WEDNESDAY JUNE 19, 2019
Well...good or bad, today we received the information we have been waiting for.
Chris had his PET scan first thing this morning. He no sooner arrived back in the room and one of he hospital proceduralists was prepping the room for his bone marrow biopsy. It took two attempts, but the bone marrow biopsy was successful, and the lab obtained everything they needed.
Within an our of the bone marrow biopsy finishing up, Chris was being prepped for his lumbar puncture. During the puncture. the proceduralist removed some of Chris's spinal fluid in order to test it and see if there are any lymphoma cells in the CSF. Since access to the spinal fluid is not the easiest thing to obtain, a dose of Methotrexate was put into his CSF prophylactically. If Chris does end up having the lymphoma cells in his CSF, he would need to get the Methotrexate once during each round of treatment.
We should here the results of the biopsy and the spinal tap tomorrow.
Now for the harder part.....
Later in the afternoon, Dr. Shah came to talk to us regarding the results of the numerous diagnostic tests Chris already had done. Based on all the information gathered Chris has Stage 4 Non Hodgkins B-Cell Lymphoma (Diffuse Large B-cell Lymphoma). Based on the PET scan, Chris's bones and bone marrow are heavily involved in the cancer as well as his liver and spleen. Given the numerous areas of the body that have already been penetrated by the cancer and the amount of pain Chris has had as a result, I feel like we were not completely taken off guard by this diagnosis. It was clear from the beginning that whatever he was dealing with was extremely aggressive and extremely invasive.
In addition to just having Diffuse large B-cell Lymphoma, Chris's cancer is also MYC positive. The fact that he is MYC positive changes the chemo regimen from is know as R-CHOP to R-EPOCH. The development of a positive MYC test just means the cancer is more difficult to cure.
Now that we finally have some answers, Chris has begun his first cycle of chemo this evening. As of yet, he has not had any significant side effects.
I realize that some of the details are a bit vague, but I will elaborate more in my next update. Today has just been overwhelming and I'm falling asleep writing it.
Thank you again to everyone that has reached out and offered a helping hand. Although the diagnosis is not what we wanted to hear, it did not completely shock us either. Chris is staying realistically positive, and is ready to kick this cancer to the curb.
V
Well...good or bad, today we received the information we have been waiting for.
Chris had his PET scan first thing this morning. He no sooner arrived back in the room and one of he hospital proceduralists was prepping the room for his bone marrow biopsy. It took two attempts, but the bone marrow biopsy was successful, and the lab obtained everything they needed.
Within an our of the bone marrow biopsy finishing up, Chris was being prepped for his lumbar puncture. During the puncture. the proceduralist removed some of Chris's spinal fluid in order to test it and see if there are any lymphoma cells in the CSF. Since access to the spinal fluid is not the easiest thing to obtain, a dose of Methotrexate was put into his CSF prophylactically. If Chris does end up having the lymphoma cells in his CSF, he would need to get the Methotrexate once during each round of treatment.
We should here the results of the biopsy and the spinal tap tomorrow.
Now for the harder part.....
Later in the afternoon, Dr. Shah came to talk to us regarding the results of the numerous diagnostic tests Chris already had done. Based on all the information gathered Chris has Stage 4 Non Hodgkins B-Cell Lymphoma (Diffuse Large B-cell Lymphoma). Based on the PET scan, Chris's bones and bone marrow are heavily involved in the cancer as well as his liver and spleen. Given the numerous areas of the body that have already been penetrated by the cancer and the amount of pain Chris has had as a result, I feel like we were not completely taken off guard by this diagnosis. It was clear from the beginning that whatever he was dealing with was extremely aggressive and extremely invasive.
In addition to just having Diffuse large B-cell Lymphoma, Chris's cancer is also MYC positive. The fact that he is MYC positive changes the chemo regimen from is know as R-CHOP to R-EPOCH. The development of a positive MYC test just means the cancer is more difficult to cure.
Now that we finally have some answers, Chris has begun his first cycle of chemo this evening. As of yet, he has not had any significant side effects.
I realize that some of the details are a bit vague, but I will elaborate more in my next update. Today has just been overwhelming and I'm falling asleep writing it.
Thank you again to everyone that has reached out and offered a helping hand. Although the diagnosis is not what we wanted to hear, it did not completely shock us either. Chris is staying realistically positive, and is ready to kick this cancer to the curb.
V
My thoughts are with you guys during this difficult time. I love seeing your positivity and outlook for the future! Stay stong! -Emme
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