Saturday, May 05, 2007

Diagnosis

Sitting here working at the keyboard about a month ago, I noticed a small lump beneath the skin on my throat. While having a check up, I mentioned it in passing to my general practicioner who recommended antibiotics. When the lump stayed, it was off to the ENT. I thought those were the tree beings in Lord of the Rings. It turns out they are Ear Nose Throat specialists.

Today I was diagnosed with non-hodgkins lymphoma, a form of lymphatic cancer. There will be a surgery next week to take the seriously swollen node for a biopsy to determine the stage and type, but cat scans reveal other nodes in the throat and chest, and the needle aspirant says its NHL.

Rats!

Not my year, I guess. I am about to get acquainted with procedures I've seen done to others so I've a fair idea what is coming. So far I feel fine but do me a favor and keep a good thought for my family.

If the quantity or quality of the posts here go down, that is the reason. If they go up, well, mirabile dictu.

I've good doctors so please don't send 'the Aunt Martha lived to be a hundred with this disease' stories. That has a way of being very depressing.

Life among the mammals is a struggle for many things, life itself being one among many. And so it goes.

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

I hope you recover your health, and that your family doesn't suffer too much before then. You're quite obviously a good man, and we need more such people, not fewer.

M. David Peterson said...

I am so very sorry to hear this, Len. You and your family are most definitely in my prayers.

Sean McGrath said...

Len,
Best of luck.
Sean

Anonymous said...

I can only imagine what it's like to get that sort of news. Here's hoping and praying you find peace about it.

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