Testing, testing …
Before I can start my chemotherapy treatment, I’ve been booked in for a number of other tests. As well as a battery of blood tests that I was given last week, I’ve had a bone marrow biopsy today to see if the cancer has spread there and tomorrow I’ll be undergoing a PET scan in Nottingham so that the extent of the lymphoma can be understood and staged. Stage I is the earliest, with stage IV being the most advanced. Due to the way that mantle cell lymphoma hides itself from the body’s immune system, I’ve been told to expect that I’m likely to have progressed to stage III or IV. Not good, but of itself it won’t affect the treatment regime I’ve been put onto.
I also have to go back to Derby for a MUGA scan on Friday – this will help in understanding whether my heart is likely to be up to the job of withstanding the treatment. I’m not expecting any nasty surprises, but then again, I wasn’t expecting a lymphoma diagnosis when I first went to my GP with the lump on the side of my neck in July.
The PET and MUGA scans both require a radioactive compound to be injected into me, so I expect that I might have a green glow around me by the weekend – just like the children on the old “Ready Brek” advertisement used to have.
The bone marrow biopsy certainly lived up to its billing of “uncomfortable”, and I may have let one or two naughty words slip out while it was being performed, for which I apologise to the nurse and doctor who looked after me. I’ll try not to be such a wimp next time around, but I know I make a rotten patient. Still, at least I’ll get a lot of practice over the next few weeks!
Remember to only use your Spidey senses for good not evil Mr Holyoake 😉 Thinking of you, thanks for sharing your journey and good luck with your results.
Thanks Donna. Not sure that I’ll get my Spider-Man wish … I think you need to be bitten by a radioactive spider to develop spider powers, not just have a couple of scans. Oh well 😉
Best wishes with your treatment Tim (hugs)
Good luck with your results Tim – I’ll include you in my prayers. I’ve followed your OU psych journey which was both helpful and entertaining (1 more module to go for me). Your name still frequently pops up on the 303 & 307 Facebook groups (especially around exam times) – so your brill notes are still working their magic for many many students. Its admirable that you’re choosing to share your health journey too – wishing you all the very best for your treatment x
Hi Tim, hope everthing goes well for you. Your notes have been a great help this year and last especially for the crammers amongst us and anything that reduces the amount I have to read about the social psychoanalytic appraoch is much appreciated!!
Im so sorry to hear your news. Your notes have been my revision companions throughout my OU journey and now im on the last leg with DD307; thank you!. I will be praying xx