Testing, Testing, Testing

So at my oncology appointment they set me up for a few more tests. I'm going to describe them all in the next few paragraphs and then talk about my follow up appointment at the oncologists.

On Thursday I had a PET CT. For this test they did a quick glucose check when I arrived (no eating but I was encouraged to drink plenty of water), I never like that finger prick, but at least it's fast, and then they put an IV tube into my arm and injected a shot of radioactive sugar (it was in a cool metal tube because of the radioactivity) which my fast growing cells, such as cancer cells, would eat and then act as a contrast on the scan. I also got to drink some special liquid mixed into crystal light lemonade that was intended to coat my digestive system to make it visible as well. I spent about an hour in a dark room while my body processed all this stuff into the right areas, and then I got to go through the CT experience again. For about half an hour I got to lay on a table while a special camera took pictures of my insides looking for cancer. Not too bad an experience, I sort of took a little nap.

Friday I went and got an Echocardio exam because some of the . They used a sonogram (ultrasound) to get pictures of my heart from a few different angles. These are cool because you get to see and hear your heart, and there weren't any needles involved. I just hung out on a table while the ultrasound tech took pictures of my heart from various angles. At the end of the exam he showed me all the pictures and told me which parts of the heart they were. Also, when your heartbeat is being projected at a loud enough volume the "thud, thud" noises are definitely squishier sounding. Kind of interesting to hear my own heart pumping blood.

Monday I had a bone marrow biopsy. No big deal. Just kidding, I was nervous and scared and it definitely hurt, but they were very kind and considerate. They numbed me up really good and then took out a sample of marrow and then a small piece of bone. You just feel a lot of pressure and kind of a sucking sensation. The noise made me a little queasy and the painkiller made me feel jittery because whatever it was worked as a stimulant. It was tons of fun. The procedure was really fast though, about 15 minutes.

Today was the best stuff. Today I went back to the Oncologist and learned more about my cancer. I have Stage 2 A Bulky High Risk Classical Hodgkin's Lymphoma. All of the cancerous lymph sites are located in my clavicle area and the upper area of my chest, so near my collar bone.Not too bad.
I am looking at about 6 rounds of ABVD chemotherapy with some nasty possible side effects such as the weakening of my heart valves, damage to my lungs, and peripheral neuropathy as well as nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, lowering if my immune system, and hair loss. After the chemotherapy there may be some radiation in the upper area of my chest. My doctor gave me some medication to help fight some of the negative side effects and increase my comfort level.
At the end of the week I go to a class where the nurses will explain more about the chemotherapy to me and then Monday they will place a port in my chest that will allow them to give the treatment more easily. Tuesday I start treatment.