The Big C

And now the latest “big C” update for anyone who missed my news. I finally have a better (tho still incomplete) diagnosis. Today’s PET-scan will provide stage and spread of the disease. The gobbledygook title is Non-Hodgkin’s Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma.

It is in my back where the lymph nodes are enlarged (no wonder I have an achy breaky back.) It is pushing my organs forward on top of having what is considered a big fibroid between my uterus and ovary (PET will say if that’s cancer or not). That’s why I look pregnant.

So today is the PET, Thursday I go to “cancer college” to learn what to expect, Friday I get a port surgically inserted in my chest (makes for easier chemo drug insertion without getting fresh IV’s every visit), and Tuesday is first of 6 to 8 treatments of Chemo.

With 3 weeks between treatments, I should be done early Feb. or mid to late March. And thanks to Elaine mentioning this . . . I go to the dentist on Saturday for my pushed up 6 month cleaning (can’t do that while under treatment . . . thanks for the pointer, Elaine . . . they don’t tell you everything!). So it’s a busy next several days.

I probably won’t make WA next week. And I submitted the leave of absence request to the library . . . I’ll have to see how I feel later on, and see if they’ll let me work the back room (checking books in) in the very near future. Basil called this morning telling me he had and beat the same cancer. He suggested I wear a mask at work . . . I suppose it’s a possibility (mask and wig . . . .hmmm, I might start a new fashion fad in North Aurora).

One big OY. But maybe for my next birthday (next March) I’ll have the best gift to receive . . . .remission.