Lymphoma Timeline

I'll write about my thoughts and fears in this blog, but let's get the details out of the way first.

Early July - I first noticed swelling in neck. I joked to myself that it's neck cancer, as opposed to knee cancer. Wouldn't it be funny if I had cancer? I associated it with dental work.

July 30 - When I realized it wasn't a local infection, I went to urgent care to get tests. Interestingly, I thought they could do blood tests for cancer. Maybe they can, but all blood test were normal except for platelets. The day before I had done a 40-mile bike ride no problem.

August 4 - Visit with Primary Care Physician

Swollen glands in neck, armpits, and groin (groinal region, or GR). Notes: Questionable fullness of the bilateral hila. Uncertain if this is due to adenopathy or within normal variation. Chest CT could be helpful to further evaluate. Referral for chest CT scan. Blood tests negative for mono, HIV, and more (mychart). Referral to ENT.

I started to feel minor fatigue when doing bike rides and karate. Damn.

August 13 - ENT thought it was likely lymphoma or something equally serious. Lymphoma is usually very treatable compared to say, pancreatic cancer. But it's still cancer. Scheduled ultrasound and neck CT scan.

August 22 - Chest CT scan

Results. Extensive lymphadenopathy throughout the visualized neck, chest, and upper abdomen, concerning for lymphoma or other lymphoproliferative disorder. Right upper lobe pulmonary nodule measuring 6 mm.

August 25 - Neck Ultrasound - Bilateral cervical lymphadenopathy, most likely lymphoma, or perhaps nodal metastases.

August. 25  - CT Neck - Extensive bilateral cervical and upper thoracic without adenopathy suspicious for lymphoma or other lymphoproliferative disorder.

August 26 - Sept. 4 - Hiking in Austria with Luke. This was a whole thing. Walked 8-15 miles a day. After day 3 I had fretful dreams and decided to take a train to an airport and fly home. Morning rescued me.

September 3 - PCP told me it was likely cancer and asked me where I wanted to be treated. I said Fred Hutch.

September 15 - Fred Hutch diagnosis, blood tests.

September 21 - Abnormal B cell population identified. No abnormal T cell population identified. Would support the diagnosis of CLL/SLL

In this limited biopsy, there are no features suggestive of accelerated CLL/SLL or large-cell transformation. Previous flow cytometry also identified a small population (3.8%) of CLL/SLL cells in the peripheral blood (HP26-26674).

Next appointment - October 22. I'll be meeting with a lymphoma specialist.