Meeting with the docs

The Fellow reviewed my medical history and examined me. We discussed my original cancer and my newest accomplishment - non-Hodgkin lymphoma. We discussed my recent surgeries and my first rituxan treatment. He was very nice and bright. Los of empathy. This guy is gonna make a great oncologist. He explained he would now go and discuss what he had learned about me with oncologist #1 (ok, I just don't want to mention their names, at least not now) and then they would both come to talk with us. Maybe 15 minutes later, both doctors join us. Onc #1 agreed all of my diagnostic materials would be read by pathologists specializing in lymphoma. He said they are some of the best in the world. Samples from both my original cancer, and my new one would be examined and the diagnoses would either be confirmed or revised. They hope to have this information for me sometime next week. Goal #1 has now been accomplished. We discussed so many things there is no way I can include them here - nor would I risk boring you to tears (too late, you say?). Bottom line, while everyone continues to express optimism there are many possible very bad things that could happen (yes Carole, I know - or will not happen). They include: my Hodgkin's could relapse, my non-Hodgkin could prove non-responsive to the rituxan or it could become refractory to it, the non-Hodgkin could progress. Or none of the above. Holy crap! Try getting your head around all of that! So, the quest to understand (and therefore gain some kind of imaginary control over my life) begins again. Let me tell you - Hodgkin lymphoma was MUCH easier to understand than is this new beast. I WILL get my head around it though. Time for another break.