It seems weird that we’re in the year 2011. Time flies!
Tuesday, Jan 11, 2011 – We went to see the oncologist like we normally do every other Tuesday, but this Tuesday was DIFFERENT!!! (No more getting sideways!!!!!!!!!!!!!)
After getting checked in, they did blood work. We got the results back and were VERY IMPRESSED with my neutrophils. 8,200! Keep in mind that a typical count is between 3,000-6,700, and my neutrophils have been between 500-1,000 since July. We are very very very very very very (did I say very?) happy, because this means that I am able to eat raw produce. Guess who’s eating salad for lunch today? Yay!
After marveling at my white blood cells (neutrophils), we went up to see the doctor. This was the tough part. Because there is a 2cm lymph node still hyper-metabolically active (right above my heart), it may still be cancerous. The way to verify it is to get a biopsy by sticking a needle the size of a pencil lead in my chest and getting a nice big hunk of meat. Yummy.
My initial reaction was that if it’s only 2cm, we should just cut the whole thing out. Unfortunately, since it is nestled in among all those lovely large blood vessels coming out of my heart and lymphoma does not abide by geographical boundaries, that’s out.
So, biopsy. There are three possible outcomes — no cancer, cancer, or indeterminate
#1 – no cancer, just inflammation. This is the optimal result. The follow-up is regular checkups to monitor the lymph node and make sure the cancer doesn’t come back.
#2 – cancer. This is NOT an optimal result. Follow-up is continued treatment, probably a combination of radiation, high dose chemo, ZERO neutrophils (you THOUGHT 500 was low), and a stem cell transplant. (These are not the droids you are looking for.)
#3 – indeterminate, e.g., the doctor is unable to tell if there is cancer or not. This is ALSO not an optimal result. Follow-up is a 2nd, more invasive procedure known as a mediastinoscopy, which will take us back to either option 1 or 2. Again, Option 1 is the one we want.
Monday, January 17, 2011 – 7:30AM. Biopsy. A CT scanner will be used to guide the needle through my chest wall and into the active node. There are some risks for obvious reasons. Since all of you reading this will be sending positive energy, only good things should happen during surgery, and anyone in the waiting room will be surrounded by those good vibes as well.
Biopsy results take 1-3 days.
Thursday, January 20, 2011 – 2PM. We return and get biopsy results from the oncologist. We’ll know what we need to know, and hopefully what we need to do to continue our path to Cancer-free.
We hope the next few days will go by smoothly. We love all of you, and we appreciate everything that you are doing during this difficult time for us.
[jacqui says everyone should put in votes for Option 1. as a matter of fact, please take the Chicago approach – vote early and vote often. please and thank you.]
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