Ok, I'm gonna make this post short and sweet. Heard back from the doctor earlier this week regarding the Bone Marrow results.........it came back negative. hallelluljah, thank tha lawd! Doctor said my bone marrow looked "clean as a whistle"!
So, we go from one interesting experience (bone marrow biopsy) to another........my first visit to the Sperm Bank, or as immature children like myself tend to call it, the "Spank Bank". (Yea, most of you dudes are on the same page with me too, we're all children at heart!). You might be asking why I need to go to the "bank".......during chemo treatments, there's a strong chance that my boys might lose their potency. If I plan to keep the Diamond tradition alive and well, this is what I gotta do. I promise, I'm not gonna get descriptive. However, it was a real awkward environment with a lot of awkward "material". Needless to say, I got what I needed to get done, and those bad boys are frozen until its time to reproduce.
Oh yea, I'm actually heading back there this afternoon.......I can't get enough!! Hahaha, no, in all seriousness though, they recommend patients go a max of 3 times. I'm heading out to Relay of Life in Westlake later on to support Stevie Giallourakis and all the other cancer patients, survivors and supporters. Please, dont be shy, would love to see you guys there.
Later.
Friday, May 29, 2009
Monday, May 25, 2009
First visit to Oncologist....AND THE WORST PAIN OF MY LIFE!
Had my first appointment with the Oncologist (Dr Kindwall-Keller) on Tuesday 5/19. Very sweet lady, obviously seems to be very knowledgeable. She told me that based upon my PET Scan and CAT Scan that she only sees cancerous lymph nodes above the sternum, which is what we were hoping for. There are a few on the left side of my neck (where the biopsy was taken), a few in the front part of my neck and a few in my chest. Because all the cancer is above the sternum and my Hodgkins symptoms are very minor right now, Dr. Kindwall Keller has staged my cancer at 2A. She did however still need to take a bone marrow biopsy to make sure that hasn't been affected....she told me based upon how Hodgkins travels, my symptoms and my blood cell count, there's less than a 1% chance of my bone marrow being affected. She needed to do it because its standard procedure, and she mentioned some technical stuff about stem cell for future reference if needed. Still, I'm prayin daily that these tests come back negative!
It was now time for the bone marrow biopsy, I had heard that this wasn't the most pleasant procedure in the world, but wasn't expecting what was to come! Susan mentioned that she wanted to be in the room with me.......needless to say, I had my doubts about how she was going to handle it! First step - Dr gave me valium (this was the first time I ever took this drug.....psh, it sucked! No effect whatsoever!). Second step - she applied a local anaesthetic (talk about a complete waste). Mind you, I was laying on my stomach so she could inject the "needle" into the lower part of my back, just above my butt. Third step - "needle" injection. Yea right, the needle was more like an industrial corkscrew....felt like an elephant was sitting on my back pounding his foot into my back. During this process the Dr told me "Mike you have some of the strongest bones I've ever seen". Thanks Doc, so this means you can't get into my bone to get the marrow......I thought this was never gonna happen. She eventually got in and literally sucked out the marrow (weirdest feeling ever).
Oh yea, can't forget to mention that as all this was going on, my dear, sweet girlfriend was holding my hand and rubbing my head to try and relax and comfort me (while not looking at the procedure). Halfway through this process I hear Susan say "um, I dont feel well". The Doc then says, "sweetheart, you're as white as a ghost". I'm thinking, "great, my girlfriends gonna pass out on me!" She almost did, luckily the Dr assistant grabbed a chair for Susan to sit in. Now its me, with this damn "corkscrew" in my back, rubbing my girlfriends head asking if she's OK! Atleast it brought some light to the situation!
It was now time for the bone marrow biopsy, I had heard that this wasn't the most pleasant procedure in the world, but wasn't expecting what was to come! Susan mentioned that she wanted to be in the room with me.......needless to say, I had my doubts about how she was going to handle it! First step - Dr gave me valium (this was the first time I ever took this drug.....psh, it sucked! No effect whatsoever!). Second step - she applied a local anaesthetic (talk about a complete waste). Mind you, I was laying on my stomach so she could inject the "needle" into the lower part of my back, just above my butt. Third step - "needle" injection. Yea right, the needle was more like an industrial corkscrew....felt like an elephant was sitting on my back pounding his foot into my back. During this process the Dr told me "Mike you have some of the strongest bones I've ever seen". Thanks Doc, so this means you can't get into my bone to get the marrow......I thought this was never gonna happen. She eventually got in and literally sucked out the marrow (weirdest feeling ever).
Oh yea, can't forget to mention that as all this was going on, my dear, sweet girlfriend was holding my hand and rubbing my head to try and relax and comfort me (while not looking at the procedure). Halfway through this process I hear Susan say "um, I dont feel well". The Doc then says, "sweetheart, you're as white as a ghost". I'm thinking, "great, my girlfriends gonna pass out on me!" She almost did, luckily the Dr assistant grabbed a chair for Susan to sit in. Now its me, with this damn "corkscrew" in my back, rubbing my girlfriends head asking if she's OK! Atleast it brought some light to the situation!
Thursday, May 21, 2009
Reassurance
After learning about my diagnosis, the doctor immediately supplied some reassurance. First he mentioned that this form of cancer is actually very common in males between 18-35 years old. Secondly, he mentioned that not only is this disease very treatable, but is also the most CURABLE behind testicular cancer.
I left work immediately, made a few important phone calls and quickly remembered a very brief email conversation with a friend from college three months earlier. Jay Ensminger (some of you Hiram alum may remember this frizzy-haired saxophonist/baseball player/amateur philosopher.......what a hell of a combo) had informed me that he was diagnosed with the same disease a couple years back. We exchanged another couple emails and I had the good fortune of actually speaking with him that day. I know the days ahead are going to be tough but Jay eased a lot of tension running through my mind. I can't thank you enough Jay-- thanks so much!
I also had the plessure of talking to a good family/church friend who was diagnosed with cancer three years ago at the age of 16. Seriously, this kid is only 19 years old now, but he's the toughest SOB I've ever meet. He's beaten cancer twice already, had a bone marrow transplant and his attitude now is just as strong, if not stronger than it was 5 years ago. Stevie Giallourakis, you truly are an inspiration my man.....keep goin' strong, I'm right there with ya bud. Talk about reassurance....not one negative term/phrase/sentence came out of his mouth when we spoke! I mean, our society was basically predicated on the strength and knowledge of the Greek culture (haha), Steve is just following in his/our ancestors footsteps.
I left work immediately, made a few important phone calls and quickly remembered a very brief email conversation with a friend from college three months earlier. Jay Ensminger (some of you Hiram alum may remember this frizzy-haired saxophonist/baseball player/amateur philosopher.......what a hell of a combo) had informed me that he was diagnosed with the same disease a couple years back. We exchanged another couple emails and I had the good fortune of actually speaking with him that day. I know the days ahead are going to be tough but Jay eased a lot of tension running through my mind. I can't thank you enough Jay-- thanks so much!
I also had the plessure of talking to a good family/church friend who was diagnosed with cancer three years ago at the age of 16. Seriously, this kid is only 19 years old now, but he's the toughest SOB I've ever meet. He's beaten cancer twice already, had a bone marrow transplant and his attitude now is just as strong, if not stronger than it was 5 years ago. Stevie Giallourakis, you truly are an inspiration my man.....keep goin' strong, I'm right there with ya bud. Talk about reassurance....not one negative term/phrase/sentence came out of his mouth when we spoke! I mean, our society was basically predicated on the strength and knowledge of the Greek culture (haha), Steve is just following in his/our ancestors footsteps.
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
What the hell is that thing?
(Sometime in February)
Some of you know the story, most of you probably dont....so let me just quickly give you a recap as to how all of this went down. And before I forget, trust me, if you notice ANYTHING weird on yourself (lump, mole, long-term aches, etc...) talk to a Doctor!!! Yea, my bro busts my balls cause I whine about every little ache/pain, but it paid off this time.
From late February - So...I'm at work, in the bathroom (go figure) admiring my fine self in the mirror as I'm washing my hands. As I turn my head to the right to make sure all my hairs are nicely placed, I notice a lump on left side of my neck. Thought nothin' of it at the time, figured it was just a cist. If it weren't for a follow up Doctor's appointment I had later in the week, honestly, this would've gone untreated. I show up to my Dr's appt, do the normal thing.....ya know, voluntary hernia checks (cough, cough), haha. Right at the end of the appt I have my Dr check my neck. He quickly prescribes an antibiotic and sends me on my way.
10 days go by and the antibiotic Rx has been completed. I noticed the swelling in my neck had gone down, but not completely. I call my doctor, tell him the situation.....he then orders that I see an ENT specialist. The next week I meet with Dr. Rezzae (definately an ENT specialist I recommend) who informs me that this is a swollen lymph node.....he then simply mentions the term Lymphoma (at this point, I've already soiled my jeans and can feel the sweat pouring from my armpits - not good for a Greek male, or female for that matter!.....sorry mom, aunt sandy, aunt helen, sof, stacie, etc....). Dr Rezzae orders a CAT scan as I leave. I soon rush to my car, get on the phone with my mom and cried like I used to when mom took me grocery shopping as a kid (seriously mom, those Saturday mornings were torture).....I truly thought I had cancer at that point, but I always over analyze, so there was still hope.
A week goes by, the CAT scan is done, I've rescheduled another appt with Dr Rezzae to review the results. I make my way to his office Downtown, we discuss the CAT scan to where he informs me that I have a few lymph nodes swollen in the neck, and one in the chest (which was larger than those in the neck). This was cause for concern, so he administered a Fine Needle Aspiration to extract some cells from the lymph node in my neck. Waiting for those results was undoubtly the longest week of my life......everytime that phone rang I felt like it was my "Seven Days" call from the movie "The Ring". Lone behold, the results came back NEGATIVE.......oh, what a huge weight off my shoulders. "However", the doctor says, "since we found another node in your chest....we'll need to take a full biopsy on the nodes in your neck". I'm thinking "Oh, come on man....are you serious? Get me outta this mess! When does it end?"
The following Monday was the date of my full biopsy. I was actually pretty calm, especially for the first time for me being admitted into a Hospital. Woke up at 445am for the first surgery of the day, wasn't admitted until 645, hit the OR at 715 and I guess the procedure started at 8am and took roughly an hour. Tell ya this much, I thought I woulda been able to fight off the anesthetic......I mean, I've always been able to control myself under other types of drugs (just kidding mom), but seriously, I was AMAZED how quickly that put me out! I woke up to a random nurse playin with my neck in post-op. I was rolled to a new area in post-op and was taken care of by Rose Bushko......a middle aged nurse who graduated from St Joes, currently lives in Westlake and has no kids (I think the drugs turned me into McCann......I had the need to make random small talk with random people. Well, I'm sure she was amused).
Again, I needed to play the waiting game.......I wasn't going to hear back from the Doc until Friday with "real" results, so I now had a new Longest Week of my life. Friday morning came, I heard from the Dr just after my training meeting at work and frankly I could tell in his voice right off the bat that this wasn't going to be a good call. Lone behold, the Ms Cleo in me took over......Doc told me the lymph nodes he extracted had tested positive for Hodgkins Lymphoma.
Needless to say, I was in shock. However, through this entire process I was preparing for the worst, so I wasn't completely suprised. It didnt really hit me until I got off the phone with my Doctor, called my mom and told her "Mom, I have cancer". Talk about a reality check! 28 yr olds in the prime of their life aren't supposed to have CANCER!
Some of you know the story, most of you probably dont....so let me just quickly give you a recap as to how all of this went down. And before I forget, trust me, if you notice ANYTHING weird on yourself (lump, mole, long-term aches, etc...) talk to a Doctor!!! Yea, my bro busts my balls cause I whine about every little ache/pain, but it paid off this time.
From late February - So...I'm at work, in the bathroom (go figure) admiring my fine self in the mirror as I'm washing my hands. As I turn my head to the right to make sure all my hairs are nicely placed, I notice a lump on left side of my neck. Thought nothin' of it at the time, figured it was just a cist. If it weren't for a follow up Doctor's appointment I had later in the week, honestly, this would've gone untreated. I show up to my Dr's appt, do the normal thing.....ya know, voluntary hernia checks (cough, cough), haha. Right at the end of the appt I have my Dr check my neck. He quickly prescribes an antibiotic and sends me on my way.
10 days go by and the antibiotic Rx has been completed. I noticed the swelling in my neck had gone down, but not completely. I call my doctor, tell him the situation.....he then orders that I see an ENT specialist. The next week I meet with Dr. Rezzae (definately an ENT specialist I recommend) who informs me that this is a swollen lymph node.....he then simply mentions the term Lymphoma (at this point, I've already soiled my jeans and can feel the sweat pouring from my armpits - not good for a Greek male, or female for that matter!.....sorry mom, aunt sandy, aunt helen, sof, stacie, etc....). Dr Rezzae orders a CAT scan as I leave. I soon rush to my car, get on the phone with my mom and cried like I used to when mom took me grocery shopping as a kid (seriously mom, those Saturday mornings were torture).....I truly thought I had cancer at that point, but I always over analyze, so there was still hope.
A week goes by, the CAT scan is done, I've rescheduled another appt with Dr Rezzae to review the results. I make my way to his office Downtown, we discuss the CAT scan to where he informs me that I have a few lymph nodes swollen in the neck, and one in the chest (which was larger than those in the neck). This was cause for concern, so he administered a Fine Needle Aspiration to extract some cells from the lymph node in my neck. Waiting for those results was undoubtly the longest week of my life......everytime that phone rang I felt like it was my "Seven Days" call from the movie "The Ring". Lone behold, the results came back NEGATIVE.......oh, what a huge weight off my shoulders. "However", the doctor says, "since we found another node in your chest....we'll need to take a full biopsy on the nodes in your neck". I'm thinking "Oh, come on man....are you serious? Get me outta this mess! When does it end?"
The following Monday was the date of my full biopsy. I was actually pretty calm, especially for the first time for me being admitted into a Hospital. Woke up at 445am for the first surgery of the day, wasn't admitted until 645, hit the OR at 715 and I guess the procedure started at 8am and took roughly an hour. Tell ya this much, I thought I woulda been able to fight off the anesthetic......I mean, I've always been able to control myself under other types of drugs (just kidding mom), but seriously, I was AMAZED how quickly that put me out! I woke up to a random nurse playin with my neck in post-op. I was rolled to a new area in post-op and was taken care of by Rose Bushko......a middle aged nurse who graduated from St Joes, currently lives in Westlake and has no kids (I think the drugs turned me into McCann......I had the need to make random small talk with random people. Well, I'm sure she was amused).
Again, I needed to play the waiting game.......I wasn't going to hear back from the Doc until Friday with "real" results, so I now had a new Longest Week of my life. Friday morning came, I heard from the Dr just after my training meeting at work and frankly I could tell in his voice right off the bat that this wasn't going to be a good call. Lone behold, the Ms Cleo in me took over......Doc told me the lymph nodes he extracted had tested positive for Hodgkins Lymphoma.
Needless to say, I was in shock. However, through this entire process I was preparing for the worst, so I wasn't completely suprised. It didnt really hit me until I got off the phone with my Doctor, called my mom and told her "Mom, I have cancer". Talk about a reality check! 28 yr olds in the prime of their life aren't supposed to have CANCER!
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