Living in remission
Your diagnosis and treatment for aggressive non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NHL) may have been a stressful, difficult time, but you should feel positive because successfully coming through treatment is the most difficult part of NHL. Now that you’re in remission, you can start to move on and can begin to get back to your normal life. Although you may not be ready to go back to work, you can certainly start to enjoy your usual daily activities and hobbies.
Use this section of Lymphoma Life to find out more about your check-ups, the early signs of relapse to be aware of, and learn about any changes you could make to improve your day-to-day life.
Our Lymphoma Life NHL support programme also includes a series of printed materials that will help you to better understand NHL and its treatment, and help you get the most out of life. They will also help you speak to your doctor or healthcare team about your condition and its treatment.
What does being in remission mean for me?
There is no easy or straightforward answer to this question because everyone’s experience of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NHL) is different. Being in remission means that your treatment has been successful. However, you’re an individual, so it is impossible to predict for certain exactly what will happen to you or how you will feel.
With aggressive NHL, there is a good chance that your treatment may lead to a complete cure - in which case the disease will not recur at all. It can be difficult to distinguish between cure and remission in the initial stages. In the treatment of diseases such as non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, a cure means that there is no sign of the disease being present in the body and enough time has passed to suggest that the chances of recurrence are extremely small. In aggressive NHL, a person may be considered cured after 3 years in complete remission.
At Lymphoma Life we can give you a good overall picture of what remission could mean, but you should bear in mind that what is true for most people may not apply to you. It is therefore very important that you speak to your doctor about your individual situation.
In general, remission is a time when you will be feeling much better and you can start getting your life back to normal.
You may not be able to take on everything you used to do straight away. It is important to listen to your body and not take on more than you can manage. However, you have come through treatment successfully and should be feeling a lot better than you were when your NHL was active. So stay positive, and concentrate on making the most of this symptom-free time.
Visiting the clinic for regular check-ups
While you’re in remission you’ll probably experience very few symptoms, although you may not be feeling fully well. So, for most of the time, you won’t need to think about your non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma at all, with the only reminder coming when you have your regular check-ups at the clinic.
It’s understandable that you might be apprehensive about these visits. You may be concerned that your healthcare team will find evidence that the cancer has returned. Some people find their check-ups an unpleasant reminder of what they went through during treatment. But they are an ideal opportunity to ask any questions you may have, reassure yourself that things are going well and, if anything is found, catch it early and ensure it’s treated properly.
Lifestyle changes
You might find that you’ll need to make a few lifestyle changes to help yourself cope with living with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Alternatively, you may be able to get back to normal during your remission. Everyone is different, so it is important to listen to your body and only attempt what you feel you can cope with.
Find out about changes you could make to help you cope with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma
Finding support
Although being in remission will allow you to begin to get back to normal, it is important to remember that there is still plenty of support available should you need it.
Even though you are feeling better than you were before, living with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma can still be emotionally and physically challenging. So bear in mind that your healthcare team and patient support groups, and of course Lymphoma Life, will always be there to offer help and advice. And don’t forget that should you have any questions or concerns, you will be in regular contact with your healthcare team at your check-ups, providing an ideal opportunity to discuss them.
Find contact details for non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma support groups near you