The Diagnosis ...

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On Wednesday, December 2nd Dr. Wong called with the pathology report (not the diagnosis).  Dr. Wong confirmed that I was showing signs of Hodgkin's lymphoma.  Shocking of course to me.  I think I blacked out a some point on the call... honestly I think I was crying and laughing.  He confirmed that this was not the full diagnosis but still wanted to give me a call to let me know because this was most likely the direction it was heading.  You can hear in his voice it wasn't the call he wanted to make nor something that I wanted to hear on a Wednesday night alone at home.  Mom came to my place that evening to just hang with me and make sure I was doing OK and that I wasn’t alone in this journey ♥️

A little background on Hodgkin's.  It's a cancer of the part of the immune system called the lymphatic system.  As the cancer progresses it limits the body's ability to fight infection.  As your white blood cells are fighting, symptoms could be swollen lymph nodes in the neck, armpits, or groin.  Fatigue, fever, and chills are some additional symptoms that may occur.  It's basically one of the better cancers you can get and it's pretty basic (so they say) 90% treatable and curable, you can read on your own but I suggest not to.  The internet is polluted with info.  I promise to update my blog with more details of it and treatments.  But for now, as Cimi would say "it's the pumpkin spice basic cancer" and everything will be OK.  I still feel cancer is cancer and that phone call was tough but I knew I was going to treat this head on and right away.  

On Monday, December 7th Dr. Wong called and confirmed that it was Hodgkin's lymphoma.  Now that the diagnosis was confirmed it was time to be passed onto my specialist and care team (a PET scan was ordered prior to meeting with my specialist for a more detailed scan of my body).  I was recommended to one of the best of the best Dr. Paul Hamlin.  I was told he is one of the nicest and smartest in his field and it's what he specializes in.  As sad as I felt at that time I did know deep down I was in good hands.  I still had so many questions that were unanswered but as my brother said "you have to trust the process".  And so I will.

My appointment with Dr. Hamlin is on Tuesday, December 22nd at Sloan.  Stay tuned.....

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