Sally is 75 and lives in Essex. She enjoys spending time with friends, going the theatre and volunteering.
How was your cancer diagnosed?
I was diagnosed with stage 2 Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma of the tonsil in January 2023. This followed my visit to the GP just before Christmas 2022 as I could feel a swelling in my throat when I swallowed. The diagnosis was made by taking a biopsy from the tonsil and a second opinion was sought at a different hospital. I was due to go on holiday to Japan at the end of March 2023, a trip which had already been cancelled three times due to the pandemic, and this had to be cancelled.
What treatment did you have?
I saw the haematologist in mid-January 2023 and was told I would either need 6 rounds of chemotherapy (R-CHOP which is the standard for NHL) or 4 rounds of chemo plus 3 weeks of radiotherapy, if the tumour was shrinking or disappearing. After 2 rounds of chemo I had another PET scan which showed the treatment was working so I had another 2 rounds of chemo. During this time, I was referred to an oncologist who went through what radiotherapy would entail. He also said I should see my dentist as it was important not to have any loose teeth or fillings before treatment started as the radiotherapy would be in the neck/jaw area.
I had a 5-week break between chemo finishing and radiotherapy starting. I felt reasonably well during this time so was able to do some volunteering and meet friends.
What was your experience of radiotherapy?
I think the most scary part of radiotherapy was having the mould/mask made which would cover my head and down to my chest. I had no idea then that once I was lying down ready for the machine to start that the mould would be bolted down onto the table. It felt very tight and I wasn’t sure I would be able to cope with this for 15 treatments! However, after the first one I did get used to it.
The radiotherapy team were great. However, what would have made it easier for me would have been if the treatment time was the same each day. It wasn’t – some days it was early, some days in the middle of the day and one day it was at 5pm. The hospital where I was having the treatment was 17 miles away – a 30 minute drive though we always had to allow more time to allow for hold-ups or not being able to park.
Did you have any side effects or late effects?
Most of the side effects I had were during chemo – feeling tired, nauseous, lots of mouth ulcers. During radiotherapy I did sometimes feel tired and I still suffered with mouth ulcers but on the whole it wasn’t too bad. I still get the occasional mouth ulcer.
What helped or helps you cope with cancer?
I was lucky to have a very supportive husband and friends right from diagnosis through to the end of treatment. Lots of messages, flowers and gifts. I also had a good friend Anne who herself was going through cancer treatment . She had been fighting stage 4 ovarian cancer for a couple of years . She really helped me with questions I might have, where to buy head scarves to cover my bald head etc. Sadly, she lost her fight 6 months ago and I miss her greatly.
I think the best advice I can give to anyone getting a cancer diagnosis and going through treatment is to ask questions if you don’t understand what is being said to you. If possible, take another person with you when you meet your consultant so that if you don’t take everything in, they should be able to fill in the gaps. Everyone reacts differently to the treatment but for me I kept thinking, even when I felt awful, that if I didn’t have the treatment, what would be the alternative – possibly losing my life. Listen to your body. If you feel tired, go for a nap. If you have a day when you feel well, do something nice that gives you pleasure. Try to have a positive attitude, though this might be hard some days. You will get through the treatment and hopefully have a good outcome at the end.
How are you now?
In October 2023 I had another PET scan and was delighted that this showed I was in remission. A further follow-up in early April 2024 showed I was still clear and our trip to Japan went ahead. I have another follow up in August.
At the moment I feel fine and am getting on with life, doing things that I love doing – theatre trips, volunteering, meeting friends and spending quality time with my husband.
