Source
r/cancer•
testsubject

How to change your mindset/habits?

I'm now officially in remission from hodgekins lymphoma after 3 years of treatments(ABVD, radiation, brentuximab, ICE, stem cell transplant, and finally Nivolumab that I was in the trial for).

I have two questions for other people, first, how do you get used to NOT getting treatments? It sounds weird, but I feel like if I'm not getting a treatment that I'm not doing anything and it will come back.. Like, I still have dr appointments, namely for a side effect of the niviolumab that is winding down, but I'm having a hard time accepting that yes, it's over, and I can get back to trying to have a life.

Second, I've had to swap from being told "eat literally anything that appeals to you that you can keep down, you need the calories", to being on prednisone for a side effect of the nivolumab and gaining entirely too much weight and being told hit the gym, and completely change my diet to way less food/healthy food, etc. But I have no energy because I gained too much weight/havent been active during the whole ordeal, and doing a diet 180 is.....rough.

I'm having a lot of trouble with both, and was hoping people had ways to cope with them that they could share.

Posted Jun 18, 2016, 11:24 PM UTC

22
LisagreyhoundBreast Cancer•

I reckon give yourself a good month or two to adjust. Maybe seek out the old things you used to do as a celebration of returning to normal? Gradually introduce exercise. Walking or swimming are good, both mentally and physically. Maybe try some gentle yoga/stretch YouTube videos? Plan some things to look forward to. Go away for the weekend. See your friends more.

These are things I've tried which have helped me.

1
schattengestalt26f | stage IV hodgkin's lymphoma•

I'm the same! I was used to doing exams and seeing my doctor every week. Now if I have one exam per month it's too much. Sometimes I feel really alone, like no one cares anymore, my doctors doesn't care about curing me, the nurses etc. I think it gets easier a little bit at a time. I tried to surround me with people that understands how I feel and supports me. Trying to eat healthier and doing exercises, to make sure "I'm doing my part". Maybe you should start going to therapy? It has helped me too, to change my outlook in life. I hope things get easier!

1