Hi. I’m new here. I hope this is the right place. I have Follicular lymphoma ('FL') stage 3 diagnosed in April, and just finished my Rituximab about 5 weeks ago. I think its working as I’m so tired! I see my Cancer Doc next week and I’m hoping she’ll give me good news. I’m keeping busy messing with my guitars - I have 27 at the moment and reading books and comics. I made this page on my computer as a kind of therapy. I don’t know If I’m in the right place and allowed to put up pictures but here it is. It’s me in the pictures.
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Hi @ecclesalan and welcome to the forum.
I’m sorry to read about your diagnosis and delighted you’re just getting on with life.
Fantastic you are volunteering at your local hospital.
You’ll find a great bunch of people on this forum who are always willing to help and welcome contributions from everyone.
Take care
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Hi @Greycat and welcome to the forum.
I’m sorry to hear about your diagnosis and hopefully doing okay.
Love the comic and the story about messing with guitar.
I recently picked up my acoustic guitar recently and restarted trying to learn again after a long break through treatment and transplant.
If you are into music there’s a wonderful thread called The Friday Forum Jukebox where someone suggests a couple of words and then we share songs relating to those words.
Always great fun, something that takes us away from our treatments and broadens our musical knowledge.
I’ll add a link to this thread
Link to thread The Friday Forum Jukebox Club! - #3504 by Spangleystar
Take care
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Thank you @Greycat for sharing your story and the incredible cartoon pictures! Welcome to this forum. I am very impressed with what you have created. I am pleased to hear that you are finding music helpful and that your creativity is also a form of therapy for you. I look forward to hearing more from you as and when you feel you want to share with us but no pressure. I hope you get good news from your doctor. Thinking of you. Willow x
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Hello @ecclesalan
Thank you for taking time to send your post into the forum
I’m sorry to learn about your diagnosis
I too am a Chronic lymphocytic leukaemia ('CLL') patient - having got my diagnosis in late April 2025, and i also retired juust over 3 years ago - so i feel you and I have similar circumstance
If I may, I’d like to encourage you to look for the numerous support groups you will find in your area, I live just outside York and I now go to a weekly coffee morning, have taken a rest bite break at the seaside and have just completed six session of Reiki, all via the same charity.
We all react to these things differently I feel, but as Chronic lymphocytic leukaemia ('CLL') patients are all on a similar journey to some degree and I find it’s good to speak to others about it.
Please do feel free to keep in touch and let us know how you get on
Take good care of yourself
Kind regards
Mike
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Hi Mike, many thanks for your kind thoughts and advice.
Currently I’m asymptomatic, only seeing my consultant yearly, or if I need to.
Having spent 40 years doing martial arts my fitness levels are good and I regularly go to my local gym.
My partner and I take our dog out about 5 times a day, so even more exercise !!
I have a fairly pragmatic view on life, and despite my condition, I’m feeling very positive.
If things progress adversely I would probably enjoy a group connection, however I’m happy to plod along as is.
Their appears to be a lot of very caring people on this forum and I will post any personal updates.
Nice to hear from you, and my thoughts and prayers to you.
Regards
Alan
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@ecclesalan Hey Alan, welcome to the forum. I do think the people here vary considerably from those who are doing well and getting great care, to those who are very distressed and really need advice and support from others. I enjoy being a part of this forum to learn, to occasionally share my experiences, and to hopefully reassure folks that these conditions can be managed and many of us can make the best of it. Good for you for being so diligent with the martial arts and fitness. I have been away from that for several years (not related to illness, more to an overload with work and family matters when COVID hit) but I am feeling great about getting back into a regular workout routine over the past few weeks.
Best wishes,
Bill
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If you need any advice about guitar playing, get in touch. This goes for anyone on the forum. I built a lot of my own instruments and I’m always happy to help. (also Banjo, Ukulele, Bass and harmonica advice.) Just in case you don’t know it, here’s a chord you might like to try- 022400.