Hi

[Helen Reddy]

When I have more time later, all these threads will be read. My apologies in advance for jumping right in and talking about me, me me.

Just found out yesterday, my hunni bunni has lymphoma. She was looking gaunt as of late, losing weight and basically looked as though the blood was drained literally from her body.

She scored a whopping 3 on her red blood count when normally it's around 13. She was given 6 bags of blood, she had an endoscopy, a colonoscopy and finally a bone marrow biopsy. Even hunni bunni overheard the staff discussing how her blood "didn't look right...even in the vile....". What the heck does that mean?

So, she is coming home today and we will be going to the oncologist in Madison next week.

I'm sure this news hasn't sunk in yet. I'm in shock, I'm numb.

Thank you for listening.

[sinkingfeeling]

1. Any type of cancer is a shock. Welcome.

[Irishonly]

2. Welcome to the group

You will find a lot of wisdom and love here. I always say hearing the word cancer is worse than getting hit in the stomach with a tank. Ask all of the questions you want-someone usually has the answer or can put you on track to find out.

[slipslidingaway]

3. Sorry you and your loved one had to join this club ...

hopefully you'll find a great hematologist/oncologist and the treatment will be able to manage the disease without too many complications.

My husband was originally diagnosed with a high risk form of MDS which progressed to acute myeloid leukemia and then had a bone marrow transplant.

This site has some good information ...
http://www.lls.org/#/diseaseinformation/lymphoma/

Wishing you the best!

[Helen Reddy]

4. Thank You All!

Indeed! Her oncologist is in Madison, not too far from where we live, who also has a good reputation of knowledge and awesome bed-side manner.

G was suppose to come home yesterday morning but her blood count had fallen from 8.2 down to 6.9. So 6 hours later for 2 more bags o'blood she finally came home. Yay!

The mass is on her spleen so in light of the possibility it needs removal, they gave her a flu shot, pneumonia shot since her body will not fend off germs and virus' as easily. (as most of you know)

Two days after the news, actually knowing now what is going on, there is a sense of relief. G looked so pale for so long, she has a bit of color now. The ONLY thing that upset me was.....doctor told G the news with our daughter in the room. No warning, no pulling me aside and asking if spilling the beans was okay. Luckily, our 12 year old is emotionally mature and not highly strung. She is laid back and contemplates issues methodically and unhurridly.

So many questions though:

Thank you for the link!

[Tab]

5. Our thoughts are with you

Not sure what they meant about not looking right "in the vial" - brown perhaps?

[Helen Reddy]

6. Not the color perse.

Her blood is not coagulating correctly. This "My Chart" is amazing eh? How many of us who have loved ones with health challenges spend too much time with this?

Thanks for the well wishes Tab.