Health Update-Met with the C-word doctor

Time for the dreaded update. I had an appointment with the Hematology Oncologist today. He was recommended to me by my PCP who I love and I immediately felt at ease with him and his care team today. So that’s good news. He immediately felt the enlarged lymph nodes behind my ear on my neck and then sat down to talk.

I have a history of breast lumps and have had a few different ultrasounds, mammograms, and a biopsy of some suspicious lumps. They came back as cysts, but the Dr. today (Dr. Haines) did not like that history paired with my symptoms and swollen nodes. He palpitated all of the lymph nodes you can feel on the outside. My spleen is enlarged. If like me, you don’t know what a spleen’s job is, it’s essentially a giant lymph node and so swelling of it is not good. He talked a bit about my other symptoms (night sweats, weight loss (over 10%), pruritus, fatigue (and insomnia). He said what we are concerned with is cancer that has metastasized from somewhere else or lymphoma (obviously or I wouldn’t be seeing him). He said he is concerned with lymphoma based on the "B cell" symptoms I am having. He assured me lymphoma is a slow-growing cancer and IF it is that, the treatment is the same for the early or late stage. He also said it's highly treatable. So more good news. The next steps are diagnostic tests. He said what he wants to do is “scan my entire body from head to pelvis, but what I want to do and what insurance lets me do, are two different things.” Ah, the American healthcare system at its finest. Did I mention my husband works for the Cleveland Clinic? I would hate to see what hoops people with worse insurance or even none at all have to jump through.

Today I got more bloodwork done to test my liver function and LDH levels? (Don’t quote me on that). I made an appointment to get a CT with contrast followed by an ultrasound of my liver and spleen on April 1st. THEN I can FINALLY schedule a biopsy and MRI/PET scan if needed. So, that’s where we are at. I am also currently fighting some type of cold or allergies or something so that’s fun. As always, thank you for being here, for supporting me and my blog, and for the prayers and well wishes. I could use all of them!

Love and Light,

Jacquelyn