The waiting is over!!!
I have diffuse large B cell lymphoma. It is an aggressive cancer and, at the rate it has developed, I might not be long for this world without treatment. However, the good news is that it is usually very responsive to treatment, with a real possibility of a complete cure.
Treatment will consist of six cycles of chemo, spread three weeks apart. The first will start tomorrow and will be given in hospital over two days, with subsequent cycles done in a day as an outpatient.
The chemo consists of two monoclonal antibodies and two chemotherapy drugs. One of them can cause heart problems so I will have a heart scan before the second cycle. There isn't time to get one before the first session tomorrow, even though I was told days ago that one was being booked. They don't want to delay starting the treatment by even a single day, as the cancer is so aggressive.
This makes the long wait for the CT abdomen report even more frustrating. Can you tell I am still extremely angry about it?
The chemo can have some severe side effects and complications so I just have to hope that it goes smoothly. However bad, it's got to be better than the alternative.
Anyway, it's good news that I have a diagnosis and a treatment plan. I'm also feeling a lot better today, possibly from yesterday's IV steroids. Future steroids will be oral.