December 29, 1998 – Visit PCP: Hey Doc, I don’t feel so good, and what could these bumps be?
December 30, 1998 – Chest X-Ray and Blood Test
January 2, 1999 – Talk to PCP: Something weird on the x-ray and white blood count is high… how about getting a CT Scan?
January 11, 1999 – CT Scan
January 12, 1999 – Talk to PCP: Not only do I have bumps (swollen lymph glands) in my neck, but some (“a few”) in my chest. Why don’t you go see my friend the Ear, Nose & Throat (ENT) guy and have it biopsied?
January 19, 1999 – Visit ENT: Hey you don’t mind if I stick this thing up your nose? And, while you’re here, let’s suck some “juice” out of your neck.
January 21, 1999 – Talk to ENT: Well, the juice tested positive for lymphocytes, let’s go ahead with cutting one of ‘em out.
January 27, 1999 – Surgery to remove lymph node (Excision of left cervical lymph node)
February 1, 1999 – Visit ENT: Good news! Hodgkin’s Disease!
February 4, 1999 – Visit Oncologist (OncoDoc): OK boys and girls, can you say, “Nodular Schlerosing Hodgkin’s Disease”? While you’re here, you don’t mind if I stick a needle into your bones and suck out some marrow?
February 6, 1999 – MUGA scan for heart and Gallium injection
February 7, 1999 – Gallium “preparation” – liquid diet and a “Fleet” kit… Are we having fun yet?
February 8, 1999 – Gallium scan – here’s a change, no x-rays, now we’re picking up the radiation you’re emitting (don’t worry it has a half life of 6 days)
February 10, 1999 – Bone Marrow scan comes back negative…
February 16, 1999 – Got back gallium, looks like Hodgkin’s is localized above the diaphragm (sp?)… Should be stage II A/B.
February 23, 1999 – Visit another Oncologist for a second opinion. Yep, I’ve got cancer (now confirmed by 3 doctors).
March 1, 1999 – Begin chemotherapy treatment. ABVD Cycle 1 Treatment 1.
March 15, 1999 – Attempt chemotherapy, but white blood counts are too low.
March 18, 1999 – ABVD Cycle 1 Treatment 2 (end of first cycle)
April 2, 1999 – ABVD Cycle 2 Treatment 1
April 15, 1999 – Attempt chemotherapy, but white blood counts are too low. (Anyone notice a pattern?)
April 19, 1999 – Attempt chemotherapy, but white blood counts are too low. (Where have I heard that before?)
April 21, 1999 – ABVD Cycle 2 Treatment 2
May 6, 1999 – Attempt chemotherapy, but white blood counts are too low. (Uh hello? What’s up with that, Captain Obvious?)
May 10, 1999 – Attempt chemotherapy, but white blood counts are too low. (No-Go for Che-Mo)
May 13, 1999 – ABVD Cycle 3 Treatment 1 (finally!)
May 19, 1999 – Begin Neupogen injections for white blood counts (Ouch!)
May 27, 1999 – ABVD Cycle 3 Treatment 2 (does anyone know where my hair went?)
June 4, 1999 – Mid-Treatment CT scans
June 10, 1999 – ABVD Cycle 4 Treatment 1
June 24, 1999 – ABVD Cycle 4 Treatment 2
July 8, 1999 – ABVD Cycle 5 Treatment 1
July 22, 1999 – ABVD Cycle 5 Treatment 2
August 5, 1999 – ABVD Cycle 6 Treatment 1
August 19, 1999 – ABVD Cycle 6 Treatment 2
September 1, 1999 – Gallium injection.
September 3, 1999 – CT and Gallium Scans.
October 20. 1999 – Consultation with Radiation Oncologist (The saga continues…)
October 28, 1999 – Radiation “Simulation” appointment
November 1, 1999 – “Block check” and 1st radiation treatment
November 5, 1999 – End of First Week of Radiation (5 treatments completed)
November 12, 1999 – End of Second Week of Radiation (10 treatements completed)
November 19, 1999 – End of Third Week of Radiation (15 treatments completed)
November 22, 1999 – Radiation Treatment #16 (rest of week off for skin to recover)
November 24, 1999 – Block check
November 29 – 30, 1999 – Radiation Treatments #17 & 18 (rest of week off to recover from burns)
December 9, 1999 – Radiation Treatment #19
December 10, 1999 – Radiation Treatment #20 (end of radiation!)
December 29, 1999 – Radiation Follow-Up
January 20, 2000 – First Hematologist/Oncologist Follow-Up
January 28, 2000 – CT Scan
February 1, 2000 – One year post diagnosis… Waiting for results from first follow-up.
February 3-4, 2000 – Results of CT Scan: New mediastinal lymphadenopathy with a low density center in the left lateral aspect of the anterior mediastinum in the prevascular space. ‘Nuf said?
March 2, 2000 – Follow-up with Hematologist.
March 7, 2000 – Repeat CT Scan (Crossing my fingers)
March 9, 2000 – NO SIGN OF LYMPHOMA – CT Scan comes back all clear!
