The Blog Begins

Today I'm feeling: Just Fine.

Hello everyone.


As Isabel and/or I have explained, I'm starting this blog to
(1) Keep family and friends updated so they don't have to feel guilty or intrusive about asking how I am;
(2) give me a way to work through some of what I'm dealing with; and
(3) maybe (who knows?) provide some information to someone else out there who's going through the same thing.


That "same thing," of course, is Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma. I learned about the diagnosis three days ago; I'll post something soon about the experience of getting the news. About a month ago, we discovered a swollen lymph node in groin near my hip bone, and when it didn't go away with antibiotics, I had it removed and biopsied a little over a week ago. The initial analysis shows it to be Follicular Lymphoma, category 1, maybe a little category 2 (these describe how far along the lymphoma is -- 1 is the earliest).

I'm currently in the middle of staging, trying to determine if the lymphoma is isolated in that single lymph node area, or if it has spread elsewhere. This lymphoma often goes to the bone marrow, other lymph nodes, or to organs in the abdomen.

Yesterday, I had a bone marrow biopsy. The procedure is about as pleasant as it sounds: they suctioned out three vials of bone marrow and one bone sample from my lower back/upper hip. I'll write about that soon, too. Next Wednesday, I'll go for a CT scan and PET scan. These will help determine where the lymphoma is active. The PET scan involves being injected with a sugar solution. Active tumors consume lots of sugar to fuel their growth, so these areas will show up on the scan (if there are any).

Once we're done with those tests, we'll know what we have, and we can determine the best plan for treatment.

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Now, about the blog:

I really wanted to call this blog "Lymphomaniac." However, as I learned when I set it up, there is already a Blogger-hosted blog with that name. I was extremely disappointed to hear this. Worse, whoever has the rights to the name has deactivated the blog, so I can't even look at it see how much better mine will be.

Even worse still, the name is so unoriginal that there are actual "I'm a Lymphomaniac" t-shirts available:
http://www.cafepress.com/buy/cancer+awareness/-/pv_design_prod/pg_1/p_storeid.154994742/pNo_154994742/id_14908100/opt_/fpt_/c_666/
When I discovered that, I was profoundly disappointed, to say the least, about how late to the game I am with this whole "Lymphomaniac" thing.

So I 'm going with "Lympho Bob," which is OK, I guess. I like that it kind of echoes "Sponge Bob." It would be better if I had something to equal the "Square Pants" part. Sponge Bob Chemo Pants, that kind of thing. But with more pizzazz. I'm open to suggestions.

I also went with this particular template for the look of the blog because of the lime green color of the main header. The support ribbon for Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma is lime green. Well, it used to be. Maybe. Or it might have been something else like goldenrod yellow, or purple. The history and politics of cancer support ribbons is fascinating, and I'll write about that soon, too.

I'm off to see the surgeon to follow up on the biopsy -- make sure the incision looks OK. (It does from what I can tell).

Check back often. I'll have more to say. And feel free to leave comments.

And, of course, thank you for all your support.