2nd quarterly follow-up with Oncologist

Thursday February 2nd was the day of my second follow-up appointment at the BCCA but first I had to pick a few friends up from the airport.  They were fresh from Hawaii and looking tanned and cold as they arrived in Victoria.  While waiting for them to clear customs the agency called to let me know that my oncologist was sick with the flu and I would be seen by another doctor at the same time.

I arrived at the agency and checked in and in no time the doctor was in to see me, told me that the results of my blood work were good and then asked if I felt any new symptoms, I mentioned that the nodes around my collar bone and next had flared up in late November and although they are quite small (jelly bean sized) they were a bit troublesome, as well as I have been feeling a bit fatigued for the last couple of weeks but that it could be due to the season or the snow shovelling.  She asked several times if I had had a cold or fever lately, I haven't and she continued with the physical exam noting my spleen and a few other sights of interest.  I commented that my spleen has been enlarged since I was diagnosed and that it had never gone down in size she flipped through my chart and agreed.

We discussed the exam and she told me she would review this with my regular oncologist but that the fact that the appearance of inflamed nodes above my diaphragm in combination with the fatigue meant that it may be time to discuss treatment.

I was dumbfounded! 

The rest of the day was a bit of a blur as I processed the mention of treatment, let me mention that I did discuss the treatment options with the doctor today and really there is only one for me and that would be chemo, although there are a few options within chemo it is still chemo (+?).

I have now had a few days and some conversation with Lori and friends, I will discuss it with my GP in a couple of weeks and then again with the oncologist after that.  I'll keep you all current on the discussions and how I am feeling, for now I am focusing on the Cedar 12KM run tomorrow and the Super Bowl.  Then Monday followed by Tuesday etc...