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Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma (grade not stated)
Interview 36  

Interview 36

Age at Interview: 66
Sex: Female
Age at Diagnosis: 61
Background: Retired teacher, married with two adult children. Ethnic background: Indian.
Brief outline:Diagnosed with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in 2000 after finding a swelling in her chest. She had radiotherapy but a new lump appeared which was also treated with radiotherapy. Two further recurrences were treated with chemotherapy. In remission.

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Female
Lost all her hair, bought an NHS wig but it was too hot, so wore scarves when out; her hair grew back white.

 



Can you remember the name of that drug they gave you?

CHOP. 

Aha, and that's when you lost your hair?

Yes.

You didn't enjoy that very much?

No.

How did you feel about losing your hair?

That was worse I think than the illness.

Did it all fall out, every last bit? 

Yes I was completely bald: no eyebrows, no hair, like this [laughs].

Yes, and I hope they warned you that was going to happen?

Yes.

Yes, good. Did they offer you a wig?

Yes I bought one but I didn't wear it, it was too hot. It was the summer months and I wore it once and it gave me a headache so I didn't use it.

So that's one you bought, you didn't get it from the hospital?

You get it cheaper I think. It cost about sixty pounds for me and maybe the actual price was a hundred pounds or something like that.

Did it kind of make you feel less of a woman having no hair, or how did it make you feel emotionally?

I didn't feel that [laughs], I felt bad, quite bad. And I was, the time couldn't pass quick enough to have my hair back.

Mm. Did you cover your head with scarves or anything?

Yes I did yeah [laughs].

Did you ever go around bald?

No.

At home even?

At home sometimes when nobody was there but otherwise I'll always have something.

Mm. So then it grew back, presumably after not too long?

Mm.

Did it grow back the same?

No it came out all white.

Did it, completely?

Yes.

Oh my God.

Yes I had a few, quite a lot of white hair, but then it was all white, now I put some henna…
Jenni Murray - Cancer
Lymphoma
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