Update

Brad had his first appointment with the oncologist today. It was very last minute since we got called after they had a cancellation. He is seeing Dr. Harrington and I have to say she was wonderful. She was the same oncologist that my Aunt Marilyn saw so her and her nurse know my mom very well! But I think that it put both of us at ease. When we got the news on Monday we were both just in shock. Reality hit me yesterday and I had a few moments of tears. I think today was the reality moment for Brad as he learned more about what was going to be happening in the weeks ahead.

First of all we know that he has Hodgkin's Lymphoma but there are 4 different types of this cancer. There is one that she sees alot and the others she said that she very rarely sees. So in order to tell exactly what type of Hodgkin's he has she is needing another biopsy and she needs a larger piece of the lymph node. He will be having this mini surgery next Wednesday and at the same time they will also be placing a port into his chest so that he can receive his chemo through this port.

Also she is needing to see if the cancer cells are in his bone marrow. So he will be having a bone marrow aspiration and biopsy this Friday. Also on Friday he is having a MUGA Scan. This scan will test the strength of his heart muscle to make sure that he can handle on of the drugs that she wants to give him. Please say lots of prayers for Brad on this day. I hear that the bone marrow aspiration and biopsy are pretty painful procedures and he will be awake with some sedation and a local to numb his hip where they will take this from.

Right now she said that with all she has she would consider him a stage 2 since the disease is in both his chest and neck. If it comes back showing in his bone marrow then he will be a stage 4. After all of the results come back he will start Chemo which he will get to do in Benton at her office she comes to on Tues and Thurs. She said that he will have two months of chemo each round will take about 3.5 hours. (I will post more on this when that time comes.) She said to be prepared to become a baldy because of one of the drugs he will be given. Brad is okay with this and hopes that his hair will come back long and blond!! After he has chemo she will then determine if he will have to have radiation.

I really like Dr Harrington she said that she was going to get him cured and once he is considered cured there is a very tiny chance that it will come back!!!

I must also say a thank you to everyone that has emailed, called left comments on the blog. We feel so blessed to have so many people standing behind us and praying with us during this time. I am sorry if I have not called you back or responded to your emails but please know that I have received them and I am forever grateful for your thoughts and prayers at this time.

Thanks for checking in on him!

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Just for those that are interested here is some info I found on a website. It may help you better understand what he has and what is about to go through.

Hodgkin lymphoma is one of the most curable forms of cancer. It is most likely to be diagnosed in people in their twenties or thirties. It is less common in middle age and becomes more common again after age 60.
Hodgkin lymphoma is distinguished from other types of lymphoma by the presence of the Reed-Sternberg cell (named for the scientists who first identified it). Although they are found within the lymph nodes, Reed-Sternberg cells may not be lymphocytes. Other related cells associated with the disease are called "Hodgkin cells."

Hodgkin lymphoma can be cured in about 86 percent of all patients. The cure rate in younger patients is about 90 percent.

Treatment includes chemotherapy or chemotherapy and involved field radiation therapy, which targets the Hodgkin lymphoma masses. Other parts of the body are protected to prevent harm. Chemotherapy is used with radiation to kill nearby lymphoma cells.
Four or more drugs may be used together. Drugs may be injected, given through a catheter or taken by mouth.