Living with relapsed indolent NHL
When your non-Hodgkin's lymphoma relapses you might start to experience symptoms again. Alternatively, your doctor might have noticed that you are starting to relapse during a routine check-up and you might still feel generally well. In either case, you will probably need to start another round of treatment.
This can be a challenging time, as experiencing a relapse can be quite an emotional blow as well as possibly bringing back the physical demands of coping with symptoms.
So it is very important to look after yourself at this time, and there are many things you can do to make the symptoms and the treatment easier to deal with.
You might start to experience symptoms during a relapse
When non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) symptoms do reappear as a result of a relapse, they can include unexplained fevers, night sweats, unintended weight loss, severe and persistent fatigue or tiredness and decreased appetite. The first three of these symptoms – fevers, night sweats and weight loss – are often used in the staging of NHL and are called the 'B' symptoms.
It is important that you report these to your doctor if you do begin to experience them, as the stage of your disease might change once you relapse compared with what it was before.
Patients with NHL can also experience symptoms as a result of their treatment, most often as a consequence of radiotherapy or chemotherapy. These symptoms include loss of appetite, fatigue, hair loss, nausea and vomiting, sore throat and mouth, tingling in the hands and feet and infections.
Treating the disease often alleviates the symptoms of NHL itself, and many symptoms caused by treatment stop once the therapies have ended. Although the symptoms that different people develop vary enormously, there are medications and simple tips that you can follow to reduce the effects of the symptoms and make them easier to deal with.
Looking after yourself during your treatment is important
Think about taking time off during treatment so you can concentrate on looking after yourself during your therapy schedule
As you’ve been through treatment before, you’ll have some insight into what happens during treatment and how you respond to it. However, your treatment might be different this time and you may also respond differently, so it is very important to give yourself time to deal with treatment properly.
The treatment schedule for induction therapy can be intense and you are likely to feel quite tired. It may be a good idea to take a break from work and other activities, at least for a while.
You should therefore speak to your employer and make any necessary financial arrangements, ideally before you start treatment.
If you are unsure whether you are entitled to any benefits, or have any other concerns, talk to the doctor or nurse at your clinic, who will be able to help you find out more information.
Remember to eat a healthy balanced diet during your treatment
To feel at your best during treatment, it is crucial to try to eat healthily. This might not be easy if you are feeling tired or unwell due to the therapy, but it is important that you make sure you are getting all the nutrients you need to stay healthy.
Changing your eating habits to fit in better with your therapy schedule, such as eating several small meals rather than three large ones, is one thing that might help.
More tips for eating healthily if you have non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NHL)
Recognise that relapsing with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma and facing treatment again can be a stressful experience, and think about how you will cope with this
Treatment for cancer such as NHL can be stressful for many people. Therapy itself is often physically and emotionally demanding, which, in combination with the impact of having relapsed, can often result in people feeling burdened by worry.
So that you can concentrate on getting through the treatment and focus on the weeks and months ahead, it is important that you recognise and try to deal with these feeling of stress if they arise.
Relaxation techniques can be of great benefit, for example, as they can be performed in almost any situation and can help you feel a sense of control over your feelings. Benefits also include reductions in aches and pains as a result of muscular tension, better preparation for sleep, and lower levels of tiredness.
If you are thinking of using relaxation techniques, you should speak to your healthcare team, as they may be able to refer you to a local occupational therapy department, which can help you devise a routine of techniques.
The most important thing is to remember that you are not alone. There are many organisations and support groups in your local area – and nationally –who are there to help you deal with any issues and listen to your story.
Find a non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma support group