Yesterday I was seen by the oncologist Dr Paul Dodd. We spent almost 3 hours there to get the convoluted history put together of the timeline of events, starting with the removal of Wanda back in September. I realized that it was obvious that my hilarious dermatologist was a bit off with his diagnosis and treatment. In retrospect it was all meant to be as I was only connected to my surgeon and his colleague through him. If I had stayed with the original oncologist I would have been on chemo by now, and who knows what drug.
I have Marginal Zone lymphoma, a blood cancer that is in my white blood cells. Mine is what they call Indolent as opposed to Aggressive. Normally they do not surgectly remove the lesions, but as this presented on my scalp and was diagnosed as the Pilar cyst , Dr Dodd said was totally understandable why it was removed. The second lesion on my collarbone should have been biopsied but not removed. I have a 5 inch scar but it’s rather rad. Meanwhile, untold by me, 3 more lesions have emerged and Dr. Dodd, who introduced himself as Paul, confirmed that the one on my neck and back of my left knee were most likely lymphoma. As far as the third one on my head behind my ear he felt but couldn’t see through my luxurious locks (not) and couldn’t tell.
I had a few options to choose from, and this is what we decided. He prescribed a very strong steroid cream to put directly on the lumps. I have to apply it 2x a day. It has a fifty fifty chance of working so I picked this for my first option. If it doesn’t work I would get Chemo for 4 weeks, once a week for 4 1/2 -6 hours. The chemo would be Rituxan, he said I wouldn’t lose my hair and the side effects are minimal. I may get an infusion reaction and it would compromise my immune system. The great news is that it works. This cancer does reoccur but it could be anytime, he said 4 days, 4 months, 4 years. The same chemo can be used again. He said he doesn’t like to use the word “curable” with cancer but this is totally treatable and is not going to kill me.
As Scott said, he needs to go to plan B for my demise and life insurance.
Being told by my dermatologist I had a very rare type of lymphoma was not the case. I know all these guys know each other and the surgeon and Dr. Dodd were a bit incredulous with what transpired with me and extremely sympathetic for the crazy ride I had been on. It is so wonderful to have a positive diagnosis and plan, and as I said before, I wouldn’t have the best of the best without having seen this eccentric funny doctor first. Everything has reason. I am going to end this journal now. My deepest thanks for all the love and support and prayers for me. I’m one of the lucky ones, cancer is a heinous monster and I missed a bullet. Much love, Eve
