April 30, 2024
A few days before my scheduled hernia surgery on March 11, I noticed a small lump under my left armpit. A quick check of the right armpit, no lump. So, in my not so expert medical opinion, I deduced the lump under the left armpit was not supposed to be there. Understandably it gave me cause for concern. No one wants to feel a lump under an armpit or anywhere on your body that's not supposed to be there. A doctor's visit followed, then an ultrasound on March 25th, followed up by a biopsy on April 1st. On Friday, April 5th the doctor's office called and said the biopsy results were in and ask if I would like to come in and talk results.
I don't have to tell you that when the doctor's office calls and wants you to come in and talk about results, you shiver. At this point you all are thinking EXACTLY what I was thinking; if you want me to come in for the results there must be something abnormal. You take a deep breath and remind yourself to breathe. In and then out, in and then out. Breathe in a sense of peace, breathe out the uncertainty and fear. Breathe in - Breathe out. Each breath a semi-conscious decision because the mind is swirling with a myriad of thoughts that threaten to take over.
.          The biopsy came back as B-Cell Lymphoma, more precisely Diffuse Large B-Cell Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma. At that moment all the lists of undone things that crowded my brain disappeared. Only one thing mattered. Kicking this monster out of my body and my life.
Comments