I have started this blog for a few different reasons. One, for myself, I think this will be a good place for me to share my experience and my emotions through my fight with Cancer. Second, for my family and friends. I'm not sure how well I will be able to verbally express my feelings, so now my friends and family can check in on me whenever they want. I know this is going to be a hard journey but I am positive I will beat this.
I want to start by giving a little history. For the last few months, I have been feeling a discomfort in my neck, right arm and shoulder. I work on a computer a lot, so I figured it had to do with that. When months went by and it didn't seem to get better, I decided it was time to go to the doctors. I went to see my doctor on May 17th. My doctor did her exam and was going to prescribe me vicadin and send me on my way. For some reason, I wasn't taking that for an answer. I asked my doctor to do some sort of test, and x-ray...something. So she agreed, I could get an x-ray done of my right shoulder. So right after the appointment, I went downstairs to radiology to get my x-ray. By that evening, I got a call from the doctor's office that they want me to come back and do a full chest x-ray. So first thing the next morning, I was back in the radiology department and by that afternoon the phone was ringing again. The doctor said that there appears to be a large mass on my upper right lung. Wow, 2 days ago I was thinking there was something wrong with my shoulder. I couldn't have been more wrong. They immediately scheduled me for a CT Scan on May 19th, a day before my husband and I were to celebrate are 7th wedding anniversary. We've been together for almost 12 years, but 7 married.
Once I talked to my mom, she said they were getting in the car and they would be at my house before my CT Scan. My mom and dad live in Idaho. They drove 14 hours straight to get to my house in time. My mom went with me to get the CT Scan done. My parents actually stayed a little over a week. During that time, I had an appointment with a Pulmonary doctor. It was time to start figuring out exactly what this thing was. So I was scheduled to get a PET Scan and a Bronochoscopy. Still no real results to what this large mass is. Is it cancer or not? The next thing to do was a CT Guided Needle Biopsy. The biopsy was scheduled for June 15th.
On June 21st, I was diagnosed with Hodgkin's Lymphoma aka Hodgkin's Disease. I didn't know if I should be relieved or not. I was thankful it wasn't lung cancer, but I wasn't really sure what Hodgkin's Lymphoma was. On the 26th of June, I met with the Oncologist. He explained to me what it was and that I would have to undergo Chemotherapy for the next 6 - 8 months. Hodgkin's Lymphoma is cancer of the lymph system. The great news, is that there is a high success rate and I know in my heart I am going to be cancer free.
Today, I have a Chemotherapy Consult, so I know what to expect during treatment. Josh and I have told the girls and we plan on going to the appointment as a family. We are going to fight this together.
