My name is Joanne, I’m from the UK, I was diagnosed in 2024 and have Stage 3a Follicular Lymphoma and I’m a nurse.
I’m 50 years old, married with twin boys. I am a nurse, who love’s gardening, walking and spending time with my friends and family.
I was on a lunch break at work and had gone for a short walk with my friend and received a phone call from the GP surgery informing me that the biopsy I’d had of a swollen lymph node in my groin revealed I had Follicular lymphoma. I was in complete shock and felt that everything felt unreal. The rest of the day was a blur.
Initially you feel distressed and shocked, but the shock wears off and you find a way to cope, I’ve accepted I may have bad days and when I’ve had one, I remind myself that they don’t last. I also found it difficult to be in groups of people at first I couldn’t focus on conversation, this didn’t last. No one wants a cancer diagnosis, but getting one brings your life into sharp focus and makes you realise what you want and what you no longer need. A mixed blessing.
Accepting you have a cancer diagnosis that is incurable is very difficult to accept. Although FL is incurable it isn’t terminal and there are effective treatments that help manage the illness (The FLF are working hard towards a cure). Trying to accept that you won’t be having any treatment until you have B symptoms is also difficult. I’ve also found that I am less able to cope with stress in the same way and took the decision to leave my job, moving to a job that is a lot less demanding.
I feel I am looking after myself better than before and prioritise sleep, good food and enjoying my life as much as possible in the way I want to. My husband and I ensure that we do something nice together each month and usually go away for a few days. We have been to Paris, Mallorca and the Lake District recently and are visiting Rome next month.
Accept support, I found the online support groups invaluable like the Lymphoma Action one’s and the sharing of lived experiences validating and reassuring. I have also found one to one counselling helpful and as a Catholic I have also found much comfort in my faith.
Let family and friends look after you. Don’t google your diagnosis when you are first diagnosed information can be misleading or not relevant to you. A friend said to me that I wasn’t responsible for other people’s feelings when I told them about my diagnosis and that was invaluable advice. Look after yourself, prioritise your well-being and self care and wherever possible reduce stress in your life.
