D-Day

Stage 2A.

It's in my neck, both sides (I already knew that), and also there's some enlarged lymphs around my heart.

But it hasn't crossed my diaphragm, meaning it's still classed in the "catching it early" definition.

My primary feeling on hearing that was relief. I have a bit of apprehension left because they need to do a bone marrow biopsy to make sure it hasn't infected the marrow - the levels of activity in the marrow are slightly elevated, but the haematologist said it was very unlikely that it would be the case, more of a rule out (I've heard that before, hence the sliver of apprehension )- but the abiding feeling is  definitively relief now that the uncertainty has abated.

The treatment plan is four cycles of chemotherapy, using ABVD (the standard drug for HL treatment), followed by a final radiotherapy course to shore up the remission. The biopsy results, by the way, confirmed the diagnosis of HL.

A "cycle" is defined as a month, wherein on the 1st and 15th day of that month you have treatment. It'll be pumped through my veins. This means  4 months of chemo plus perhaps a week of radiotherapy to cure me.

Apparently, I was close to a certain point of inflammation where they'd have less chemo but, unfortunately, I was slap bang on the cut off point... but definitely better to get it seen to rather than undertreat.

Throughout the appointment, I was listening hard for "consultative speak" which would betray any anxieties - it sounded like there weren't any from the consultant or nurse, which is hugely positive, too.

I start chemo next Friday (30th January). Before this, I've got to have a lung function test and, as a precaution, bank some of my sperm just in case the chemo has any adverse impact on my fertility - there's no guarantee that it won't, so best not take the risk because I definitely want to procreate some day.

So, all in all, relief - good news in a bad situation, as one person I spoke to put it.

I also get some cool perks (well, you don't want to be in my situation to get them, but whatever), which include:
- A wig. This might be an interesting party piece one day.
- Free prescriptions for life (you have to pay for your prescription drugs in the UK, nowadays, non-Brit friends)
- And this:

We've been hearing a lot about A+E recently and how long the wait is. One of the side effects - potentially very serious - of chemotherapy is that a little infection can turn very nasty very quick. If I have this card, I am seen within an hour rather than waiting 5+... apparently it's fairly normal to be admitted to hospital with an infection during treatment, and it won't affect my prognosis (still excellent) or anything, but it's just a little extra piece of mind that if I did have to be rushed in I'd be seen very quickly and anything bad taken care of.

Physically, I feel okay (obviously apart from, y'know, having cancer) and, mentally, I feel better able to adjust to what's going on. As my Mum said, "thank Buddha that it wasn't worse"

So that's it. As one person said to me, just have fun before the treatment starts and my life changes again, just for a bit. And I intend to.

T