ROBIN DECATO
 Daughter of a
 Hodgkin's Patient

 Survivor Stories

 If you have a story to tell
 about yourself or a loved
 one that has battled
 Hodgkin's Disease we
 want to hear it. Submit
 us your stories so they
 can benefit patients
 looking for support.
diary@curehodgkins.com

 Write Robin, and let her
 know what you think.
 robindecato@hotmail.com  

CureHodgkins.com Patient Diary
A MOTHER MISSED DEARLY

My Mom was so much more than her lymphoma. It was however her experience fighting this disease that transformed her into a trooper and here is a bit of what I can share with you.

Before my mom was diagnosed with Hodgkin's, she began sweating at night, sometimes she got a fever and she became very tired. Her doctor, Doctor V., later felt small bumps in her neck -behind her ear. She had the bumps looked at in August of 1998, and we then found out she had Hodgkin's Lymphoma.

My mom underwent several different chemo regimens since then. During July 1999 she had a stem-cell transplant to rid her body of Hodgkin's. Most people that are treated for Hodgkin's do not need to resort to a stem cell transplant. It is a very strong form of chemotherapy with a dose 5 times as strong as other treatments.

She was in the bone marrow unit of the hospital for all of July. During this time she was in a special germ-free unit, had round the clock nurses, and was on a special low micro-organism diet. She had trouble swallowing, eating, and keeping food down during this time, but quickly regained her strength. The stem cell transplant went well and my mom was able to recover quite nicely from the whole ordeal.

After being home for several months, she began radiation therapy. With radiation there has been a whole new set of side-effects. Her throat was sore for awhile and she had to have some dental work done before beginning. At week 3 her skin turned a light red and started to itch. Using Biotene, a cream for the skin, the redness went away and her skin was safely moisturized. Some lotions should not be used because they interfere with the radiation treatments. For her mouth, she has been SO happy with Biotene toothpaste and mouthwash. They are not harsh and are wonderful at cleaning the mouth. A clean mouth, while receiving radiation to the jaw, is very important as a preventive measure.

Although radiation to her neck was finished in November, a new location on my mother's pelvic region was identified as having Hodgkin's. So, she started radiation to the pelvic and lower abdomen, but had to miss several weeks of sessions due to very low platelet counts.

In mid-February 2000 her breathing became shallow and was in the hospital's ICU unit for two months. At first they thought she had developed PCP Pneumonia , but after a biopsy and a positive response to steroids it is determined that her lungs are inflamed. She was weaned off a respirator and was beginning to look better, but it was all too much I suppose.

My beautiful Mom passed away April 14, 2000 at the age of 50.

My Mom had wonderful doctors who monitored her closely. They are the one thing we are confident in after this whole experience. My mom's case was severe due to other lung complications, and is not the norm. Let that be noted. Most people with Hodgkin's do not run into such complications. My mom's immune system has been overly week from such an extended amount of treatment that she easily caught infections, etc.. that other bodies can fend off without a problem.

My Mom fought like a real trooper. We had wanted to have a remission party one day, but was never able to.. So please, treat each day as a day of celebration. That's one lesson for all of us.

www.geocities.com/robindecato