Deanna’s Story

Site created on January 26, 2023

My story is a accidental diganosis of Mantle Cell Lymphomia. On October 21, 2022 I thought I was having a stroke.  Had paramdics come out to see me. It was actually a Complex Migraine.  Went to see my primary doctor and he said for giggles let's do a Head CT and Caeotid Ultrasound. Both came back clean but they noted on the Ultrasound, they saw 2 Lymph Nodes Slighly enlarged.  My primary doctor had me come in and discuss things.  We were thinking of a virus since the only other symptom I had was a low white count. Slightly enlarged Nodes and low-white count reallys shows a virus. Again, I have a doctor who thinks of all diagnosis asked me to do a CT scan of my neck area! I did and discovered several Lymph Nodes swolleen, now mind you , everyone has hundreds of Nodes in their whole body. They were able to see one in my chest was enlarged. Talked to my doctor on phone, never a good sign, he asked me to do more blood work, another full neck to chest CT scan! Had my blood work on Dec 26, this is where it showed all my blood numbers tanked into the below normal. Not a good feedling.  Had my CT scan on Dec 30, and multiples Nodes enlarged! Then my doctor got me a Core Biposy on January 5th, 2023. This came back as Mantle Cell Lymphomia. My treatment plan is 2 Chemo groups of medicine.  Each group has a Immunotherapy which is a specific medicine to Target my type of cancer and several Chemo medicines as well. So each treatment has the same Immunotherapy but the difference is Chemo medicines. These treatments also inlcude a steroid, benadryl and nausea medicines.  I am being scheduled for 6 treatments (3 of each) about 21 day inbetween, Because I caught this early, my doctor feels I only have 10% cancer cells. Even with only 10% it's scary and can change at anytime to 100%.  So the moral of my story keep a ear to your healthy symptoms big or small. Don't ignore due to a busy schedule or you are scared! 

Newest Update

January 30, 2024

Journal entry by Deanna Ollig —

Hello Everyone! 

Here is a quick update! 

I will list things by month - 

December - Had a EKG - Normal (baseline for Chemo Pill)
                - Yearly Mamo - Normal 

January - 3 month Scan - No sign of "crap" (these will happen every 3 months for 5 years)
            -  8 week treatment #4, blood work and doctors appointment (treatments stop summer of 2025)

For the first time since December 2022 - my three main blood numbers are within normal levels. My platelets are 205 (normal 113-364) 
white cells are 5.9 (normal 3 - 8.9) this is a number that struggle. 
hemoglobin are 11.8 (11.3 - 15.2)  this is a number that  struggle. Good healthy normal for a woman is around 13 - 15 I still have several ways of healing - heart, kidneys and energy. 

I have also have started talking with a therapists. This is a therapists who specialist with patients with "crap". We are working through my feelings, guilt, anxiety and fear. I need someone in my corner who can be more sympathetic and willing to listen to ME! Hear my fears with a open heart and mind. It has been suggested I up my depression medicine. I was told last week, the dose I am on is a sprinkle dose. That most patients are on a dose double what I take at least. Still thinking this over. This has been a very hard journey for me and my family. All I can say this has brought me closer to my kids. 

This is a good story after this "crap". 
I thanked my older kids at Thanksgiving for supporting me and being able to help when needed. I know this has been hard on them. Seeing their mom so weak, lose weight and not be me. So as I thank Matt, Lauren and Nate. Nate just as he always does, said glad I can help. Lauren gave me the kid eye roll for - Mom are you stupid or what? Matt just looked at me with his words of wisdom. "Mom isn't that we are suppose to do". I am so thankful for my kids being there for me. Makes me feel like, gosh I did a good job! As for Steve, I am thankful for him going to most of my treatments, appointments and drive me to things when I was too weak/tired. Of course Alondra, who was my cheerful cheerleader on my very bad mental days. 

Thanks everyone! 
Deanna

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