So, how did this all come about? Due to my excellent lifestyle, I am a borderline diabetic. So once a year or so my endocrinologist does a complete blood workup on me. This year the CBC came back low. Tests were repeated to see if it was a lab error, nope, still low. Referred to a hematologist, even MORE blood work... so far enough to make a vampire jealous!!! These tests showed some lymphoma cells, oh joy!! Of course I have to get the rarest of lymphomas, Mantle Cell Lymphoma...
Next was a CT scan, then a PET scan. Now I need to have the lymph node biopsied to determine how aggressive the cancer is. Treatment varies from "wait & watch" for indolent (not aggressive) to chemo, radiation and who knows what else for more aggressive types.
How do I feel? I don't "feel" anything other than my spleen, but only because they told me it is enlarged. I can feel the lymph node in my neck and my armpit, they are about lima-bean size. Other symptoms are fatigue and bloated/gassy feeling... I'm 50, overweight and out of shape, and I get gas from a glass of water, so how would I know? The only other thing is the fever/sweats. They come on at any time or place, which is especially enjoyable when you are out somewhere and the sweat starts running down the back of your head and onto your face!
I didn't tell a lot of people at first, mostly because there wasn't, and still isn't, very much to tell. I figure this would be the best way to get the same information to everyone. So keep me and all cancer patients, survivors and their families in your thoughts and prayers and I'll keep you updated as I can.
Be safe, be prepared, God Bless
Next was a CT scan, then a PET scan. Now I need to have the lymph node biopsied to determine how aggressive the cancer is. Treatment varies from "wait & watch" for indolent (not aggressive) to chemo, radiation and who knows what else for more aggressive types.
How do I feel? I don't "feel" anything other than my spleen, but only because they told me it is enlarged. I can feel the lymph node in my neck and my armpit, they are about lima-bean size. Other symptoms are fatigue and bloated/gassy feeling... I'm 50, overweight and out of shape, and I get gas from a glass of water, so how would I know? The only other thing is the fever/sweats. They come on at any time or place, which is especially enjoyable when you are out somewhere and the sweat starts running down the back of your head and onto your face!
I didn't tell a lot of people at first, mostly because there wasn't, and still isn't, very much to tell. I figure this would be the best way to get the same information to everyone. So keep me and all cancer patients, survivors and their families in your thoughts and prayers and I'll keep you updated as I can.
Be safe, be prepared, God Bless