My name is Ana Paula. I’m 61 years old and live in Florianopolis, Brazil, where I work as a civil servant. I am currently at stage 3 FL and was diagnosed in December 2023.
Discovering the diagnosis was a surprise because I found out when I had surgery to remove a tumor on my left thigh. After the surgery, the surgeon came to my room and said that he did not like the appearance of the tumor, which he originally thought might be a lipoma, and that it would be sent for a biopsy. At that moment I was sure it was cancer. After 18 days the biopsy results came back and confirmed that it was follicular lymphoma.
I immediately made an appointment with a hematologist who asked me to have several additional tests, including a PET Scan. He explained to me that follicular lymphoma develops slowly and that we were initially going to observe it. After two months I had a new PET Scan which showed that the cancerous activity of the affected lymph nodes had increased significantly and that we would need to start treatment, which would be the RCHOP scheme and another two years of maintenance immunotherapy with Rituximab.
However, this doctor didn’t consider some doubts I had and some other health problems that could involve the treatment and so I looked for another doctor, actually a hematologist who had already seen me because of an immunoglobulin A deficiency. With her, I took my tests, and she explained everything to me which left me more at ease. Subsequently, we would start treatment due to the progress shown in the test results.
I have now finished the chemotherapy cycle and continue with Rituximab every two months. I am on medical leave at the moment as I am still undergoing treatment. I had 6 RCHOP sessions and now I have two more years of maintenance with Rituximab. Up until now, I haven’t had a relapse.
During chemotherapy I had to continue with my household chores because I live with my husband who has health problems and cannot help me with the housework and everything else that involves running a home. I have two adult sons and a daughter-in-law, but they live outside the country. I also have a little dog who is a great companion. My hobby is crochet, so I made many pieces for myself and my family.
The biggest challenges were having to deal with day-to-day tasks while having the side effects of the treatment, but I remained positive. I lost my hair, but it didn’t affect me, on the contrary I liked being bald! The triumphs were when I had the PET Scan after chemotherapy, and it showed that the lymph nodes were currently free of cancerous activity.
Despite being treated for follicular lymphoma, I don’t feel like I’m sick. Of course, in the moments that I feel a side effect, I remember my condition, but I live my life in the best possible way, without dramas and with a positive outlook.
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