Good News (Seriously, It's Really Good!)

ANYWHO...we met with an oncologist this afternoon (who happens to have significant experience with lung cancers in clinical trials, fancy that), and she had all the test results so (drumroll/fanfare/etc.) here it is: 
The Breaking Medical Update!

Diagnosis as of now:  Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma (DLBCL) and if you want to be even more specific, it seems like we're talking Primary Mediastinal DLBCL. Stage 2X (the "x" will get an identity once more tests are done).

   STOP!! RIGHT THIS MINUTE!  I saw you, so get your finger off the mouse or the track pad, stop highlighting that diagnosis, and don't you dare paste it into your Google search bar.  Not yet anyway.  I'm holding the talking stick, so I get to go first before you go read about it anywhere else! 

 

   This is GREAT NEWS!  No lie.  John and I high-fived each other in the oncology office, that's how awesome this news is.

   To break it down:  Is it cancer?  Yes.  Is it fast growing and aggressive?  Yes. 

   However, here's the beauty part:  Because this is a cancer of the lymph system that has created a tumor in my lungs, rather than primary lung cancer, my outlook just changed from a cancer that was not curable, only treatable, with a really discouraging survival rate (gotta be honest, that was some grim reading right there) to something that is not only treatable, but curable in the 80% range! 

   So I just moved into a curable category!  Sweet! 

So here's the "it's all about perspective" moment:  John and I realize that if you told us two weeks ago that I was going to receive a diagnosis of lymphoma soon, we would have been devastated.  But getting a lymphoma diagnosis after going down the lung cancer path...well, I never would have thought that I'd be happy about a cancer diagnosis, but this in particular is cause for celebration!

  

     The PET scan revealed cancer has not metastasized.  It's localized in my lung.  The tumor may be spooning with my heart right now, but it has not consummated the relationship!  That's MORE GOOD NEWS! 

   Here's what the immediate plan is:  Treatment is starting asap, even while more testing is being done:  Need echocardiogram to make sure my heart is not suffering right now, need a bone marrow biopsy to see if lymphoma is there (that's the one thing you can't see on a PET scan), have to do some blood work, have to get a chemo port surgically implanted in my chest this week (kinda snuck that one in there, didn't I?), have to go to Chemo Training (who knew, except you folks who have done it), and they are thinking they will give me first round of chemo next week on Tuesday.

   Chemo plan:  1 round every 21 days, 6 rounds if it's in the bone, and maybe less if it's not in the bone, followed by radiation (don't have any idea how long that would go).  Surgery is off the table (I'm pretty happy about that even though it derails my plan of having the surgeon keep the tumor for me until I woke up in recovery so I could spit on it before they took it away--I think it's the Italian in me maybe).

  I know that I am in for a bumpy ride here--no picnic for sure.  But I have to say, within the entire range of emotions I've been going through, the most pronounced feeling I have is one of thankfulness.  All I have been thinking is how horrible it must be for someone who does not have family, or fantastically supportive friends, or health insurance to go through this kind of a diagnosis.  What about someone who has to worry about losing their job over missing time for chemo or radiation, or who doesn't have someone who can pick up the kids or you name it.  I am fortunate, and thankful, and grateful.  I'm kind of the luckiest person I know right now (okay, I COULD be just a LITTLE luckier and not have cancer, but you understand what I mean). 

   So, I'll be busy with all the rest of these tests, and I'll be putting together my Kick Cancer's Butt Chemo Playlist for my iPod, and we'll get to it! 

  Oh, I almost forgot...now you can Google it.