Mentally exhausted about Stage 4 Hodgkin's Lymphoma

Hello @jenniferswayze76, welcome to Mayo Connect. While we’re backed by Mayo Clinic we’re a community forum comprised of members such as yourself who “connect” with each other to help find answers though we can’t diagnose or offer treatments.

This has to be a mother’s worst nightmare, finding out your child has cancer. It’s completely understandable why you’re mentally exhausted, physically too, I bet. You’re trying to be a cheer leader while feeling like your world just stopped. I’m so sorry for what all of you are going through right now. It’s a stressful time.

I know you want to learn everything you can about this blood cancer. But let’s break it down into manageable pieces that apply only to his case. Besides learning about the lymphoma itself, keeping your son’s spirits up when he’s undergoing treatment is a learning curve as well. His days will vary.

Hodgkin’s lymphoma is staged as to the degree of the disease. Your son has stage 4 meaning it has spread to some lymph nodes and possibly other organs in his body. This is a little more difficult to treat however there are huge advances with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. It is one of the more treatable blood cancers. So that is an encouraging thought to keep in mind.

I’m posting a couple links to sites that can provide you with greater detail on his disease and treatments dependent on the diagnoses he’s received. I know he has stage 4 but there are other aspects to his disease that can alter the type of treatment.

After you’ve read through this information, it might help you narrow down more specific questions. Let’s talk some more. I’m here for you any time! I survived a very aggressive form of leukemia so I’m familiar with much of what your son is going through. Different treatment but the goal is the same.

Is your son having chemo treatments or targeted immune therapy?

Thank you very much for the help. Chemo is the plan. I need more info from the cancer hospital.

This is all so new to you and I’m sure quite a shock. Is your son in the hospital now awaiting treatment?
Have you been able to sit down in a conference with his doctors or did this all happen pretty quickly?

The reason I ask is when I was rushed to the hospital with AML there was no time for a consult. It took a week for the doctors to get me stable. During that time they gathered all the bloodwork, bone marrow biopsy, etc. to make a firm treatment plan. If your son was admitted quickly that may be why you don’t have a lot of information yet.

Is he at a local hospital or a larger cancer center?