OT: UPDATE -- Mom's biopsy

Noah Zark · Post by **Noah Zark** » Thu Apr 17, 2008 11:49 am

A few weeks ago I asked that you remember my 82-yr-old mother in your prayers. She had a biopsy done on a small lump in her left breast and it came back negative for breast cancer, but positive for follicular lymphoma.

That's real good news, boys.

Follicular lymphoma is cancer, but it is an extremely slow growing, non-aggressive form that although not curable, it can be controlled with chemo or radiation. In many cases if the patient is asymtomatic for lymphona (no weight loss, no loss of appetite, no night sweats) the physicians elect to watch and wait. It's considered a disease of the elderly, especially for those who've made it as long as Mom has. Could very well be that she'll end up dying of something else before the FL can be the cause.

I appreciate your thoughts and prayers. The news could have been MUCH worse.

Noah

JerryB · Post by **JerryB** » Thu Apr 17, 2008 12:16 pm

Praise the Lord for another answered prayer.

C. Cash · Post by **C. Cash** » Thu Apr 17, 2008 12:21 pm

Great to hear Noah. Will hope and pray for your Mom's continued good health.

scr83jp · Post by **scr83jp** » Thu Apr 17, 2008 12:24 pm

Noah Zark wrote:A few weeks ago I asked that you remember my 82-yr-old mother in your prayers. She had a biopsy done on a small lump in her left breast and it came back negative for breast cancer, but positive for follicular lymphoma.

That's real good news, boys.

Follicular lymphoma is cancer, but it is an extremely slow growing, non-aggressive form that although not curable, it can be controlled with chemo or radiation. In many cases if the patient is asymtomatic for lymphona (no weight loss, no loss of appetite, no night sweats) the physicians elect to watch and wait. It's considered a disease of the elderly, especially for those who've made it as long as Mom has. Could very well be that she'll end up dying of something else before the FL can be the cause.

I appreciate your thoughts and prayers. The news could have been MUCH worse.

Noah

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JReed · Post by **JReed** » Thu Apr 17, 2008 12:31 pm

That is excelent news my wifes great grandmother had the same thing she lived on to be 96. As you said she finanly sucumed to old age before th FL became an issue.

Blackhawk · Post by **Blackhawk** » Thu Apr 17, 2008 12:53 pm

Great to hear.

Hagler · Post by **Hagler** » Thu Apr 17, 2008 1:15 pm

Noah,

Amen! ...I hate to congratulate anyone for having a disease, though it is better than being run over by something much worse.

How is your mother doing?

Shawn

Post by **Hobie** » Thu Apr 17, 2008 1:18 pm

Glad to hear it! Prayers will, however, continue.

rjohns94 · Post by **rjohns94** » Thu Apr 17, 2008 2:06 pm

that is good news. the prayers will continue

iceman · Post by **iceman** » Thu Apr 17, 2008 2:59 pm

Glad to hear that. My mom is 87 and still lives on her own. Heats with wood in the winter. (not as much as before but she likes the heat of a wood fire as compared to a forced air oil heat system) She has recovered from a broken hip (replaced) broken arm and skin cancer. She is like the energizer bunny, she keeps on going. Best of luck.

BenT · Post by **BenT** » Thu Apr 17, 2008 3:45 pm

That news will make your day go better.

20cows · Post by **20cows** » Thu Apr 17, 2008 4:17 pm

Good to hear.

Noah Zark · Post by **Noah Zark** » Thu Apr 17, 2008 4:17 pm

Hagler wrote:
How is your mother doing?

When the surgeon told us the news this morning, all Mom heard was "lymphoma" and it was off to the races. A close friend of hers died of an aggressive form of lymphoma last year, and for a couple of hours that's all Mom focused on. Once she calmed down a bit and we got some 411 about follicular lymphoma off the net, she came around pretty good and is in really good spirits this afternoon, even went out and cleaned her windows and did some flowerbed cleanup.

You have to know Mom, if she doesn't have anything to worry about, she'll manufacture something, God bless her. She's had a gift for "reading" people, and sometimes thinks she can read situations, too. She's much better at people than situations, believe me. She tends to read too much into situations. Heaven help me if I call her in the early AM before talking much and I'm a bit hoarse. "What's wrong, Noah? Are you ill?" Sheesh.

The next steps are a blood test for certain markers (albumin level, WC count, platelet count, others) and pelvis/torso/chest CT and PET scans to determine the locations of any of these tumors, then a consult with the oncologist. IF there only a few and all above the diaphragm, she'll be Stage 1 or 2 and they will likely do nothing but watch it since she is completely asymtomatic. Even if it's Stage 3 they may still do nothing until she presents with symptoms. An MD friend of mine told me that many elderly people have FL, but die of other causes without ever knowing it.

Bottom line: NO surgery, possible chemo and radiation, and that depends on what the CT, PET, and blood workup says. It could have been MUCH worse.

A former co-worker was diagnosed with FL back in 1995 and he has YET to be treated for it, it's that slow growing in his particular case.

I appreciate your thoughts and continued prayers.

Noah

Charles · Post by **Charles** » Thu Apr 17, 2008 4:46 pm

Very good news...very good indeed!

Dastook · Post by **Dastook** » Thu Apr 17, 2008 4:57 pm

Good news.

God bless

gamekeeper · Post by **gamekeeper** » Thu Apr 17, 2008 5:01 pm

Good to hear some good news. I wish your Mom all the best!

Post by **Ysabel Kid** » Thu Apr 17, 2008 9:10 pm

Thanks for the update - and the prayer will continue!!!

LeverBob · Post by **LeverBob** » Thu Apr 17, 2008 10:53 pm

Good new indeed! Will keep the knee-mail up for a total healing.

LeverBob

Jaguarundi · Post by **Jaguarundi** » Fri Apr 18, 2008 1:57 am

Very glad to hear.

OT: UPDATE -- Mom's biopsy

OT: UPDATE -- Mom's biopsy

Re: OT: UPDATE -- Mom's biopsy