Today I Met With The Lymphoma Specialist

 

I'll keep this post short and to the point.  We traveled to Indianapolis today to meet with the Lymphoma specialist Dr. Robertson.  Let me just say that I didn't like being there.  At all.  Don't get me wrong, it was a very nice building and office.  What I didn't like was seeing all the people in wheelchairs, people with bandana's or hats on their head, people that appeared to not be doing very well.  I haven't seen this in Evansville, but then again most everyone at IU medical center is their because they have been referred by another doctor.  Reality kicked me in the gut that's for sure. 

 

The news I received today wasn't all bad.  He told us that he couldn't say just from the PET scan or my file or my enlarged lymph node what was going on.  He said that it could be active Hodgkins.  He also said that it might be that my lymph nodes are reactive, or in other words having an inflammatory response as a result of chemotherapy.  He just doesn't know without a biopsy.  If it is reactive, then the lymph node should go back to normal size on its own in a few weeks.  Dr. Robertson agreed that my results are uncommon, but he has seen it before, and he has had some patients that it was simply a reactive response.  

 

So, I have two options.  I can wait a few weeks and see what happens with the lymph node.  If it doesn't decrease in size, then I will need to have another excisional biopsy.  Option two is to just go ahead and do the biopsy.  Obviously the biopsy requires surgery, and since it is on my neck the risk involved is a concern.   

 

I don't know anymore now than I did at 8:00 this morning.  All I know is that I have two options.  I really wanted him to tell me exactly what to do, but he didn't.  He was strongly suggesting that I wait and see.  I have an appointment with Dr. Stephens next week and I will discuss my options with him.  I don't think I want to wait.  I want to know what the $%^& is going on, or not going on.  We briefly discussed what the next step would be if it turns out I still have active Hodgkins.  He didn't even mention the word radiation (that's what Dr. Stephens indicated was the next step).  What he did mention was a stem cell transplant. 

 

Let's all pray that it's nothing.  A stem cell transplant just doesn't sound like fun to me.