Super Froggy--Cancer part 2-update: finally port-free

[chunkyfrog]

I noticed a lump on the right side of my neck in January.
Since then, it's been ultrasound, wait, more ultrasound, wait some more,
contrast ct scan of my neck; and finally a needle biopsy of the lump.
The doc says, "Classic Hodgkin's Lymphoma", and refers me to an oncologist.
Last week, I had a full body, head to toe PET scan.
I got the results today--it is confined to lymph nodes in the right side of my neck,
making it stage 1A. Lucky me. Really.
They still want the entire node, (for the colorful microscope slides),
so I go in for that in a couple of weeks--and I get a port, too.
No date yet for first chemo, but I already have a pixie cut-
-so I won't cry when it falls out. (But I may cuss if it doesn't)
I hate short hair--it makes me look like Charlie Brown.

[zonker]

I noticed a lump on the right side of my neck in January.

oh sweetheart, i'm so sorry.

[chunkyfrog]

I noticed a lump on the right side of my neck in January.

oh sweetheart, i'm so sorry.

I was so worried the last few months--no knowing.
Now that I KNOW, and finally have a path forward, I feel much better.
My doctors are both very optimistic, as this kind is the "easiest to treat."
I guess my being a worry wart worked in my favor--
as I never let them put me in a corner.

[zonker]

I noticed a lump on the right side of my neck in January.

oh sweetheart, i'm so sorry.

I was so worried the last few months--no knowing.
Now that I KNOW, and finally have a path forward, I feel much better.
My doctors are both very optimistic, as this kind is the "easiest to treat."
I guess my being a worry wart worked in my favor--
as I never let them put me in a corner.

GOOD!! as they say F%$K cancer.

i don't want you gone, i want you here making snarky comments!

[Julie]

Oh hell, really? I know you'll sail through, but the rest of us are not so good about such things... is it related to your other thing of 2(?) yrs ago?

[chunkyfrog]

Oh hell, really? I know you'll sail through, but the rest of us are not so good about such things... is it related to your other thing of 2(?) yrs ago?

The breast cancer was six (6) years ago--and no connection at all, or so I'm told.

[Deborah K.]

I'm so sorry about your cancer! I had uterine cancer this year, a hysterectomy, and then lots of radiation. It's a bear, isn't it? Most of us actually come through this just fine. I'll be praying for you as you face treatment.

[Julie]

6 yrs? Doesn't seem that long from here, but anyhow glad they're not connected.

Will you (or someone) keep us up to date please?

Need our daily dose of Froggy!

I presume you'll be admitted - not a day care thing?

[chunkyfrog]

Outpatient for the node excision and the port implant.
On the 25th--in and out the same day.
The instructions say to bring my cpap for post-surgery recovery.
The hospital is about a mile and a half from the house.
Edit: When the nurse called with pre-op instructions, she said not to bring the cpap.
My anesthetic will be "MAC", more like what I had during my colonoscopies.

[Julie]

Do you think you'll bother, considering the time involved?

[Grace~~~]

Sending you positive, calm strong thoughts CF.

I am so sorry that you've had to wait from January to mid August. Why couldn't this have been done in days?

I too am in a constant battle for medical treatment during this COVID madness. I am constantly having to recenter myself, ignore the obstacles and push on outside any comfort zone of basic politeness. I would NEVER have been able to navigate this when I was first diagnosed.

When someone as competent as you has to wait so long there are surely many thousands dying needlessly from lack of care.
Hair schmair ... it will come back! With everyone wearing masks a head scarf doesn't even hit the radar in these times.



Best,
~~~grace

[palerider]

Do you think you'll bother, considering the time involved?

It would be so nice if you'd learn to hit the 'quote' (") button instead of reply, or do you just like having people trying to guess what you're referring to.

If you're asking if the most excellent Mrs Frog would "bother" to do something that she was medically advised to do in order to make her recovery after the procedure better, my guess would be "Of course".

[chunkyfrog]

I think she was being ironic . . .
Besides, a mile and a half was walking distance a few years (and pounds) ago.

[chunkyfrog]

. . .
Why couldn't this have been done in days?
. . .

SOP: wait and see for swollen nodes with no other symptoms.
They waited; while I became a pest.
I am not one to wait for "other symptoms".
They gave ME the choice between another ultrasound and a needle biopsy.
Probably hoping I would chicken out until the nasty stuff happens.
No, thank you. I consider myself a badass.

[Pugsy]

My guess is the "bring cpap" is more of a just in case thing for any out patient procedure.
It's just in case something happens and you do end up staying over night for some reason or other.
I would bring it and have it handy and make sure whomever is with you knows the routine...and then you won't need it.
That's the way it has been for every out patient procedure I have had...and never needed to stay overnight but you never know so they want to cover potential problems ahead of time....just in case.

You don't want them hunting for a cpap machine at bedtime from their inventory of dinosaur cpap machines with no humidifiers.....and it won't be near as nice as yours and their mask will suck.

They may or may not want or need it immediately post procedure. Most likely not. Generally people wake up quickly and stay awake easily. During the procedure itself...you will be very closely watched by all sorts of gadgets and people so it won't be needed during the procedure.

Bummer you have to go through this but you are one tough frog and you can handle it.
I hate to hear it though. Sending you a big hug.