Not The Stage I Was Looking For

Image via Wikipedia

It’s difficult to pick out the right outfit to wear to your husband’s first appointment with his oncologist. I went with my new Boden linen skirt, flip-flops, a light-weight knit tunic, and a pedicure I managed to fuck up within hours of walking out of the nail salon. It came together nicely.

After making a quick stop at Target for ultra-soft toothbrushes, Biotene toothpaste, Glide flossers, and some kind of gum that keeps your mouth clean (all supplies for Hubs’ impending chemo), I jumped into my sweet ride minivan and made my way to the hospital to meet Hubs and my SIL (a lymphoma survivor, as is their father—but, it’s not hereditary…my ass).

I arrived without getting lost, kudos to me, parked next to a handicapped space, because I feel a kinship, albeit a mental one, and made my way to the building. I asked the blue-haired woman in the vomit-pink coat where oncology was located, and made my way to the Muppet-show-sized elevator, up to the 2nd floor, and down the hall to section “2C”, noting the irony. C was not for cookie in this case.

My SIL and Hubs were already there, cracking jokes, as we do in times of stress. When his name was called, we followed Hubs to be weighed (offered to get on the scale with him), have his blood pressure taken, and then into the World’s Smallest Exam Room, where his sister and I took the two chairs and made Hubs sit on the exam table. Seemed fair.

My SIL fired up her laptop. I got out my notepad. Dr. W entered the room. The rest is this mash-up of information chunks; pieces of stuff we knew like the type of lymphoma – Diffuse B-Cell Large Cell Lymphoma (Non-Hodgkin); pieces of information we didn’t know – Stage 3 or Stage 4 due to potential lung involvement and upper abdominal involvement.

Hubs will still have the MUGA scan Thursday to make sure his heart can withstand the selected chemo regimen (R-CHOP), but it will now be preceded by a bone marrow biopsy to check for cancer in his bone marrow.

Chemotherapy will start Friday, as the course will be the same whether the marrow is involved or not. However, the Rituxan will be given Monday in this first round to watch for allergic reaction, and also to allow for time for the bone marrow results to come in—a long-acting form of Neupogen, called Neulasta, will be given with chemo if the bone marrow is involved, in order to keep his white blood cell counts up.

How was your Monday?

Related articles by Zemanta

• Bone Marrow Biopsy (findmeacure.com)
• Biomedical Researchers Create Artificial Human Bone Marrow In A Test Tube (lockergnome.com)
• Stem Cells And Leukemia Battle For Marrow Microenvironment (medicalnewstoday.com)
• High (>70%) Rates of Complete Remission (CR) Utilizing Zevalin Radio-Immunotherapy (RIT) in Treatment of Newly Diagnosed or Relapsed or Refractory Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma (oncoblog.com)

Comments

[Velma]

Blerg. This totally sucketh.

[Ariel]

It may not be hereditary, but members of the same family may have all been exposed to an environmental pollutant or virus that made them more susceptible to lymphoma. My uncle and a longtime co-worker of his both were diagnosed with lymphoma around the same time, which seemed very strange, but they had both spent a long time around solvents associated with painting, printing and photography.

My uncle is healthy now, btw. Modern medicine can be pretty awesome.

[califmom]

That's what we're thinking. Two siblings out of 6, plus one parent,certainly leads one to wonder what genetic/environmental factors areinvolved.

[califmom]

Pretty much. Yep. Inspiring some stellar migraines this past week or so.

[Emily/mogrifette]

Oh, I'm so, so sorry! Keeping you guys in my thoughts.

[emmajames]

Fuck cancer. Fuckety fuck, fuck, fuck.

[Heather]

Same basic type my grandfather had except his was of the liver--(he was very old and they caught it very late because he had an idiot for a doctor who never checked for anything even though he was very sick--it wasn't caught until he ended up with a different doctor, in a different hospital in the ICU--just FYI). Thing is he used TONS of known carcinogen, very dangerous pesticides with his bare hands while gardening--which is pretty much all he did once he quit smoking and drinking. So, not really any comfort there so I will just shut my mouth now.

All kinds of horribleness. On a diferent note, how are the kids? I SO wish we lived near you all and your kids could come hang with mine and play lots of video games or something to distract them from all this.

[diana (hahamommy)]

get him a medical card! sign YOU up as caregiver :) You'll both deserve it, as well as need it!and if you've got a milking human nearby, you might hit her up for some donations, too (though that's for hubby, I don't know if it'd help you ;))get your nails done. while you cry. it helped me a lot :)

[Traci G]

What the hell Leah, I was up for the "Shittiest Month Ever" award but you've just blown me out of the water. Are you going to twirl a flaming baton now to clinch it for sure? Nice friend you are!

[Meg E]

Shit.

I am so sorry.

The offer of food, babysitting, getting another pedi together (my treat) still stands.

And prayers.

Still. Shit.

[karen polinsky]

In the nicest way ever - you're making me want to throw up. Oh honey. This is a nightmare and I truly wish I could pinch you to wake you up.K.

[inga]

So so so sorry to hear the news. it totally sucks. And is surreal (as you wrote last week). I am trying to comprehend this... and sending massive waves of positive thoughts and hopes toward you and H/B and Boychild and Girlchild (their blog synonyms escape me right now).

I don't pray, but I can send you good vibes and my wishes that things get better soon for your H/B and for his treatment to be successful... What do you need right now? Childcare? Someone to come clean house with you? Someone to clean house while you drink cosmos?

Inga

[Summer]

Wow, that's just so much! Hoping for some good results

[TheOrganicSister]

Sending you hugs. No chance the Dr has a sick sense of humor for April 1st? :(

[Maija Haavisto]

Well, at least with lymphoma stage doesn't matter nearly as much as with most other cancers... It's still well curable. Most stage 3 and 4 cancers aren't. The treatment will most likely suck balls, but at least his chances of recovery are very good.

Wishing you the best.

[Bill Warner]

For a simpler easy way to floss, try a Gripit Floss Holder - www.gripit.biz. These handy devices come with their own floss supply that can be refilled from local drug and grocery stores.

[tom thomas]

mumpfh. :(

[T@SendChocolate]

.... no words. Hugs. And tequila.

T.

[GeekMommy]

"but, it’s not hereditary" - really? I was under the impression that it could be genetically predisposed they just hadn't tagged the triggers yet?

That said... I know it's not the stage you were looking for - but I'm just so glad that the deal is "okay, let's start treating this" rather than "nothing we can do here."

You guys have not been far from my thoughts since you found out... Much love to your whole family.

[califmom]

Thanks, lady. It means the world to me to have you all keeping us in your thoughts and prayers. I swear that's what props my butt up every day.

[Jen]

sending you good thoughts and looking for tequila coupons...

[Justine]

Cancer needs to just go fuck itself already.

Stay strong, dudes, I know you will. Lots of positive thoughts and internet hugs coming your way.

[califmom]

Thanks, lady. These cross-pond vibes should work like super-powers, right?