Cancer Speak

Hi all,

I'd like to devote a couple of paragraphs to a question I received recently. It was put to me like this: "forgive my ignorance, but what exactly is an Oncologist?" Let me be the first to insist, ignorance is bliss, and when it comes to cancer, it need not be forgiven. I wish I hadn't the foggiest idea of what most of these terms meant, but since we have recently been thrown in the fire, I'll do my best to simplify.

I think the best way to approach this subject is to really describe Sarah's diagnoses. After all of the tests, the poking and prodding, the official label is Hodgkin's Lymphoma, stage 2 B.

Let's start with Lymphoma. This is a cancer originating from a type of white blood cell called lymphocytes. Sarah's specific blend was first described by Thomas Hodgkin in 1832. It's basically a cancer of the blood that spreads from lymph node to lymph node. It's also one of the first cancers to be cured by radiation therapy, and also by combination chemotherapy.

The severity of the cancer is depicted by the stage, which numbers 1 through 4. Sarah's cancer was discovered at stage 2, and thanks to the wonderful care she's receiving, it should never take another step forward. Stage 2 involves two or more lymph node regions on the same side of the diaphragm.

One of my recent posts was about the good news we recieved from the PET scan and the bone marrow biopsy. If the PET scan had showed additional suspect lymph nodes on the other side of the diaphragm, it would have been indicative of stage 3. If the bone marrow biopsy had shown cancer in the bone marrow we would have been facing stage four. Needless to say, we we're stoked about stage 2. Well, as much as one can be.

Now there is the matter of that pesky B, which unfortunately, despite all of our recent good news, insists on raining on our parade. "B" stands for bulky, and refers to the size of the growths in Sarah's chest. Any growth that exceeds 5 centimeters is considered bulky, and Sarah's measures around 8. When the growths get to be this size, it does not matter what stage you are at, you are treated as a stage 4.

All of the good news we received was great for the soul, but has no effect on Sarah's treatment plan. I suppose it helped that we learned of this early on, so we were able to see the silver lining in it all, instead of the stormy weather ahead.

Every day we are learning. We are digesting information and assimilating it in to our lives. We take the good with the bad, and we take it in stride. This in great part due to the support we are receiving from all of you, and it means the world to us.

Thank you all for the love and support,

Dan


P.S. An Oncologist is a cancer specialist. Almost left you guys hanging on that one.