Besides my boss, and a select few others, I don’t make it a habit of telling anyone I have lymphoma. There are a few, who for various reasons, have asked about me, and I’ve relented, telling them as well, and then there are those that have stumbled upon my blog, but I have always believed those numbers to be very small. So it’s always a surprise when I discover someone, who I least suspect, is aware I have lymphoma, and it’s even more surprising when that person is someone I’ve just met for the first time.
Todays bike ride presented just such an instance.
With the help of a fortuitous traffic light, 6 of us had broken away from the main pack, and managed to stay away for a good time. I could have stayed away for the remainder of the ride, had I been willing to push myself a little more, but one of the other riders dropped off (there were only 3 of us remaining at the time), so I decided to drop off with him.
I hadn’t known the rider, so being the nice guy I am, I introduced myself. Now I can’t remember exactly how the conversation transpired, but he asked if I was the one who had lymphoma. He indicated another rider, who I did know (but didn’t realize knew I had lymphoma), had informed him. A double surprise.
He was asking, because his nephew (who was only 23 years old), had recently been diagnosed with lymphoma. So, after hesitating for a second (that’s just way to young to be diagnosed with lymphoma), I admitted I’m the one, and proceeded to tell him my life story. Well at least since my diagnosis.
So anyways, based on todays experience, I’ve learned a few more people know of my lymphoma, than I previously suspected.
It’s also surprising, since after all this time, I’m still not sure whether that’s a good thing or not. All I really no for sure is, so far, no one has indicated it is.
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Well, maybe he mentioned his nephew had lymphoma and then someone mentioned you had it, too. I use to get the same questions from friends bout epilepsy after a family member or friend was diagnosed.
On the other hand, I forget half the time that you even have lymphoma because you don’t look or act sick to me.
I sure try to act like I’m not sick, but deep back in my mind somewhere I still never forget I have lymphoma, nor that it could rear it’s ugly head at any time.
We’re both mantle cellmates, but presenting very differently. I (hopefully) had MCL (past tense), but you, as your title says are living with it in the present.
One thing is the same: that back-of-the-mind, lurking fear. I just told my doctor the other day that the fear of relapse is always there, but it’s just not in the front of my mind. I have a few other concerns that are taking up that position right now.