Thinking of you today ~ wondering if you have heard any news yet......

Glad everything went smoothly... let us know as soon as you find out, love!

I'm so glad that everything went well. I'm still thinkin about you.

:grouphug: Here's an enormous hug for you and Lorraine :grouphug:
Lots and lots of love!

:merry: Dear Sarah,my God pour his blessings on you and your family.You are loved.

Heya Sarah, I hope that your weekend is going as well as can be expected. Just wanted to let you know that I am thinking about you. I'm worried about you since it has been a couple of days. Take care the best you can. I'm missing you.

Ok, I've got a diagnosis
 

:wave: Hello, everybody! Ok, I've got a diagnosis. I have Lymphoma, and I'll need to start treatment right away. It's Hodgkins Disease, which is really good news if you're going to get diagnosed with Lymphoma. Lymphoma is divided into two groups, Hodgkins and Non-Hodgkins, and the prognosis for the Hodgkins is much better. I have a 68% chance of living for more than 15 years with Hodgkins Disease, vs. 38% with Non-Hodgkins.

So far we've established that it's Hodgkins, Mixed Cellular (the type, within the category of Hodgkins Lymphoma -- and it's not a good one to have but I'm not going to concentrate on that.) The next step is to find out what stage I'm in and that will dictate what my specific treatment will be. That will involve another CAT scan and almost certainly a bone marrow biopsy....and the treatment will almost certainly be chemo and radiation.

It's going to be a hard road, but overall I'm relieved to find out that it's this form of Lymphona. It's so much rarer than Non-Hodgkins, it really was a long shot. (Around 7000 cases annually, vs. 53,000.)

So be happy for me because while it completely sucks that I have cancer and will have to go through this, I got the lesser of some different evils. 4 kinds of Hodgkins vs. around 30 kinds of Non-Hodgkins.

I'm at once grateful and terrified. But I'll be ok. We'll both be ok, Lorraine and I. I've selected an oncologist out of Johns Hopkins -- the best in my area -- and we will meet him next week. I'm to expect things to happen really rapidly from here on out. I'll keep you posted, once I know what we're doing and when, I'll know more about whether I'll start disability or what. I'll need to maintain my benefits, so working part-time -- even if it's an option -- may not be an option. Once I get started with the oncologist, a "team" will be established which will include a social worker (and a dietition, YAY!) and he or she will help me with the insurance and financial gobbledygook.

Thank you all again for all of your support....you are all amazing to me and I consider all of your good wishes and prayers key in my getting diagnosed with the best of the possible evils. Lorraine wants me to thank you all as well for all of your support and kindness. :)

this is very strange to be saying, but CONGRATULATIONS!!!! you have a path. a diagnosis. and treatments. and going to hopkins... you really can't do better than that. i don't know of anyone who has died from hodgkins... treatment hasn't been easy for any of them, but they've all come out the other side... and done very well. one of them got curlier hair afterwards for some reason...

soooo. you're going to keep us posted every step of the way, aren't you???? and vent, right? and lorraine is welcome as well [has she figured that out yet???? really - it's ok.. ]

hurry hurry hurry... get everything in motion so that you can get well sooner....

Its good to hear from you!! It is also good to know that you have a diagnosis, and that you have some of the best medical team members in the country treating you. You are going to be OK! It won't be the easiest thing but I'm telling you, you're going to beat it! We're here for you and try to relax some. I know that will be tough, but I know you can do it. You are going to need alot of energy and strength.

Love to you and Lorraine.

Sarah, thanks so much for sharing this with all of us. We can only imagine what you are going through and would like to support you as much as possible. I'm so glad to hear that it was the lesser of evils, it sounds like your medical support is going to be amazing. Keep up that positive spirit, it will really help in the long run, you can be sure of that. Best wishes and love!

Sarah, you are such a pillar of strength and such a wonderful role model. After saying that, I was estatic to look back here and see that you had posted. I understand that you have a really hard haul ahead of you, but I have all the faith in the world that you are going to beat this! I shed tears for you knowing that what you are going to have to go through to beat this is really going to be tough. I'm happy that although the diagnosis sucks it is better than the alternatives. I'm glad to hear that you will be getting care at Johns Hopkins, I have heard so many good things about their work. It sounds that you have found a little bit of peace. I hope that is the case. You go girl! You are going to win this! Love ya Sarah.

Sarah,

Thank you for sharing with us how you are doing. I can only imagine..... I'm not very good with words, just wanted you to know that thoughts and prayers are still coming your way for you and Lorraine.

Take care

Hi Sarah
 

Hi, I'm Joanne. I usually post on the depression board. I was looking at another thread when I came upon your post about being diagosed with Hodgkin's Lymphoma. I'm sorry to hear about your illness. My brother is an 11 year survivor of NON-Hodgkin's Lymphoma. Like you, he had access to some of the best medical care in the world (in Boston), and his outcome was wonderful. He's doing well now, by the grace of GOD, and the help of some great doctors. I pray that you will have the same positive outcome, and that God will give you grace and strength through this difficult time. :grouphug:

Sarah -

Chica, you are a hero! You're so strong and optimist, we need people like you in the world. Send you all my healing vibes.

Jessica

Sarah, your positive attitude will get you through anything. Although you were dreading it, now you know your enemy, and you can fight that darn dragon and slay it. Please don't disappear during your fight, but let us be part of it. We're here to support people during good times and bad.

Many, many healing prayers. . .