OT: UPDATE on Mom's Lymphoma Situation

Noah Zark · Post by **Noah Zark** » Thu May 22, 2008 3:32 pm

Backstory: Two months ago during a routine annual mammogram a small lump is found in my very active 82-yr-old mother's left breast. A needle biopsy shows it's not breast cancer, but follicular lymphoma, a very "indolent" slow-growing non-aggressive form of lymphoma. Most people live years with it, if not decades.

UPDATE: After several scans, a bone marrow biopsy, and other tests it appears that the ONLY location for the lymphoma is in that one spot in the left breast. The rest of her body is free of lymphoma "and any other cancer activity" per the oncologist.

Because this is classified "early Stage 1EA lymphoma" and she is asymptomatic, they are going to do a 5-wk series of radiation to the left breast to smack the single lymphoma site. This is once per day, five days a week for five weeks. They see no need for Rituxan immunotherapy or chemo given the scan results. The oncologist and radiation oncologist both predict complete "cure" seeing that it is nowhere else. They both told her Tuesday that "we expect with 100% certainty this will be the end of it."
When's the last time you heard a physician say that, let alone two of them?

They gave her the option of doing nothing for a period of "two to seven years," with a gradual drop in quality of life and overall feeling of wellness. Mom elected to "smack it" with the radiation and have the best quality of life she can for the rest of her time here.

Mom's really upbeat, and is extremely thankful that the lymphoma is localized and that she's free of any other issues. She credits her own prayers, and those of family and friends for the remarkably good news, and that includes you viewers at home who had a part in this.

THANK YOU!

Noah

Post by **AmBraCol** » Thu May 22, 2008 3:38 pm

Thanks for the update.

Good news is always welcome.

stretch · Post by **stretch** » Thu May 22, 2008 3:38 pm

THAT is terrific news!!

I have a close friend whose sister has been diagnosed
with a very aggresive form of breast cancer. They caught
it quite early, but everyone's a bit nervous.

I am VERY happy to hear your good news.

-Tom

gamekeeper · Post by **gamekeeper** » Thu May 22, 2008 3:50 pm

Great to hear some good news, your Mom sounds like a real gem, God bless her.

cnjarvis · Post by **cnjarvis** » Thu May 22, 2008 4:07 pm

Hooray!

Noah Zark · Post by **Noah Zark** » Thu May 22, 2008 4:08 pm

game keeper wrote:Great to hear some good news, your Mom sounds like a real gem, God bless her.

Thanks!

How many 82-yr-old women do you know that do 20-30 minutes on a Nordic Trac twice a day?

She taught high school for 35 years, the "old-school" way. Didn't wear rings because "they'd leave marks." I can recall her having linebackers and defensive ends off the floor and against the lockers for not toeing the line. Everything was squared-away, shipshape and dress-right-dress in her classes, and people to this day walk up to her and thank her for "doing it right." When I meet former students of hers they always tell me "I had her for _____." or "I had your mom for home room" or whatnot. I always reply, "I had her for Mom."

I tell her with no small sincerity that the USMC missed out on what could have been an outstanding female Senior NCO, perhaps even a female E9 Master Sergeant of the Marine Corps.

Noah

Grizz · Post by **Grizz** » Thu May 22, 2008 4:48 pm

Your Mom sounds like a hoot. She sounds like the kind of school teachers I had. I hope they did not break the mold, our country seriously needs a lot more of your Mom in the classroom.

celebrating with you...

rjohns94 · Post by **rjohns94** » Thu May 22, 2008 4:48 pm

Awsome news. Prayers continue. thanks for the update

Post by **Ysabel Kid** » Thu May 22, 2008 7:26 pm

NZ -

Best news I've heard all day (but considering the day I've had at work, me getting hit by a car would be good news...).

Prayers continue!!!

kimwcook · Post by **kimwcook** » Thu May 22, 2008 7:44 pm

Great news Noah. My mom had a radical mastectomy years ago before such advancements in medicine. She's still very active. Thank God it wasn't an agressive form of cancer. Prayers for you and yours.

awp101 · Post by **awp101** » Thu May 22, 2008 7:50 pm

Noah, you don't know how glad I am to here this...

C. Cash · Post by **C. Cash** » Thu May 22, 2008 9:59 pm

That's great news indeed.

Noah Zark · Post by **Noah Zark** » Thu May 22, 2008 10:08 pm

awp101 wrote:Noah, you don't know how glad I am to here this...

You're right. I can't begin to imagine.

Noah

gamekeeper · Post by **gamekeeper** » Fri May 23, 2008 2:32 am

Noah Zark wrote:
game keeper wrote:Great to hear some good news, your Mom sounds like a real gem, God bless her.
Thanks!

When I meet former students of hers they always tell me "I had her for _____." or "I had your mom for home room" or whatnot. I always reply, "I had her for Mom."

Noah

It seems like she did a fine job on bringing you up right too!

Jaguarundi · Post by **Jaguarundi** » Fri May 23, 2008 3:11 am

Congrats on the Good News

!Godbless.

Post by **Hobie** » Fri May 23, 2008 8:16 am

My mom smacked her breast cancer and is a 15 year survivor. Very glad to hear the good news about your mom.

BenT · Post by **BenT** » Fri May 23, 2008 4:04 pm

That's good to hear. My mother is a tough old German / Irish gal. She's going to be around a long time. Sounds like you mother is too.

Have a great aweekend.

20cows · Post by **20cows** » Sat May 24, 2008 4:14 am

Yea, verily!!