So...What is It?

We awoke yesterday morning with mixed anticipation of what the day might bring. Excited to finally be meeting with an oncologist, but with lumps in our throats as to what he may have to say. We knew nothing at this point could be definitive as Dave would first have to have the results of his full node biopsy. This too, was yesterday following our appointment with Dr. Kuebler.

I apologize if this post gets lengthy, but I want to give you all we know.

Dr. Kuebler explained to us that based upon the pathology report Dave has Follicular B-cell Lymphoma. However, this could change after the full node biopsy is analyzed. He described two types of lymphoma to us; favorable and unfavorable. As we listened to him describe these terms, we quickly realized they are a bit misleading. Follicular Lymphoma is a "favorable" cancer. Favorable basically means it is a chronic cancer that can never be cured...sounds like something you would describe as "favorable", huh? The reason it is put in this category is because it has a longer life expectancy than "unfavorable". Many people live for many, many years before they every show symptoms or even need treatment. Dave, fortunately, has no symptoms. In truth, we would have probably never gone to the doctor if he didn't have such a long family history of Lymphoma.

"Unfavorable" means it is an extremely aggressive form of Lymphoma with a much higher fatality rate if untreated. However, if treated it is curable.

So...going on the doctor's gut feeling of Follicuar Lymphoma, we began to talk about course of action. This is the most difficult part for me to wrap my mind around. There are four stages of Lymphoma. We know that Dave is at least in Stage Two as he has swollen nodes in more than one area. (neck, chest, and under his arms) Dr. Kuebler explained that by the time most patients are diagnosed with Lymphoma they are in Stage Four. However, Dave is also the youngest Follicular Lymphoma patient this doctor has ever seen and he is suppose to be "Nationally Renowned". We will not know his stage until we have a full body PetScan. (July 16th) He will also have a Bone Marrow biopsy this day.

Of course in my mind, at this point, I'm thinking...okay, let's get started. I realize it's not curable, but you need to fix my husband within the next 73 days because that's when this baby is coming! Dr. Kuebler thinks a little differently than I do apparently. He likes the "Wait and See" approach. This is a little confusing to me, but he tries to make me understand. Because this cancer is so slow-growing, he says they don't want to start chemo. Follicular Lymphoma does respond well to chemo, but always comes back. Remember it's not curable. Each remission gets shorter and shorter. So if they started chemo tomorrow, Dave may go into remission for 7 years. But in 7 years, when the cancer returns, he would have to do chemo again. This time the remission may only last 4 years. You get the idea...once you do chemo, the remission clock starts ticking.

If Dave has no symptoms and a good quality of life, there is no point in treating the cancer right now. I told you it's tough to wrap your mind around, didn't I?

Now we sit and wait for the "official" diagnosis to come back based on the full node biopsy. This should be Monday, July 7th. We are, of course, getting second opinion, next Friday with Dr. Kristi Blum at The James. We'll see what she has to say.

We know you have each been thinking and praying for us and we really do feel your love and support. Today was the first day that when I woke up Dave's cancer wasn't the first thing that popped in my mind. Maybe the second, but it's a start, right? :)

I do want to share with you the most touching part of yesterday's appointment. At one point, I asked the doctor..."Is Dave going to see this baby be born?" The doctor, very assertively looked back and both Dave and I and responded, " I whole-heartedly believe Dave is going to be around to pay Marshall's first college tuition bill." The power of words...are truly amazing!