You Need Tough Skin With Cancer

Linda Cohen is a survivor of small lymphocytic lymphoma and was diagnosed in 2009. Catch up on all of Linda's blogs here!

I have shared that I have lived with small lymphocytic lymphoma for 15 years. I keep saying, “Cancer, we have to stop meeting like this. Just because I need to write a blog for this month and have no ideas, you don’t have to keep giving me new things to write about!”

When you have chronic cancer, every time something new appears, you worry…or at least I do. I was away for the holidays. My daughter and granddaughter, who was sick, arrived for a visit. There wasn’t a whole lot I could do about it. We were there and they had their airline tickets to join us. I should have put on a mask or distanced myself more, but I knew I would probably get it, regardless of what I did. I am so immune compromised that I have to have an antibody infusion every four weeks. I hoped that might save me, but of course, on day three I began not to feel well. I developed an unusual rash that was actually more like small lesions on my legs. A few days later, a sinus infection developed. I was concerned about the leg lesions because it was unlike anything I had ever seen. It didn’t hurt or itch. It resembled shingles, but I knew it wasn’t.

After taking antibiotics for my sinus infection and returning from our vacation, new lesions still appeared. I knew I should go to a dermatologist to check it out. Ignoring my own advice, I told my husband, “It’s just a rash which is most likely caused by a virus. You really don’t have to come for this.”

But being the supportive husband he is, he answered, “I’m definitely coming because every time I don’t go, I’m sorry.” Luckily, he didn’t listen to me, and he came.

The dermatologist came in. He began examining my legs (and now a few on my hands) very closely, asking me many questions. He told me it’s not a virus. We need to do two different kinds of biopsies from two different lesions. Of course, at that moment, I stopped listening. He said we will call you with the results in two or three weeks!

What? “That’s a long time,” I thought to myself!

Fortunately, only ten days later, the physician’s assistant called with my results. It’s called leukocytoclastic vasculitis. I had never even heard of this. Now, I have to see a rheumatologist who I’m told is the one who treats this.

So, my health saga continues. That’s why I say you have to have tough skin when you have cancer. Cancer has damaged my immune system, which is why I am so grateful for the immunoglobulin antibodies that have helped me stay healthy. I was always prone to sinus infections, but since having these infusions, it’s been much better. However, the doctor thinks this sinus infection triggered my new diagnosis. I’m not sure it could have been prevented. I was finally beginning to let up on wearing my mask unless I was in a small, crowded indoor area. Sometimes, as a patient with cancer, especially when I’m feeling good, I need to remind myself I’m not like everyone else who doesn’t have a compromised immune system, no matter how much I want to be. I still need to be extra careful for the rest of my life.

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