First post:
Nov 23, 2021 Latest post:
Nov 14, 2022
Welcome to our CaringBridge website. We are using it to keep family and friends updated in one place. We appreciate your support and words of hope and encouragement. Jeff has been diagnosed with High Grade B-cell Lymphoma -- a type of Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma on November 14th, 2021.
Here's the TIMELINE:
SEPTEMBER 20 -- Jeff felt a lump under his arm while showering. Because he believes in good self-care (and always couldn't understand why those people on shows like Dr. Pimple Popper would let something just linger unchecked for months (or years), he immediately called his GP. SEPTEMBER 21 -- GP Appointment. When there, they seemed not terribly concerned but ordered an Ultrasound which was on SEPTEMBER 25 .. which came back as odd, but rather unremarkable. (The report suggested that it might be an abscess.)
OCTOBER 27: He had a regularly scheduled appointment with the dermatologist, as he has a non-systemic form of Lupus and goes on a semi-regular basis. His Dr. felt that the lump should not be there.. so wanted him to get it removed.. and also ordered blood work. The blood work came back as completely normal. OCTOBER 29: Surgical Consult for removal -- YEP.. the Surgeon also thought it was an odd lump, as it wasn't soft and pliable (like a lipoma) -- said maybe it was a cyst.. but let's just remove it.
NOVEMBER 4: SURGERY to remove the Mass -- NOVEMBER 14: Dr. called with Biopsy results (Calls unexpectedly on a Sunday are NEVER good) NOVEMBER 16: 1st Hematology/Oncology Appointment. Since then.. it's been a whirlwind of tests... additional blood tests, ECHO, PET Scan, Bone Marrow Biopsy and Port Placement.
This is what we KNOW as of today -- 11/30/21:
The PET scan showed only cancer under his arm. Which, as long as the Bone Marrow comes back Negative (no sign of cancer in the marrow) will make Jeff Stage ONE! We're waiting on a 2nd opinion from Sloane Kettering. but most likely means a minimum of 4 rounds of outpatient Chemotherapy -- which will begin on December 14th. If the Bone Marrow comes back Positive - he will have an automatic 6 rounds of Chemotherapy. The first scenario has about a 95% chance of remission, the second scenario has above an 80% chance.
It's still going to be a long road, and chemotherapy for Lymphoma is a cocktail of 5 drugs and will cause all the "things" -- Nausea, Hair Loss, Fatigue, etc. But now we know the lay of the land.. and now we FIGHT!!
Thank you, in advance, for supporting us with your prayers, your love, and meals, etc... We love you for it. If you want to add him to your prayers, his Hebrew name is Zissel HaLevi ben Liba. Check out other areas of the Caring Bridge for ways to help... it might not be up today.. but will in the next few days.
