Not been on LOC for a while - here's the story so far ...

Went to docs 3 weeks ago with slightly swollen neck glands - got given a blood test and course of penicillin - thought no more.

Got a call 2 days later to go for some urgent blood tests at hospital - raised lymphocyte count- then got a call to see Maxio-facial consultant and Haemotology consultant within days.

Seems I have a lymphoma (cancer of the blood) - most likely to be Mantle Cell or Chronic Lymphatic Leukemia.

Doing a load more tests this week (bone marrow / CT / colonscopy etc etc) to fully identify type and stage.

My Mum died 2 years ago of Mantle Cell - though it is not supposed to be hereditary ...

Now waiting to see the Haemotogist again on the 1 September to be told exactly what it is, how far developed and what treatment is possible ...

So far NHS system has been so fast it is scary - almost impossible to keep up with the calls and letters for appointments in the first 2 weeks.

Hoping it has been caught early and that treatment will give me a few years (have a 4 yr old I want to see through school at the very least).

Make the most of what life offers - you just never know what is round the corner.

Andy.

Andy, I feel for you mate ............ really do.

Hope all the test go well, and everything sorts it's self out mate ..........

Take care.

Ahmet.

maaaaaaan!

sorry to hear this - i hope your okay?

Oh mate....i wish you well and a full recovery

Hope all goes well with treatment.

dam...bad news mate, but, keep your chin up, and always keep positive.......

Really sorry to hear that. I wish you all the luck in the world to help you recover.

Cancer is not "THE END" as it was a few years back. I hope and pray you have many long years ahead with all these new treatments that are available.

I've recently had a few cancer scares in my own family too - its scary how common it seems.

Take care and stay positive,
Anees

For what it's worth mate, my mother has the same. She was diagnosed in '92, and has fought it hard. Shows that it can be done. I have never seen anyone so brave in my life. She now has 6 monthly checkups, yeah the drugs are a drag and very strong. But fingeres crossed.... you will learn to beat it...

... afterall you have a child to inspire you. Good luck.

Gutted for you pal.

I really hope and pray all goes well for you...

Not good news mate.

Like you say, all the tests are being done and hopefully they will have caught it at an early stage.

Can only wish you all the best and that treatment will be successful.

I hate this kind of subject as I really don't know what to say, apart from that I really hope all goes well for you.

Just remember to be strong, and on the days you don't feel strong you have plenty of friends on this site to talk to so KEEP MAILING US.

I'm right there with you. Feel for you mate.

Probably no help at this stage, but if it is of specific malignant neoplasm then the odds are very good. Even with very advanced disease, the survival is 75-90%. If caught earlier then the prognosis is very positive.

The battle goes on, but with lymphomas/lymphosarcomas the medical world is very advanced and seems to be always one step ahead. Massive amounts of money are poured into this field and as results have shown, is certainly paying off. As you have seen, this is an area of the NHS that really does surpass itself.

The treatment may get you down at first, but it becomes part of your life.

I'm not trying to minimalise your situation here - I hope I'm pointing out positives from my own personal experiences, although at this stage the pyscological effect is overwelming and no one can understand what you feel. Fear, sadness, anger - all of them - they are all there.

I really do wish you the best and please keep us informed.

Having had a scare myself last year (fortunately all clear) I can understand what you are going through. Keep thinking positively, it'll help.

Even though I have private medical insurance, the NHS were much more proactive and responsive than the private clinic, very impressive.

Sorry to hear this, but looking at the positve as others have mentioned, effective treatment is a very much a reality these days, all the best mate, good luck!

Sorry to hear this Andy.

I echo what everyone else says in particular keeping positive.

Hope it goes well for you & your family

Really sorry to hear this mate, I really hope that the results come back with a good prognosis, like the guys say keep optimistic and if there's anything any of us can do you know we will.

Take care mate

again i echo what has already been said previously, i can also only offer my support and my ear.

I feel for you as i have witnessed many of my family and friends become afflicted with this, but as was said before - you have to fight and be prepared to fight for what is yours and for who you love.

We here will do all we can to back you up emotionaly and spiritualy.

Here is to a speedy recovery!

***** man Sorry to hear this mate. But as everybody has said stay positive mate and i wish you all the best and a speedy recovery.

best wishes man

I wish you all the best.

I hope that 1 day soon all these illnesses are a thing of the past.

cant add anything to what has allready been said

our best thoughts are with you and your family

[quote]I hate this kind of subject as I really don't know what to say[/quote]

Me too, thanks for sharing such a personal thing with us and I wish you all the very best.

so sorry to hear this mate all i can say is stay positive, and try not to let it get you down.................i hope you have a speedy recovery mate.

[quote name='Bazza' date='Aug 23 2005, 05:30 PM']cant add anything to what has allready been said

our best thoughts are with you and your family
[right][snapback]276421[/snapback][/right][/quote]

Can only agree with everyone on LOC on this mate

I think I speak on behalf of every LOC member when I say, get well soon mate, All our thoughts are with you and your family.

Sorry to hear your news
I hope all goes well for you and good luck.
You know we are all here for you.

I can only echo what every one else has said Andy.I wish you well and a speedy recovery

All the best to you and your family, wish you well.

my thoughts are with you & your family Andy.

the dreaded 'C' word evokes all sorts of reactions - blind panic when my dad was diagnosed with malignant melanoma last year (lymph nodes removed & in the clear at the mo'), & completely lost for words when i found out my cousin's wife has just found out her breast cancer has returned & spread to lots of different places...

keep gritting your teeth thru all the tests being done & i really hope you get a favorable outcome.

best wishes, keep us updated,
Abbie

What to say?... chin up mate, try your best and beat the kcof out of this, it can be done, when my wife had ( Cancer ) i watched her beat it to submission, she found her inner soul, and it was bigger then anyone expected, ( even her ).

Just want to add my best wishes to this thread Andy. It must be a terrible shock for you and your family, stay strong and get well soon.

Best wishes,
Claire

Keep your spirits up!

A lad in work with me had a brain tumour the size of a GRAPEFRUIT removed. Remained in VERY good spirits during radiotherapy (presumably because his blinding headaches had now gone), is now back in work and was recently given the all-clear.

Good luck!

I would like to send my best wishes to you andy.

Sorry to hear this,hope everything turns out ok.

Best wishes
Deano.

Best wishes, I hope everything turns out OK for you.

A positive attitude can work miracles.

Best wishes to you and your family Andy.

Hi Andy, I am very sorry to hear what has happened. Times have changed and hopefully the prognosis will be positive with all the different management options we have in this day and age. I am training to be a doctor so if there is anything you would like to discuss please feel free to send me a message.

Cancer is very common- it affects 1 in every 3 of us, and most of the time it can be treated successfully but it still doesn't mean that it is a very upsetting diagnosis. My thoughts are with you and your family mate.

Sorry to here the news Our Thoughts are with you.Hope things turn out ok for you.

Don't really know what to say apart from fight the bstrd and we're thinkng of you
phil

Cancer is very much a fighting thing

As long as you stay positive and carry on regardless you will be good. My grandad had cancer of many parts of his body, but maqnaged to have 15 good years since the doctors said he had 6 weeks to live. Unfortunately he died last year but was at a good age of 74.

And he was working right up to the last week of his life.

So even when the doctors says you havent got long to live doesnt mean its right. So always keep positive and the best will come of it

Quick update for those following the story so far !

Started chemo in Sept 05 and finished in Jan 06 - seem to have knocked the cancer back for a little while according to all the tests done (MRI / bone marrow / blood tests / cameras etc !).

Did loads of research and know Mantle Cell will return - usually sooner rather than later so searched far and wide for any potential cures - even though officially there is none.

Came across some US based stories of stem cell transplants being used to prolong life - so to cut a long story very short I am right now sat in Southampton General Hospital mid-way through a PBSCT (Peripheral Blood Stem Cell Transplant) using my sister as a donor - it's a it like a bone marrow transplant but using the blood as the stem cell transfer method instead of actual bone marrow.

I am now (so my consultant advised anyway) only the second reported case of hereditary mantle cell lymphoma in the world and the first to undergo a PBSCT using a related donor - is that scary or what ?

Thanks must go to all those in the NHS that supported this experiment and with luck I will have completed the whole treatment cycle in under 12 months from original diagnosis (see first post date~) all that remains now is to see how long the new stem cells keep any cancers at bay ...

Hope you don't mind the detail - just need your continued support I guess - hence the mail.

Oh and 'cos I am in this isolation ward I get free telly (shame I don't really like football then - really !!) and I get to use my PC and mobile phone links etc with no aggro ...

See you all at JAE next year I hope ...

Andy.

Glad things are moving forward in a postive way Andy,

Hope you get better soon mate,

Look Forward To Seeing you at JAE Next Year

All The Best

BR
Paul

Chin up Andy!

how reading one post can put any troubles i have had into a pale insignificance

best of luck Andy, we are all behind you

just holla if you need anything
and give that sister of yours a big hug from all of us

All the best mate we will see you at JAE next yr

Keep it going Gordon

All the best and keep on fighting......

Nice to get an update. Please keep fighting mate!

You [b]WILL[/b] get past this!

It's very brave and honorable of you to continue keeping everyone informed of your progress. You read very positive, i like that! A strong mental attitude when you are down can overwhelm any word.. you know that word 'Cancer'.... LOC shares your anger, supports your fears and recognizes your distress (team LOC)

Maintain your attitude and you [b]will [/b]take your Daughter to her prom

Keep it up mate.
By the way the roof bars worked a treat got some cheap bike carried from Decathlon for them. Shame it rained all weekend at Centre Parcs!

Andy,

I admire your courage and bravery. I met the head of a homeopathic hospital and he said the first thing he says to cancer patients when they come in is "your body has cancer, you DO NOT have cancer". He gets patients to break the mind:body connection.

I don't know if you've read "It's not about the bike" by Lance Armstrong about his fight with testicular cancer. A very inspiring story. The docs gave him 5% chance of survival at one stage, he went on to recover and win Tour de France!!

I wish you a speedy recovery, and look forward to talking about Lexi at next years JAE!

Finally, I work in R&D for Europe's biggest pharmaceutical, so if there's anything I can help you out with, do get in touch.

Keep Smiling ;-)

M

Thank you once again for all the supporting comments - they really are much appreciated right now.

Damer - please bars worked out OK.

Maneesh - I am a Project Engineer for a large Pharma Co. too - plus I did 7 years managing new product introductions to EU and ECE - small world !!

Geoffers - thank you for your message too.

Best regards to all

Andy.