There’s “meh” news…and there’s good news.
The “Meh” News…
My mother has Follicular Lymphoma, also known as Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma.
The Good News…
Aside from the existing nodules in her neck, the CAT scan found only one other nodule, in the region of the para-aorta. In all other respects, she is in excellent health. All her organs are functioning normally and clearly, and her blood pressure was excellent enough to surprise the nurse.
In short, we’ve gone from crisis mode to chronic/observation mode.
My mom won’t require chemotherapy or radiotherapy…if the nodules remain stable, she might not require treatment of any kind for 3 years, 5 years…or even longer. The oncologist (a nice man who made my mother feel very reassured and happy) told her that he had one paitent who went without needing any kind of treatment for over 20 years! Chemo would actually damage her far more than dormant cancer nodules.
The nodules aren’t considered dangerous unless they grow over 2 centimeters in diameter. One such nodule was already removed during the biopsy, and the one near the aorta is about 1.9 cm, which will bear watching.
Otherwise, my mom will receive regular testing and exams, as well as more blood work, and a bone marrow test to make sure she’s clean in that region.
It’s a new normal…but it’s a stable, healthy, observable normal. And, as the oncologist pointed out, in 5 years time, research could develop a pill that could destroy it completely!
My mother is in a near-total state of collapse and relief. Frankly, I’m not far behind. No one should have to go through this…but it seems our long family night of the soul is coming to an end. There’s a future to plan for once more…no reason to put everything on hold.
Now, if you’ll excuse me, at this very moment, I plan to take a bath and get stupidly tipsy on what remains in the wine bottle chilling in my fridge!
