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Fighting for my small children

I am a 30 year old mother of 2 (3 years old and 15 months). I was diagnosed with hodgkins lymphoma in October 2010 and have been agressively fighting it since then.

I remember the hot August evening like it was yesterday. It was a saturday night and we had just had dinner at the inlaws house. We were settling in for the night - my husband was cuddling with our 3 year old and I was nursing our 10 month old at the time. I touched my neck as I was nursing and there it was a lump. I immediately told my husband and we decided that if it did not go away in 3 days I would go and see my doctor.
I went in to see my doctor on the thursday and she not only felt it but she said that she could see it. She immediately referred me to a surgeon to do a fine needle test. She did not say what it could be.
The second or third week of September I had an appt with the surgeon/specialist who felt my neck and chest. Following my examination she named off a list of what my lump can be a result of. Swollen glands, infection, and there it was - what I was scared of - CANCER. I got my requisitions for an ultra sound, chest xray and biopsy and made out of that office holding my tears back. I got to my car and weeped the whole way home.
The surgeon was leaving on vacation and as a result my doctor had suggested that I see another specialist to get things rolling and I did. I had my chest xray that 3rd week in September and my biopsy tuesday after thanksgiving. After my biopsy my family doctor called me to go in and told me the news "you have lymphoma". Later that week I went to the specilialist who confirmed the lymphoma - he added that I would have a hard year. The third week of October I was to start chemotherapy.
Although we weren't sure what stage the cancer was in we had to begin chemotherapy. It was bitter sweet - I was excited but terrified. My first week of chemotherapy I had to do a bone marrow biopsy to see if the cancer was in my bones. The test hurt so much. It was unsuccessful. Also my first chemo week I couldn't see as a result of some of the anti nausant meds. It was a horrible week. A few weeks later I redid the bone marrow test successfully and finally I got some good news - it was not in my bone marrow! Thank the Lord!
Stage 3 Hodgkins Lymphoma - 6 cycles of chemotherapy - 12 treatments.
I have just finished my 5th cycle and look forward to finishing my 6th cycle and I pray that I won't need radiation - being away from my family and friends scares me. Chemotherapy makes me very fatigued which is a huge challenge when you have children under 3. Luckily I have great family and friends who watch them on my chemotherapy weeks - but I do look forward to putting this behing me!

 

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