5 things I learned from my non-Hodgkin lymphoma treatment

In late 2014, I was diagnosed with peripheral T-cell lymphoma, a type ofnon-Hodgkin lymphoma。当时，我不知道这是什么将需要或会如何影响我的生活。

Here are five things I learned after going throughtreatment。

1.投降愈合过程。Once you’ve accepted your诊断并决定要在其中进行处理，它在你的护理队伍的信心是很重要的。问问题时，你需要的，当然，但相信他们的专业知识。通过这种方式，你可以专注于愈合过程。

为了取得今天的我，我必须要经过两次干细胞移植， 一个clinical trial，甚至短暂的，医学上致昏迷。我也有尝试，准备几种不同的药物我第二次干细胞移植下Dr. Amin Alousi, before finding atargeted therapydrug called alemtuzumab that worked. But I’m glad we persisted, because after a few rounds of it, I was able to have my allogeneic stem cell transplant on July 12, 2017. And, so far, I remain cancer-free.

2.Stay positive.在某些时候你癌症治疗，它可能会觉得你正在经历炼狱。而且，在许多方面，你是谁！但为了从一开始就保持乐观的未来，这是至关重要相信自己能击败这个才出来在它的另一面。癌症治疗可以折磨人，但我一直的态度是MD Anderson打算通过它让我。

今天，我还在处理一些ldsports乐动体育 我的治疗，如nausea和疲劳。And my hormone levels are out of whack, so I’m seeing an endocrinologist. But I’m feeling a lot better nearly two years after my second stem cell transplant. My blood counts continue to improve, I’m finally getting my energy back, and I’ve had all of my baby vaccines to protect my new immune system.

3.从来不听的统计信息。我告诉我的医生的第一件事是，我不想听到我的预后。我只是想知道我们在渐入佳境的过程中接下来的步骤。

I kept to that decision consistently, whether I was meeting with a new doctor or about to get a scan result. It helped me to see cancer as just an obstacle that I was going to overcome and focus on the treatment plan and not the diagnosis/prognosis. This approach helped me stay grounded and sane, and I was able to continue practicing as an attorney, even opening my own solo firm during the treatments.

4.练习冥想。冥想一直是我生命中最有用和有益的事情之一 - 无论是在和我的非霍奇金淋巴瘤的诊断和治疗。它帮助我冷静下来，感觉不到恐惧和焦虑，尤其是当生活变得吓人或紧张。

Prior to my diagnosis, I would pass out a lot of times just getting blood drawn. Now, I just close my eyes and go into a peaceful, meditative state. This is particularly helpful before painful or stressful situations, such as bone marrow biopsies, PET scans, or any kind of needle sticks. It allows my mind to just be empty. I did it during treatment, and I continue to do it every day.

5.计划定期奖励。在地平线上做有趣的东西，总是有事情要期待帮助我在我的治疗保持积极的态度。And while it was great to plan big trips for when I was better, I’d also try to plan small things like, “Once I get out of here today, I'm going to see a movie or take a nice walk in the park, or go to the Astros game.”

I’ve always loved trying new restaurants, so I’d look for different ones whenever I was in the hospital and then try them out whenever I could. So, always have something in your mind to look forward to. It really makes a difference.

在申请预约MD Andersononlineor by calling 1-877-632-6789.