Everyday activities
Some patients with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NHL) are able to return to normal life almost immediately after treatment, while others take a lot longer to resume daily activities. However you’re affected, it’s important that you feel at your best and live as full a life as possible now that your symptoms have gone away.
Now that treatment is over, it can be tempting to push yourself and try to take on all your old activities, or try new ones, before you are ready. Always be realistic about how you much you can manage, and take things one day at a time.
In general, most people find they can still do the things they have always done, but might need to make small changes. For example, if you feel tired, it doesn’t always mean you have to miss out on an important event. Instead, you might need to plan around it and make sure you can rest beforehand and afterwards.
The same thing applies to your normal daily routine, work or house-work. If you take things at your own pace and give yourself time to rest in between activities, you will probably find that you can manage most of the everyday activities you did before you were ill.
Some of the treatments for NHL, including both chemotherapy and radiotherapy, can affect your body’s natural defence system (your immune system) and so increase your risk of infection. This effect is not permanent. But during and just after treatment periods, it might be wise to avoid exposure to large crowds and contact with people who obviously have an illness.
It might also be of benefit for anyone who lives with you to take certain precautions, such as having a flu vaccination, to reduce the risk of infecting you. These are issues that ought to be discussed with your doctor or another member of your healthcare team.
How will non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma affect driving?
While the disease itself should not directly affect your ability to drive, some of the chemotherapy drugs or other medications that are given as part of treatment for non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma may make it unsafe or unwise to drive. These effects are not permanent. Ask your doctor whether you ought to avoid driving and, if so, for how long.
How will non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma affect holidays?
Many people with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NHL) find that they are able to take holidays as normal. Others enjoy looking forward to a holiday that has been planned as a treat for when their treatment is finished. However, there are likely to be times during treatment when it is better to stay at home. For example, some treatments suppress the immune system for a time and so make infection more likely during this period. It is therefore sensible to discuss any plans for holidays with your doctor.
Vaccinations are another matter to be considered. Some vaccinations cannot be given to people with NHL. If you’re thinking of going on holiday somewhere that requires you to have vaccinations, make sure you discuss this with your doctor before you make travel arrangements.
While it is advisable that patients do not go on an ‘extreme’ holiday, they could benefit from going away to a well-loved destination or on a holiday to somewhere that they have always wanted to go to.