And The Results Are...

Well, as some of you already know, the biopsy of the lymph glands in my pelvis revealed follicular lymphoma, a non-aggressive form of cancer. Unfortunately, this did not explain my symptoms, so it was off on the hunt again. A head-to-knee PET scan with CT overlay was ordered. Now, if nothing comes of all this but these tests, I am gaining a wide knowledge of modern medical diagnostics. For example, with the PET scan, I was injected with radioactive sugar water.  Then I was sent to a quiet, dimly lit room where I was to lie down and do nothing for an hour, not even read. Then off to the PET scanner.  As a result of the test they discovered that many of the lymph nodes in my body have what is called hypermetabolic activity. That is, they're working on overtime.


What's this all means is that there may be cancer cells in other parts of my body.  So off to a second biopsy, this time from my neck. Just before the first biopsy I had developed a small lump in my neck, underneath my right jaw. Since this showed the greatest activity, this was the target. I arrived on Thursday as scheduled to find the the surgeon's office had changed my surgery to Friday and neglected to call me. Not too much of a problem (we all make mistakes) except for the fact that Olivia had dropped me off and was not to return for 3 hours! Ah well, I sent her a message and went off to find breakfast. It all turned out all right, as she got the message so I didn't need to wait for the full 3 hours and I had more time to contemplate this situation. 


(Contemplative aside: I seem to remember a quote from somewhere that goes something like this - 'Nothing focuses a man's thinking like the knowledge that he is to be hung in the morning.' Although follicular lymphoma [or even lymphoma in its more aggressive states] is not a death sentence, the idea that my time is more limited than I had imagined is sobering. After I passed 50 I began wondering how many years I had left and, given my general health and actuary tables, I figured on about 30 years, easily, barring lightning strikes or carelessness on my part. Then to visit webpages after my diagnosis that said, depending on the particulars of my case, I have a 50 to 70 percent chance of living 7 to 10 more years, well, focused my thinking fairly quickly. Now, they did add the disclaimer that each case is individual and some people have passed 25 years with no problems. Still, it caused my to take a step back and "consider the lilies of the field." Right now, except for the fatigue that still plagues me, my life is no different except for a greater recognition of how ephemeral life is. This has in many ways enhanced my quality of life. I look at family and friends with a rediscovered joy in just their presence in my life. I have a greater trust that the future, although uncertain, will take care of its self. I do have rough spots, where I just want to cry, "Why me?," but for the most part I've been able to take this as it comes.)


So, I returned on the morrow to go through the surgery. It went well, all things considered. There was some nerve damage in my face, which means when I try to make my mouth look like this :-0 it looks more like this :-b, but the doctor said that may pass. Thus we are back to the "wait and see" game. It will be about a week before the results of the biopsy are back, which should tell us either that I have a more aggressive form of cancer and chemo will take care of it or that I have an indolent form of cancer, which we will just watch, but we still don't know why I'm sick. In the meanwhile, I would like to again thank all of you who are holding Olivia and me in your prayers and thoughts. I truly feel blessed and appreciate all of the kind words you have sent our way.


Blessings on you all.