I have recently been diagnosed with follicular lymphoma in my submandibular and parotid glands and have had two sessions of immunotherapy with rituximab, two more to go. Then I see the haematologist again. Has anyone else been treated with just rituximab? She didn’t say chemo or radiotherapy. I am 83 and had my daughter with me as I am quite deaf. I’m fairly active and love travelling and I was planning on spending Christmas in Australia with my three grandchildren and two great grandchildren along with my daughter and her husband but now that seems impossible.
My husband died three months ago of pancreatic cancer after 62 years together. My daughter and son don’t seem to want to discuss my illness with me and I feel I need some support emotionally not just physically although they are helping as much as they can. Sorry to unload all this when so many of you are much younger and I have lived a full life but I’m not ready to go yet…there’s still life in the old bird 
Hi @SandyS welcome and you are now part of our forum family and we definitely often consider the emotional impact of our diagnosis and I have found it does not matter what our diagnosis is.
Firstly I am so sorry to hear that your husband died only 3 mths ago after 63 yrs of marriage.
I was diagnosed with Chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) 20 yrs ago and my husband has never brought up the subject, what I have learnt is that we are all individuals and deal with things in our own ways.
My husband is just a head in the sand type of guy.
I also think there is a lot of loss, perceived and real, in grieving and we all grieve very individually, we are all very complex beings.
Perhaps talk to your haematologist about your hoped for trip to Australia.
Macmillan Cancer Care or other similar services or your GP might be able to help you with some emotional talking support, bearing in mind your hearing.
As for treatments, I am not a medical person, but I believe our medical teams take a lot of things into consideration when considering a personal treatment plan for a patient.
I find that I feel safe sharing how it really is for me on our forum and I hope that you will too.
We are all of different ages and backgrounds on here.
I realise you have said that you are are quite deaf.
Please do not be afraid to tell everyone medical that fact and ask for clarification or you or your daughter to write important facts down.
Look after and be very kind to yourselves and please do keep posting how you are doing and I look forward to hearing more about you.
Dear @SandyS,
Welcome to the forum, from reading your post I know this is going to be such a great place for you, our supportive community will scoop you up and you can unload on us as much as you need.
Firstly I am so sorry to read about the loss of your husband, I can only imagine how devastating this must be for you and your children. Your children are perhaps struggling with the shock of your diagnosis on top of this. I think Erica is quite right, we all cope in very different ways!
I am sure you will get some helpful comments here but we are happy to talk through Rituximab with you, our support line is open and we can be called on 0808 2080 888, however if the phone is difficult with your hearing difficulties we can communicate via email and you can email us on - support@bloodcancer.org.uk
Like Erica mentioned I would encourage you to talk to your team about the Australia plans, there maybe be a way to make it work so don’t exclude it until you have had those conversations.
Perhaps it would be an idea to talk to your team about some emotional support, most hospitals have a set up for this and perhaps it would help to speak to an impartial person about things, you have been through ever such a lot in the last few months.
Can I finally encourage you to keep that zest for life you so clearly have, this will help you hugely as you navigate your treatment!
Take good care, we are right here for you!
Heidi (Support Services Nurse)
@SandyS just wanted to pop on amd say hi after reading your message. I firstly wanted to say I’m sorry for the loss of your husband so recently. My mum was 80 when my dad, and her husband of 56yrs died last year so can appreciate the huge loss from both angles as i provide my mum with much support.
I also wanted to say my husband was treated with Rituximab - he has a different form of lymphoma but it has kept him with us much longer than they thought. It really saved his life.
I hope it’s okay to finish by saying it is absolutely lovely to read that at your age, you are not done yet as such. Thats wonderful to hear and we fully appreciate it. Long may that continue. My lovely mum is 81 and i hope she feels like that for ages more. Look after yourself and hope we get to know you better x
Bless you Sandy, sending you some hugs, it doesn’t matter what age you are life is precious to us all.
Thanks for your reply, I’m sorry I didn’t respond before but had trouble trying to get to the forum.
I’m having my third treatment tomorrow and haven’t had any side effects from it except being a bit slow in the morning but then I’m not an early riser anyway.
It’s helpful to get some support from this group as family and friends done always want to hear about it.
I’m trying to keep positive. Thanks again .
Thanks TracyAnne. You’re all very kind and supportive in this forum and it helps. I haven’t found it very easy to login. Thanks again .
Thanks Judesadventurers
All the comments and support on here are so comforting.
My third rituximab tomorrow and then one more to go so keeping everything crossed and hopefully will be off again on my travels. I’ve got to keep optimistic. Thanks again .
Hi Heidi
I tried replying but for some reason it said an error had occurred.
Thanks for your reply and I hope his time this will come .