Update 4/5/17
Hi all.
Boy, I don't know how people work for a living and keep up with everything when all this hits. It has felt like something of a hurricane. Emotionally I feel right in the peaceful eye but there are so many calls and appointments and procedures...
Monday was one heck of a long day, waiting to meet with an oncologist to learn the results of the more extensive biopsy of lymph nodes from under my chin and behind my right ear. And the results of the PET scan to see where the cancer is in my body. I think the day was hardest on my sweet husband who was alone working on the house most of the day. I had an interesting day going to get a medical marijuana license and meeting a dear friend at a dispensary in Santa Ana. I have learned that CBD and even THC from marijuana isn't just for nausea and to increase appetite in people going through chemo. There are cancer fighting properties too. The more I read, the more interesting this becomes. I am excited to have an appointment with a very highly Stanford trained pathologist who is now working with this therapeutically in Colorado. We are going out there in a couple weeks for a planned trip and she was able to fit me in.
The pathology report on the lymph nodes wasn't there. Grrrr. They promised. But they were able to get the PET scan report and the cancer seems to be right where I have noticed swollen lymph nodes and nowhere else (we won't know about in the bones until later). The great news: none in any organs. The swollen lymph nodes are small which probably indicates we caught this early (thank you for the bloody noses that prompted the visit to the ENT, Lord!)
Tomorrow I will go in to the same surgery center as we went to for the biopsies last week, for a bone marrow biopsy. This is the only way for them to see if it is in my bones. Boy, I wish they could have done this last week when I was under general anesthesia but this medical system - it doesn't work very logically or efficiently like that. Then an echocardiogram which is necessary in case we decide to start chemo.
I spent an hour on the phone with City of Hope yesterday morning. The oncologist wants us to go up there and meet with a particular lymphoma specialist who is "the expert that trains the experts." I have T Cell Lymphoma (we don't know what exact kind yet). The oncologist indicated he only sees about 1 case a year of T Cell (versus B Cell), which is why he wanted us to go to City of Hope where they see much more of it. Waiting for a call back from the scheduling nurse. He already indicated I will need chemo and radiation according to the conventional protocols.
Next week I will go down to Mexico with my sister to check out the Hoxsey Clinic where she has been treated for the past 3 years without chemo for Breast Cancer. She has several friends who have been successfully treated there as well and has a lot of confidence in them.
For now, I am working on getting my body more alkaline and I tried a very small amount of the CBD/THC laced chocolate (like less than 5 mg) before bed and felt nothing. It is 4 am and this is the first time in about a week I have had any trouble sleeping. Who knows if there is any relationship. I am avoiding sugar and am working at getting more organic vegetables into my diet.
Thanks for all the love! I find myself constantly wishing that everyone had the kind of love and support I have. God bless and keep you.
Boy, I don't know how people work for a living and keep up with everything when all this hits. It has felt like something of a hurricane. Emotionally I feel right in the peaceful eye but there are so many calls and appointments and procedures...
Monday was one heck of a long day, waiting to meet with an oncologist to learn the results of the more extensive biopsy of lymph nodes from under my chin and behind my right ear. And the results of the PET scan to see where the cancer is in my body. I think the day was hardest on my sweet husband who was alone working on the house most of the day. I had an interesting day going to get a medical marijuana license and meeting a dear friend at a dispensary in Santa Ana. I have learned that CBD and even THC from marijuana isn't just for nausea and to increase appetite in people going through chemo. There are cancer fighting properties too. The more I read, the more interesting this becomes. I am excited to have an appointment with a very highly Stanford trained pathologist who is now working with this therapeutically in Colorado. We are going out there in a couple weeks for a planned trip and she was able to fit me in.
The pathology report on the lymph nodes wasn't there. Grrrr. They promised. But they were able to get the PET scan report and the cancer seems to be right where I have noticed swollen lymph nodes and nowhere else (we won't know about in the bones until later). The great news: none in any organs. The swollen lymph nodes are small which probably indicates we caught this early (thank you for the bloody noses that prompted the visit to the ENT, Lord!)
Tomorrow I will go in to the same surgery center as we went to for the biopsies last week, for a bone marrow biopsy. This is the only way for them to see if it is in my bones. Boy, I wish they could have done this last week when I was under general anesthesia but this medical system - it doesn't work very logically or efficiently like that. Then an echocardiogram which is necessary in case we decide to start chemo.
I spent an hour on the phone with City of Hope yesterday morning. The oncologist wants us to go up there and meet with a particular lymphoma specialist who is "the expert that trains the experts." I have T Cell Lymphoma (we don't know what exact kind yet). The oncologist indicated he only sees about 1 case a year of T Cell (versus B Cell), which is why he wanted us to go to City of Hope where they see much more of it. Waiting for a call back from the scheduling nurse. He already indicated I will need chemo and radiation according to the conventional protocols.
Next week I will go down to Mexico with my sister to check out the Hoxsey Clinic where she has been treated for the past 3 years without chemo for Breast Cancer. She has several friends who have been successfully treated there as well and has a lot of confidence in them.
For now, I am working on getting my body more alkaline and I tried a very small amount of the CBD/THC laced chocolate (like less than 5 mg) before bed and felt nothing. It is 4 am and this is the first time in about a week I have had any trouble sleeping. Who knows if there is any relationship. I am avoiding sugar and am working at getting more organic vegetables into my diet.
Thanks for all the love! I find myself constantly wishing that everyone had the kind of love and support I have. God bless and keep you.
Lord, give Cathie peace of mind on this path of healing and confidence in her and Andy's choice of direction.
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