I am sitting on the concrete floor of the hotel balcony overlooking the ass crack of a grocery distribution center. It has multitudes of 18-wheelers lined up like toys. There are palm trees swaying in the gentle 85-degree weather.
I am in Houston and it is in the middle of November.
From my hotel view, to the right, downtown Houston doesn’t seem that imposing. Trailing my glance over to the left, however, I see all things medical.
I had just spent the early part of the afternoon with my mom in the cancer maze called MD Anderson. When I entered the facility, I nearly broke down in tears because I was so overwhelmed. A very nice volunteer, sensing our horror and confusion, led my mother and I to the radiation portion of the hospital, which could have very well been a quarter mile walk. I remember mumbling something to this effect: my oncology center is about 5 people and 3 rooms. No one blinked an eye in my direction; I looked like everyone else. I realized that I was indeed part of a large society of cancer patients.
I could relate blow by blow what transpired those few days, but let’s say there was much "think about serious things" idle time between the numerous discussions between my mom and I and our family, the doctors in Houston, and my doctors in Denton.
My situation is a bit unique. First, according to the doctor at MD Anderson, if I had been diagnosed with lymphoma at their hospital, I would have completed 6 cycles of chemo and then undergone radiation. Radiation would have always been part of my treatment plan. However, I had completed 6 cycles of radiation, done a surgical biopsy that was negative, and then completed an additional 2 cycles of chemo. My doctor thought that with a negative biopsy result and the additional cycles of chemo, I would be in the clear.
Not so, apparently.
The original size of my mass was nearly 11 cm on its largest side. The division between a “bulky” mass and a “non-bulky” mass is 10 cm. Essentially, in the academic-oriented world of cancer, I had a bulky mass. This means that I’m at a higher risk for relapse without a secondary form of treatment.
The radiation oncologist I saw at MD Anderson presented my case to a tumor board, which consisted of 5 doctors of various backgrounds (oncologists, radiation specialists, and lymphoma experts). They voted as follows: 4 for radiation, 1 against. While my oncologist in Denton was on the fence of additional treatment, the radiation oncologist presented him with some compelling information on why radiation would be necessary.
Thus is the breakdown: if I don’t do radiation, I could be at risk for a relapse. Since the form of cancer I had was aggressive, it could bloom very quickly and my options of treatment might be limited or the dreaded stem-cell transplant would be necessary.
Now, here is the “this-shit-got-real” information: by doing radiation, I could risk heart damage, thyroid damage, and even breast cancer all later down the line.
You can imagine my panic when having both scenarios dumped into my lap. Sort of the classic “damned if you do, damned if you don’t” kind of situation. All the doctors agreed that the issue was controversial and a tough call.
I kept feeling like I was getting piled with more and more information, but without the resources to help make a decision.
Frankly, I don’t remember much about November because of sorting through all the details. I’m not sure the fact that I’m an infomaniac and good at research eased or abetted my paranoia. I do remember sitting down to Thanksgiving dinner with my family telling them I was grateful we have had the grace and the humor to deal with this crazy year as a family, that I’m lucky to have wonderful people in my life who love me as much as I love them.
The evidence all pointed to the fact that I should do radiation and finally I agreed. At some point, I emerged from my fog of paranoia and had an epiphany. Cancer is a condition much in the same way diabetes or asthma is a condition. Basically, I will have to do what the doctors say and monitor and take care of myself for the rest of my life.
The doctors say I should begin having mammograms starting at the age of 30 to prevent breast cancer.
Ok, I will have a yearly professional breast squishing.
I was told that at MD Anderson there is a cardiologist who has research interest in people who have had radiation to the chest and how it affects the heart. I was recommended to perhaps do a follow up with that doctor yearly to check the health of my heart.
Ok, yearly pilgrimage to Houston to follow up with the radiation oncologist and perhaps to visit with this cardiologist.
Whenever blood is drawn for my regular monthly labs for the next 2 years, my thyroid will be checked. If it looks irregular, I will have medication prescribed to me.
Ok, medication to control my thyroid.
This is all very doable stuff. If you compact it all, it becomes extremely scary and menacing. Once I begin stretching it out and looking at the individual pieces, I begin to realize that it is all part of a process. This is the process of my life and will continue to be the process of my life. I’m tough enough to defeat anything before it becomes a problem. So, in terms of tenacity in survival, I’m not concerned.
Now, it’s a matter of playing the game smart.
To be continued...
