Well, what a deeply unpleasant week this has been.

[pjknibbs]

Well, results from the biopsy are entirely inconclusive, they think because the sample was taken from an area of necrotising (e.g. dead) tissue. So I'm going to have to have another one, this time, guided by a CT scan so they avoid the dead area. Which I'm not looking forward to because the biopsy was probably one of the most unpleasant things I've ever had done...

[pjknibbs]

Got booked in for that second biopsy with a whole 2 days of notice, went in and had the procedure this morning. I thought the first time was unpleasant, but it was just an amuse bouche for this time. I was in that CAT scanner for an hour and a half while they slowly inserted a needle deeper and deeper, checking each time to see if it was in the right place (because the doctor can't be in the room when the CAT scanner is running, radiation dontcha know). On at least two occasions the local anaesthetic they were using just plain didn't work and I voiced my pain quite vocally, and both times the doctor said, "Oh, did that hurt?" NO, you blithering idiot, I'm screaming in pure joy at this whole thing!

If this one doesn't come up with results I have no idea what I'll do, because I am determined I'm not going through that again.

[Fishille]

I feel for you, I don’t know where you are located, but if you are in the US, MD Anderson would have done you much much better. I don’t understand why they would be using a CT Scan on a needle core biopsy, I’ve had both of mine done by ultrasound, painful process still, (the first biopsy being much worse then the second), but much faster.

If you need any advise, or anything hit me up, I’m going on 3 years in remission with NLPHL (nodular lymphocyte predominant Hodgkins lymphoma) stage IVB and I’ve got a lot of experience, and am willing to help anyone.

[pjknibbs]

I'm in the UK. The first biopsy was done via ultrasound but that failed, because ultrasound isn't a sufficiently precise tool to tell the difference between living and necrotised tissue inside a tumour, so he got a bad bit of tissue. Hence the CT scan requirement. Frankly, it was the doctor asking "Did it hurt?" that annoyed me more than anything else--he's a doctor, he ought to bloody know what pain looks like and take steps to counteract it without having to ask!

[Vertigo 7]

I had to have a finger pined up a few years back and I can attest to the near worthlessness of local anesthetics. They lasted all of 5 minutes and had me crying like a baby as dude was drilling into my bones.

[LV]

I'm in the UK. The first biopsy was done via ultrasound but that failed, because ultrasound isn't a sufficiently precise tool to tell the difference between living and necrotised tissue inside a tumour, so he got a bad bit of tissue. Hence the CT scan requirement. Frankly, it was the doctor asking "Did it hurt?" that annoyed me more than anything else--he's a doctor, he ought to bloody know what pain looks like and take steps to counteract it without having to ask!

Well on the doctor's behalf, you've always needed a good probing


Keep your chin up Paul

[pjknibbs]

OK, latest news: I've been booked to see an oncology specialist on Wednesday. Given what those doctors specialise in, I think we can safely assume the diagnosis of lymphoma is right on the mark, but beyond that, will report more when I've had the appointment and I know what's happening.

[Chips]

Thankfully not much wait to dwell upon to find out - lets hope it's as good news as can be (given what you suspect it is).

[Bazza]

OK, latest news: I've been booked to see an oncology specialist on Wednesday. Given what those doctors specialise in, I think we can safely assume the diagnosis of lymphoma is right on the mark, but beyond that, will report more when I've had the appointment and I know what's happening.

Good luck for Wednesday Paul. Wish you all the best.

[pjknibbs]

Well, had the meeting, and it turns out I have a 20cm lymphoma tumour. They want to get me on chemo ASAP because if this gets much bigger it could be genuinely life-threatening.

[Alan Phipps]

I'm very sorry to hear about your confirmation of a tumour. Did you really mean 20cm (8 inches) as that seems astonishingly big if you did.

[Mailo]

Well, had the meeting, and it turns out I have a 20cm lymphoma tumour. They want to get me on chemo ASAP because if this gets much bigger it could be genuinely life-threatening.

Damn, I kept hoping for you, I'm very sorry to hear that. Still, better to know so that you can fight it than find it when it is too late.
All the strength in the world to get through chemo. I just had to watch my wife go through it last year. At least medicine has made great advances in the field in the last decade or so, it is now more likely to be successful and less side effects. While I am sure you will get all the information (and more) you need during the treatment, my wife claims her walking a lot (daily walks of 30-60 minutes) helped her immensly getting through it without too much damage.

[pjknibbs]

I'm very sorry to hear about your confirmation of a tumour. Did you really mean 20cm (8 inches) as that seems astonishingly big if you did.

Yes, I really did mean that big. Hence the problem!

[burger1]

My condolences. 20 cm sounds pretty large. Hopefully chemo works out.

[pjknibbs]

Well, that was a bit sudden. Got a call at home about 8:30pm saying, "This is Christie Hospital, are you on your way here?". I obviously pointed out that no-one had actually asked me to attend the hospital as yet, so they apologised for that but said I needed to get there ASAP before the free bed went. So I headed off down there, and am currently typing this message via the NHS's free wi-fi while I wait for another battery of tests to be run.

[Redvers Ganderpoke]

Good luck Paul. We're lucky we have Christie's up here in the NW.

[Chips]

Well, that was a bit sudden. Got a call at home about 8:30pm saying, "This is Christie Hospital, are you on your way here?". I obviously pointed out that no-one had actually asked me to attend the hospital as yet, so they apologised for that but said I needed to get there ASAP before the free bed went. So I headed off down there, and am currently typing this message via the NHS's free wi-fi while I wait for another battery of tests to be run.

When "good" and "bad" in terms of news are relative to the situation, there are some positives (treatable, getting you into hospital pronto) despite the bad (diagnosis). Here's hoping the positives continue.

[pjknibbs]

Well, latest update: been moved into a different ward because the one I was in was essentially for initial assessment only. They're going to continue with steroid treatment over the weekend, with the plan to start chemo proper on Monday. So, likely to be in for most of next week even if all goes well.

[berth]

I wish you all the best, PJK.

[Praefectus classis]

Best of luck Paul. I hope it all goes well for you.