V. It's Go Time!

Things moved VERY quickly after speaking with my doctor on the phone. One week later, on April 4th, I met with the surgeon who completed my biopsy. He too agreed that my worsening symptoms and swollen lymph node were highly suspicious for a lymphoma diagnosis. The very next day, I underwent same-day surgery to remove and examine the lump. The photo you may have quickly looked at above was taken just before the scrub nurse wheeled me into the operating room. While I knew deep down I had cancer, I do remember silently wishing "please PLEASE make a miracle happen...make this not be cancer."

The surgeon who completed my biopsy was absolutely amazing. He was a middle-aged man with a warm demeanor and incredible bedside manner. One of those doctors that really cared and made you feel instantly safe in their hands (quite literally). After removing my lymph node and making sure I was doing well in the recovery room, he actually went out to the waiting room and spoke with both of my parents. He assured my parents that I had done well in surgery and was happily recovering with a handful of graham crackers and a small cup of Ocean Spray apple juice. However, he also revealed that, while the specimen had to be sent out to the pathology department, he could tell that it was "funky" just by looking at it. He recommended that my parents get in touch with an oncologist as soon as possible.

On April 9th, I received a phone call from the surgeon that the preliminary results confirmed a lymphoma. However, this was just preliminary. In order to determine the exact type of lymphoma my specimen had to be shipped up to Brigham and Women's for further testing. Two days later, on April 11th (my half birthday), I was told I had Hodgkin's Lymphoma.

I'm not sure what it was. Maybe it was the calm manner that the doctor had relayed the information to me over the phone. Maybe it was knowing that my Memom had fought and survived Hodgkin's. Whatever it was, as soon as I heard the official diagnosis, I was ready. My body relaxed, I took a deep breath, I hugged my mom and then it was go-time. I was ready to fight.