DIAGNOSIS
My diagnosis of Hodgkin's Lymphoma started with a lump on the right side of my neck just above the collarbone. This lump however was nothing new and goes back in history to my senior year at Kansas State University 1993. A grape sized lump appeared suddenly above my collarbone. The lump was looked at by university doctors and some blood test were completed. The results were a fatty tissue deposit or something not to worry. Through the years I lived with the lump that would change in size from grape size to about golf ball size. It never did stay big for long periods of time. From 1993 to 2005 I had it checked at least once annually and by about 5 different doctors throughout this period. I was always told not to worry if it was something serious you would be sick by now or it would keep getting bigger. Im not a doctor made sense to me. January 2005 I went to the doctor for an unrelated sinus infection and asked the doctor again about the lump. At this time the lump was getting larger for longer periods of time and was causing some discomfort. I had an occasional night sweat and some fatigue at this time. I told the doctor. He assured me all was well and said he would run lab work on my blood to make sure. After the lab work the doctor advised me that everything looked good and that my white count was off a little but not enough to cause concerns. So I went home thinking I was fine and I would just live with the lump some more. In the last year I noticed something different I just wasnt feeling right. Not something that was drastic but just not right.
The last week of February 2005 I woke on two different nights with drenching night sweats it was scary the bed was wet my hair was soaked. The next week my lump started getting bigger and stayed big. On the evening of March 2nd it looked like I had a large egg under the skin. I made an appointment to see my doctor on March 3rd. My doctor was gone and I saw one of his partners. I told him the story of the lump. He advised he wanted to have test done immediately to find out what was going on. He ordered Ct scans that afternoon. I was a little in shock because of all the concern there had never been any before. I thought Im ok I had this for 12 years it is nothing.
Friday March 4th I recieved a call from my doctor. He said the Ct scan of your chest came back ok. However the scan of your neck showed some spots of concern. He advised he was getting me in to see a ear, nose, and throat specialist immediately. On the afternoon of the 4th I met with the specialist. He examined the lump and stuck a scope up my nose and down my throat. He then looked at the ct scans which I had brought to him. He told me that the scans showed what appeared to be a mass of lymph nodes. He told me that he was going to do a needle biopsy of the mass. That hurts. He said that the results would be back on the following Tuesday. For anybody that has been through this you know four days is an eternity. Before I left I asked him what he thought? He said it could be a lot of things (Inflammation, infection, etc) but we cannot rule out a maglinant cancer. However that is very unlikely with your age group. Some relief.
Tuesday went back to specialist. He said biopsy came back showed lymphocyte cells. Basically it is a lymph node. I asked what that meant. He said it means there is something going on somewhere but we dont know what yet. I ask what is something. It could be anything but we cant rule out cancer. Great. He then scheduled me for an open biopsy.
On march 1oth I had surgery to remove a lymph node the size of an egg. I was told result would be in the following Tuesday. Another wait from hell. Tuesday came and no results. Finally on Thursday March 17th the results were in.
I remember sitting in the doctors office waiting for him to come in it seemed like an eternity.
He finally made it and briefly looked at my wound from surgery. I remember him saying everything looked good with the healing. Then he sat down and said we got the results of your biopsy. You have what is called Hodgkin's Lymphoma. I remember staring at him as thoughts ran through my head. I was thinking whats that, thats not good, I think thats cancer, am I going to die. My response, " Thats not what I wanted to hear". The doctors response, "No thats not what people like to hear but its not the worst news you could get". Then he stated that this is treatable but the road to get better will be long and a hard one. The doctor then scheduled me for an appointment with a cancer doctor. He said they would run numerous test to determine a stage of the cancer and treatment options. Wow what a St. Patricks Day.
The last week of February 2005 I woke on two different nights with drenching night sweats it was scary the bed was wet my hair was soaked. The next week my lump started getting bigger and stayed big. On the evening of March 2nd it looked like I had a large egg under the skin. I made an appointment to see my doctor on March 3rd. My doctor was gone and I saw one of his partners. I told him the story of the lump. He advised he wanted to have test done immediately to find out what was going on. He ordered Ct scans that afternoon. I was a little in shock because of all the concern there had never been any before. I thought Im ok I had this for 12 years it is nothing.
Friday March 4th I recieved a call from my doctor. He said the Ct scan of your chest came back ok. However the scan of your neck showed some spots of concern. He advised he was getting me in to see a ear, nose, and throat specialist immediately. On the afternoon of the 4th I met with the specialist. He examined the lump and stuck a scope up my nose and down my throat. He then looked at the ct scans which I had brought to him. He told me that the scans showed what appeared to be a mass of lymph nodes. He told me that he was going to do a needle biopsy of the mass. That hurts. He said that the results would be back on the following Tuesday. For anybody that has been through this you know four days is an eternity. Before I left I asked him what he thought? He said it could be a lot of things (Inflammation, infection, etc) but we cannot rule out a maglinant cancer. However that is very unlikely with your age group. Some relief.
Tuesday went back to specialist. He said biopsy came back showed lymphocyte cells. Basically it is a lymph node. I asked what that meant. He said it means there is something going on somewhere but we dont know what yet. I ask what is something. It could be anything but we cant rule out cancer. Great. He then scheduled me for an open biopsy.
On march 1oth I had surgery to remove a lymph node the size of an egg. I was told result would be in the following Tuesday. Another wait from hell. Tuesday came and no results. Finally on Thursday March 17th the results were in.
I remember sitting in the doctors office waiting for him to come in it seemed like an eternity.
He finally made it and briefly looked at my wound from surgery. I remember him saying everything looked good with the healing. Then he sat down and said we got the results of your biopsy. You have what is called Hodgkin's Lymphoma. I remember staring at him as thoughts ran through my head. I was thinking whats that, thats not good, I think thats cancer, am I going to die. My response, " Thats not what I wanted to hear". The doctors response, "No thats not what people like to hear but its not the worst news you could get". Then he stated that this is treatable but the road to get better will be long and a hard one. The doctor then scheduled me for an appointment with a cancer doctor. He said they would run numerous test to determine a stage of the cancer and treatment options. Wow what a St. Patricks Day.
posted by Jason at 3:58 PM
1 Comments:
I remember this day well. I was in Nashville with my mom, dad, Jodi and the kids. We were eating at the Hardrock Cafe when you called. I was in shock. Along with you. But you seemed very strong and confident that everything was going to work out. Your outlook was very postive from day one and still is. I think that is half the battle. I love you man. Keep on fighting the fight. Justin
Post a Comment
<< Home