Anxiety is high this evening.

Tomorrow morning we have an appointment with our oncologist, Dr. Stevens. With the results of my PET Scan that I took on Friday, he’ll tell me what Stage my Hodgkin’s Lymphoma is in.

Obviously, we’re hoping for good news. Here’s a quick overview on the four stages:

Stage I – The cancer is found in 1 region of a lymph node.

Stage II – Either one of these conditions:

• The cancer is in 2 or more lymph node regions on the same side of the diaphragm (stage II).

• The cancer involves a single organ and its regional lymph nodes (lymph nodes located near the site of the lymphoma), with or without cancer in other lymph node regions on the same side of the diaphragm (stage IIE).

Stage III – There is cancer in lymph node areas on both sides of the diaphragm, meaning above and below it (stage III). In addition, there may be involvement of an extralymphatic organ (stage IIIE), involvement of the spleen (using the letter “S,” stage IIIS), or both (stage IIIES).

Stage IV – The lymphoma has spread throughout more than one area of the body. Common places Hodgkin lymphoma usually spreads include the liver, bone marrow, or lungs.

(Info source: http://www.cancer.net/cancer-types/lymphoma-hodgkin/stages)

 

Here are the 5-year survival rates for each stage:

It’s worth noting that those percentages go up for patients under 45-years old.

 

We know that I am beyond Stage I, since we’ve been able to identify swollen lymph nodes in various regions. Unfortunately, my previous primary care physician ignored my symptoms when the cancer was localized to a single region.

Hopefully, the PET Scan will show that it has not spread to organs or areas of my body that would constitute a Stage III or IV diagnosis, as the survival rates diminish and the treatment intensifies and goes on for much longer.

 

PHANTOM SYMPTOMS?

With anxiety running high, I’ve been alert for symptoms…

I would guess that everyone, including me, has a hundred minor aches and pains throughout the day that we brush off and instantly forget. But when you’ve been diagnosed with cancer, you might imagine that each and every ache and pain gets a lot more scrutiny…

• Pain in my side or stomach? Has happened to me my whole life. But now I wonder if the cancer has gone below my diaphragm or into my liver. This pain is very mild, but right where Dale said she might have felt trouble. But it only started hurting after she said that. Is it real?
• Tired all the time? I’ve never been a tired person, but I’m tired all the time now. Is that a symptom of the cancer that’s just now presenting itself? Or is it a consequence of me not being able to sleep through the night due to anxiety?
• I feel like I might throw up?  Am I really nauseas at Trader Joe’s? Or am I just feeling extreme anxiety because I’ve just spent 30 seconds looking around at all the people going about their evening cancer free and wishing I didn’t have to go hear a number tomorrow that will define my future?

Regardless of what number I hear tomorrow, I’m hoping that I’ll know whether I’m actually experiencing symptoms, or just making stuff up in my head.

 

CHEMO CLEANING

Since we may be beginning chemo as early as later this week, Mom came over today and we spent a couple hours deep cleaning the house from top to bottom. She brought over some cleaning supplies for us to keep as well.

The house is about as clean as it ever has been since we moved in five weeks ago!

It’s important to have and keep a very clean environment in the home when going through chemo. The treatment takes a heavy toll on the immune system and you become extremely susceptible to disease.

Thanks, Mom! I love you so much 🙂

 

DENTIST

On my to-do list is to try to get in and see a dentist before chemo begins. You can’t go once chemo has started. And chemo can take a heavy toll on one’s mouth with diseases and soars… Yuck! I don’t have a dentist in Louisville yet; I’m hoping that the one that my family goes to can get me in quickly.

 

SMILES

Today’s smile comes from my friend Paige, who collaborated with her daughter Mattie on this beautiful chalk rainbow. I have prayers coming in from sunny Florida 🙂

 

More tomorrow. Much love.

-Merv