Tuesday was "results day" for the biopsy. A wonderful visit to the thriving metropolis of Camden... I will admit, getting to the Cooper campus is rather easy and pretty safe. There is a lot of activity there and good security. It's still Camden...Valet parking, free making it even better at the MD Anderson@Cooper building!!! Note to self - next time put the valet stub in money clip, DON'T just stuff it in your pocket so it falls out when you get your ID cards out!!!
The PET scan shows there are "active" lymph nodes in my neck, armpits, in the chest and in the groin area. We already knew there was some Spleen involvement from it being enlarged.
The biopsy showed "moderate" active cells, around 20-30% - 10-20% is considered indolent, with watch-and-wait treatment and 40-60% active cells being aggressive, requiring immediate treatment. "Staging" is different with this than you normally hear about, I am considered stage 3 due to lymph nodes on both sides of the diaphragm being involved.
Since the PET scan can't detect if the bowel is involved, a colonoscopy is scheduled for tomorrow (Friday, 10/23). As I passed the half-century mark last year, it's time for this anyway. It'll be a "4-fer" - Normal colonoscopy, checking for signs of lymphoma while they are there, prostate exam and checking out the hemi's... At least we are getting our money's worth out of this one! Tonight will be fun, I hope we have enough TP!
The PET scan can't tell if the lymphoma is affecting the bones accurately, either. A bone marrow biopsy is on the calendar for November 2nd.
The doctor wants me to have chemotherapy and a bone marrow/stem cell transplant. Right now the exact course is not known since my doc wants to confer with the transplant people to determine the best approach after looking all the facts and figures. We should have a clearer picture when I go for the bone marrow biopsy on 11/2.
From what the doctor said there are two approaches he is looking at. The first is 4 rounds of "A then B", given about once a month, followed by the transplant. The other is a lower dose, shorter term chemo and the transplant. I am not sure of the benefits of one versus the other at this point, so many thoughts were going through my mind that day I didn't ask. I'll start another list of things to ask for the next visit. Either way, it looks like I am going to be a part-time resident of Camden and Philadelphia over the next year or so...
This post may be all over the place, my brain is still kinda swimming, but here is what I know:
I want to thank everyone again for the thoughts, prayers and offers to be a donor! I really makes me feel good to know so many of you are will to help! I feel like just saying thank you is not enough, but I don't know what else I can do...
Take time to hugs your kids and loved ones. Get a complete physical every year, "routine" blood work found my counts off... Take care of yourself, it's not just you who is affected by this shit, whatever it may be. Say a prayer for every person fighting cancer!
Be Safe, Be Prepared, God Bless!!
The PET scan shows there are "active" lymph nodes in my neck, armpits, in the chest and in the groin area. We already knew there was some Spleen involvement from it being enlarged.
The biopsy showed "moderate" active cells, around 20-30% - 10-20% is considered indolent, with watch-and-wait treatment and 40-60% active cells being aggressive, requiring immediate treatment. "Staging" is different with this than you normally hear about, I am considered stage 3 due to lymph nodes on both sides of the diaphragm being involved.
Since the PET scan can't detect if the bowel is involved, a colonoscopy is scheduled for tomorrow (Friday, 10/23). As I passed the half-century mark last year, it's time for this anyway. It'll be a "4-fer" - Normal colonoscopy, checking for signs of lymphoma while they are there, prostate exam and checking out the hemi's... At least we are getting our money's worth out of this one! Tonight will be fun, I hope we have enough TP!
The PET scan can't tell if the lymphoma is affecting the bones accurately, either. A bone marrow biopsy is on the calendar for November 2nd.
The doctor wants me to have chemotherapy and a bone marrow/stem cell transplant. Right now the exact course is not known since my doc wants to confer with the transplant people to determine the best approach after looking all the facts and figures. We should have a clearer picture when I go for the bone marrow biopsy on 11/2.
From what the doctor said there are two approaches he is looking at. The first is 4 rounds of "A then B", given about once a month, followed by the transplant. The other is a lower dose, shorter term chemo and the transplant. I am not sure of the benefits of one versus the other at this point, so many thoughts were going through my mind that day I didn't ask. I'll start another list of things to ask for the next visit. Either way, it looks like I am going to be a part-time resident of Camden and Philadelphia over the next year or so...
This post may be all over the place, my brain is still kinda swimming, but here is what I know:
- Mantle Cell Lymphoma
- Moderately aggressive - 20-30% active cells
- "Stage 3" - lymph nodes on both side of the diaphragm are involved
- Colonoscopy to determine if and extent of involvement
- Bone marrow biopsy to determine if involved
- Chemo and bone marrow/stem cell transplant
- +/- a year of treatment
I want to thank everyone again for the thoughts, prayers and offers to be a donor! I really makes me feel good to know so many of you are will to help! I feel like just saying thank you is not enough, but I don't know what else I can do...
Take time to hugs your kids and loved ones. Get a complete physical every year, "routine" blood work found my counts off... Take care of yourself, it's not just you who is affected by this shit, whatever it may be. Say a prayer for every person fighting cancer!
Be Safe, Be Prepared, God Bless!!