positive attitude when you’re thinking, “Six more months of this and I’m cured,” as opposed to, “Six more months and we’ll see if I live another week…” The chemo room’s a very depressing place, probably for that reason. Maybe I should liven things up by bringing balloon animals and an acoustic guitar to lead a round of campfire songs… **slightly askew:** All my remaining hair’s still holding strong, thank goodness. Keep knocking on wood… **j666:** Enjoyable night sweats? You’re weird. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![nelliebly](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nelliebly/32/5422_2.png) [@nelliebly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nelliebly)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2018, 3:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-ive-got-cancer-well-thats-fucking-great/809875/100 "2018-03-27T03:38:59Z")
I found I had questions for people who’ve experienced breast cancer, questions people who haven’t had it (including docs) can’t answer. In that way, the support group has been a great boon. Someone else in the group sent me a PM warning me that it can get depressing to read all the posts by women in such bad shape, and that proved true, so I check in there but don’t spend too much time. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-ive-got-cancer-well-thats-fucking-great/809875.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-ive-got-cancer-well-thats-fucking-great/809875.md?page=6)