Giving this blogging thing a try!

So with all that's going on in my life I thought I'd give blogging a try vs. emailing everyone updates on me.  So here it goes!

For those that didn't get an email a few weeks ago or did but are kinda lost here's a recap: August 23rd I went for my annual check up with my ob/gyn.  I am a firm believer in going in for these embarrassing but life saving check ups.  This was the beginning of something that would change my life forever.  The following week I went for an ultrasound and they found a large (10cm/4 inch) "mass" in my abdomen.  At the time they couldn't tell if it was in my uterus or not.  Either way I felt fine and to this day I still do.  The week after that I was scheduled to have a laparscopy to be able to look at this large mass up close and personal.  Well "it" was no where to be found. 

After receiving that news from Dr Milam, I was asked to go get a CT scan done because he knew what he felt and knew it was there but where?  Went for a CT Scan and a few days later received confirmation that it indeed was a mass aka tumor.  A scary word to hear to say the least.  From there he referred me to Dr. Miller a general surgeon at Condell.  Made my appt, met with him and he showed me the large mass through the CT scans.  Then on Oct 15th I was scheduled to have a biopsy done.  They wanted to remove a smaller lymph node near the larger tumor.  He said he should have results by that Tuesday.  I was getting antsy when Tuesday came and went but tried to remain positive thinking that maybe they were just double checking their work.

Thursday around noon is when I got the call and it wasn't what I expected.  I was told that I had stage II follicular lymphoma and that I needed to see an oncologist.  An oncologist?  Isn't that a cancer doctor?  Do I have cancer, seriously?  It took a while to sink in that it was just that, that I have cancer.  Something I never imagined would happen to me. 

A week went by and I made my way over to visit with my primary care physician to again be told that I have cancer.  Then from there I went to Northshore Oncology in Libertyville, met with Dr. Chung who so far has been a great doctor.  Being the research geek that I am I have been doing research and Non Hodgkin's Follicular Lymphoma is typically found in older people, men mind you so Dr. Chung was a bit baffled.  She asked that I get a series of test done as well as another CT scan because while feeling out my neck she discover a lymph node in my left side of my neck.  She asked how long I've had it and I said I wasn't sure.  I felt it but just assumed it was a muscle or a knot of some sort.  Didn't bother me now before but now it does! 

So since that initial appt I've had a PET scan done, another CT scan and the worse test ever was the bone marrow test.  Without further explanation I'd rather give birth...enough said.  Got the results from those three test and the lymphoma has been detected in my bone marrow.  :(

So here we are.... the next step is that I meet w/a follicular lymphoma specialist on Monday 11/22 at the University of Chicago and also to participate in some upcoming clinical trials then we'll discuss treatment.  The doctors are just baffled because again this type of cancer is found in men 60+ so it's strange that someone like me, 32 y.o. overall really healthy and feels great would have this.

Thank you to all my friends and family that have been keeping me in their thoughts and prayers.  I find that I am doing well and feel so much at peace with everything and it's all because of everyone's prayers, seriously.  I don't know why this is happening to me and I won't ask.  God is doing something bigger than anyone knows or can comprehend and it's for a good reason.