Background – Discovery Through Chemo

As some know, I have been having problems with asthma symptoms for the last couple of years.  While traveling to Ohio for Christmas I came down with a cold that I mostly kicked.  Once home I did not feel sick, but I never was not 100%.

After a month or more of not 100% I went to the asthma Doc to find out what I could do to improve my asthma symptoms.  He indicated that my lung capacity was below 50% for large airway functions compared to average people, and my small airway was below 35% of normal.  This is possible after a cold so the doctor prescribed some meds to knock the remainder of the inflammation out.  After a quick dose of prednisone I was feeling much better, but a week-and-a-half later when I went in to evaluate possible allergens my airways were still below 60%.

Since the allergist/asthmatist was always asserting that the primary reason for asthma flair-ups was viruses, I went to my primary Doc to see if I had mono or some other stubborn virus.  As part of her quick check she was listening to my lungs and found that my right side had very limited lung sounds.  After a quick x-ray on Thursday we found that I had  a large mass in my right chest cavity putting pressure on my diaphragm completely suppressing my right lung function.

Sunday I went in for a CT with contrast which determined that there was a chest cavity full of fluid and my tumor was 11.5 X 11 X 9.5 cm behind my breast bone.  My primary care Doc spent Monday arranging for specialists and surgeons while I had a blood panel drawn.  Tuesday I was in with my doc in the morning and the thoracic surgeon in the afternoon.  With review of the CT he determined that it was more than likely lymphoma and that it was wrapped around my superior vena cava (SVC, the one that returns blood from the upper extremities and brain) restricting blood flow to 10-15% so we needed to get moving.

Wednesday I was in the hospital for a biopsy.  Because of the SVC restriction my surgeon was reluctant to release me so I was kept for observation (and plenty of blood letting) for the remainder of the week.  When the biopsy came back it was not exactly what they had expected so it was theorized that the tumor could have been related to some odd type of fungal infection so they ordered tons of tests for fungi, hence the bloodletting and visits from three different infectious disease specialists.  Once all of those came back and there was further review of the biopsy it was determined that it was simply a more fibrous version of Hodgkin’s lymphoma then they were used to seeing.

After a discussion with my new oncologist I was determined to be healthy enough to survive the weekend at home on my own (with tons of family and friends).  Monday I was in for a PET CT and then immediately walked upstairs for my port placement.  A port makes it possible for them to quickly draw blood or push IVs without having to stick me anymore.

The Tuesday appointment was good because they determined my PET scan was clean so I was out of the marrow draw he had planned and I was classified Stage II, bulky (due to the size).  The oncologist made a previous statement that my type of tumor was 90% curable should no complications come up since I was so “healthy”, and this was the first indication of no complications.  It was also beneficial to get my chemo started immediately to stop the tumor from progressing and restricting my blood flow any further.  So that day I was put on my first chemo therapy.  I am now on my way to being healthy by being sick feeling for roughly four months.

That should sum it up for now and the blog will carry on from here…