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Want to connect with others with Splenic B cell Marginal Zone Lymphoma
Blood Cancers & Disorders | Last Active: 6 hours ago | Replies (329)Comment receiving replies
Hi Andi, I'm a 70 yr old woman who was diagnosed with SMZL 6 weeks ago after having night sweats over the summer. I'm in the middle of my 4-week Rituximab infusions. My oncologist told me that the cancer was in my bone marrow and that my spleen was twice its normal size. He told me that Rituximab works for about 85% of patients. I'm hoping that will be me. Right now I'm trying to eliminate sugar from my diet, eat more iron-rich foods, Hydrate with Alkaline water and eat more protein. I am also trying to exercise when I can like walking in my neighbourhood or riding my bike short distances. I live in Phx so the weather is perfect for being outdoors finally.
I will continue to comment on how my infusions are going and anything else that I have found helpful thru this journey.
One thing I had never noticed before is how many TV commercials there are targeting people with cancer. The advertisers are either selling a medication that can possibly prolong life or a hospital that specializes in treating cancer. Was it always this way and I'm just more sensitive to these ads now that I have cancer?
Replies to "Hi Andi, I'm a 70 yr old woman who was diagnosed with SMZL 6 weeks ago..."
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Hi, you and I have connected during part of your journey here on Connect with SMZL. I hope some more members come forward who have similar symptoms and treatments so they can offer some insight.
Your last comments caught my eye though. The TV commercials and how many are targeting people with cancer.
They’ve been around a long time but since it wasn’t impacting your life, your brain let it slide. It’s an interesting part of science called Reticular Activating System. There are all kinds of studies and information online. Years ago I took an immersion course in Mindfulness and RAS was one of the areas I chose to delve into.
The Reticular Activating System is a bundle of nerves at our brainstem that filters out unnecessary information so that things which are important get through. Basically your brain zeros in on something specific and triggers a subconscious reaction to look for that item. An example. Take the color of your car or model. Since you bought that car, how many times have you seen the exact car now. Or bought red shoes thinking you’re unique. And now, looking around you’ll instantly see red shoes on other people.
So in answer to your question, yep, you are more sensitive to cancer ads now that you have it.
https://extension.umn.edu/two-you-video-series/ras