UPDATE: Living with Lymphoma

Hello! It has been a while since I’ve posted. The last month has been hectic with working from home, a much needed R & R, and some testing for my lymphoma.

The month of September had some many highs but a few lows. It was my birthday month so was able to celebrate and be around my family and friends. At the same time, I had a lot of stress with all the tests and scans I had to do to determine the next phase of my life.

I have been wanting to share with you all but was waiting to get the final results on all the tests/scans. About a month ago, I got some blood work done, after I met with my new hematologist/oncologist. He wanted to check my blood levels and see how I was doing. My LDH levels came back super high (even off the range) that he requested that I do a PET scan a to see how my blood was flowing through my body.

Man, it was my first experience with a PET scan and wow did not expect my reaction. I have had a CT scan a couple times and those have been in and out, no anxiety. When I went in and saw the scanner for the PET scan, I was, oh yeah it will be quick, without not knowing I was VERY WRONG! The nurse was prepping me and was telling me it was going to be about 20 mins for the scan. 😱😱 That was not including the 30 mins (or so) that I had to wait after they inject a radioactive tracer. Once I was on the bed to start the scan, I was ok (and keep in mind that I had my mask on all through this scan 😷) but when it started moving into the scanner and then stopped and wouldn’t move then my heart started racing and I felt that panic attack building. I really quickly tried to focus on a spot on the scanner and breath in and out to try to refocus my attention somewhere else. It felt like forever that I was in there but when it was over, I thought the nurse was going to come back in and say, you moved so we need to do it again. OH HECK NO! But she didn’t and I got to go home and eat. 🙌🏽

After the PET scan, I went on the mini-vacation to La Paz, MX (I will share that trip on another post) so had about 1 week after the scan to destress. Then the following week, I was able to connect with my doctor on the results of the scan. The results were that my lymph nodes on my left side (neck and armpit) were growing and had quite some activity. The doctor then sent me to get a biopsy to see if I was on the same grade of lymphoma. He wanted to confirm if my node hadn’t transformed into actual tumor cells. He finally said that depending on the results from the biopsy, I would start treatment, a combo of chemo and immunotherapy, which caught me off guard. I was not expecting to hear that as my previous doctor had said that treatment would be more like 2 – 4 years.

Soon after that appointment with my doctor, I scheduled the biopsy. It would be my second biopsy in less than 2 years so I knew what to expect but with any procedure I was bit anxious. At first, I wasn’t sure where they were going to biopsy since my neck and armpit (left side) were there was much more activity. It ended up being in my armpit, I was glad it was there, that they did the biopsy. I was in and out within 45 mins but after I was done I was sore with some pain. So I slept most of that day and rested.

That was about a week ago and now that you have been through my journey of the last 3 – 4 weeks, I got the results from the biopsy. It showed that my lymphoma did not transform, which was good news and something to be happy about, but the doctor wants to continue with the treatment plan. He believes that starting this treatment plan now it will put me in remission for a long time. 🤞🏽🤞🏽 With that, I said LET’S DO THIS!

I will then start treatment in 2 weeks, which will be a low dose of chemo with an antibody (Rituxan) for 2 consecutive days once a month for six months. After 3 months of the treatment plan, I will do another PET scan and see how its working and see how the blood is flowing and along with that, I have to take COVID-19 tests monthly and blood work weekly. It will be intense but I know I will get through this.

I know and I feel the love and support from my family and friends. I am very lucky and blessed and that gives me the strength to take this in strides and take EVERY STEP, ONE AT A TIME! ❤️❤️ Thank you, thank you! 🙏🏼🙏🏼

To be continued on the progress….