Cancer: Friends & Family Support

I'm trying to find a supportive board and wonder if this might be the place. I was over on The Nest but didn't find it to be supportive or kind. Some members told me to stop talking about it and yesterday told me I was "playing the cancer card" because I asked them nicely to stop flaming a member who asked an innocent question (her mother-in-law has cancer and I simply suggested that they cut her some slack since she's going through a tough time). I know it's silly but the whole thing upset me--not sure why people feel the need to put others down, especially during a tough time.

My story: On September 24, my husband went to an urgent care clinic with cold symptoms since our family doctor was not available. They felt a lump in his neck and it snowballed from there...turned out to be Hodgkin's Lymphoma, stage 2. In the past month, he's had two surgeries, two biopsies (the removed lymph node and bone marrow), multiple scans and started chemo.

A short summary on us:

I am 27 and he is 26. We have been married for three years and live in Cincinnati. He is a librarian and I work in advertising. We close on a new house in two weeks. Hoping to find people of a similar age and/or background to talk about this.

Hello,

I actually just logged on to the iVillage boards for the first time in many months..knowing that I've found support here in the past. (I used to frequent the debt support boards.. how minor my financial problems seem now!)

I am in a quite similar situation, and I would be happy to do my best to be someone you can "e-lean on" so to speak. I took my fiancee to the ER on the evening of October 8th.. he was coughing up blood in his mucus. We weren't panicked--thought he had pneumonia or severe bronchitis..

Spent the entire night in the ER after a chest x-ray showed a mass (which one doctor felt was "impressive" pneumonia and was admit about 7am the following morning. The next 7 days consisted of one doctor telling us one thing, another coming in an hour or so later and saying another. He was finally released after spending a week in the hospital, we were given the knowledge that 'Yes, it's cancer--we've never seen it before and we're referring you for treatment.' The day after he came home, he coughed up blood severely again, and we went to Tampa to H. Lee Moffit Cancer Center, eventually to get a diagnosis of Ewing's Sarcoma.

Usually Ewing's is found in teenagers, and in the bones..so my 26 year old fiancee having it in the form of a 4 inch mass in his lung is rare.

Anthony had his first Chemo treatment today, so far so good. Your post was the first I clicked on as I came to this board, so I apologize for the lengthy reply but it was oddly comforting to have someone in a similar situation.. age-wise and everything.

Know that you're not alone--it's a scary path that your husband and you are heading down..but it will all be for the greater good once he is in remission. I'd love to talk with you, message me if you would like to.

Hi, there! I'm so sorry to read of your hubby's diagnosis! I will keep him in my thoughts and prayers. Also, I will keep you & your family in my thoughts & prayers as well. I also feel badly that you had an unpleasant experience on the other board. You're here now, though, and you're safe. And there's nothing silly about having your feelings hurt!

Let us know how things are going for you and your hubby, okay? And don't forget to take care of yourself!