... just a quick note to let you know that everything went well yesterday with Judith's first treatment. The clinic staff were great as usual. If you're ever feeling down you should drop in there for a pick-me-up :-)
The anti-nausea medication is doing its job and Judith is at school today.
Tuesday, 30 May 2006
Saturday, 27 May 2006
Update from Ingrid
Terry has given you all a good introduction to the situation here at home. We have pulled together as a family as often happens when something threatens the daily equilibrium. I must say that my emotions and feelings have gone on a wild rollercoaster ride since we have known that something was amiss with Judith's health and even though all the tests have been done as soon as possible, to my mind it was never fast enough. I have been through sleepless nights and feeling sick with anxiety and when the result was finally in, it was a relief just knowing where we were at and what the next steps would be.
Judith has shown amazing strength and faith and I am immensely proud of her. We have all been doing some reading in the past week to prepare us for the weeks ahead. The staff at the Cancer Clinic at Southlake Regional Health Centre have given us a lot of information and are here to answer our questions. We are getting all the support and services we need ( nutritionist, social worker, home nurse ) as well as referrals to the Cancer Society for support, transportation if we need it, and activities such as The Look Good..Feel Better Workshop to help her cope with appearance changes.
On Monday Judith is going for her first chemo treatment. She has also got an appointment at Sunnybrook Hospital for a radiation consult ( unfortunately we don't have that service at Southlake yet ) June 6.
Please continue to pray for her and us.
Judith has shown amazing strength and faith and I am immensely proud of her. We have all been doing some reading in the past week to prepare us for the weeks ahead. The staff at the Cancer Clinic at Southlake Regional Health Centre have given us a lot of information and are here to answer our questions. We are getting all the support and services we need ( nutritionist, social worker, home nurse ) as well as referrals to the Cancer Society for support, transportation if we need it, and activities such as The Look Good..Feel Better Workshop to help her cope with appearance changes.
On Monday Judith is going for her first chemo treatment. She has also got an appointment at Sunnybrook Hospital for a radiation consult ( unfortunately we don't have that service at Southlake yet ) June 6.
Please continue to pray for her and us.
Thursday, 25 May 2006
It's Negative !
Well, we are very happy to tell you we heard today that the results of the bone marrow biopsy are negative. Thank you for your prayers and support. Next milestone is commencement of chemo on Monday.
Wednesday, 24 May 2006
No more news
Thank you for the many kind emails.
We have not heard anything more about the bone marrow test.
I realise from some responses that many of you know one or two members of our family, and very little about the rest of us. Here is a brief intro. in order of birth:
Terry (aka Dad): programming background; now in software quality for the healthcare industry.
Ingrid (Mom, Moed): social worker currently working with homeless families among others; bionic woman with hips that can set off security alarms.
Miriam (Mir): social worker; busy on her MA.
Mark (Maak): Electrical Engineer; busy having fun with his boat and new SUV to pull his boat
Sean: just finished a diploma in catering and restaurant management; busy having fun
Stephen (Steve): going into 4th year mech. eng.; still exploring the boundaries of fun; currently got a summer job in the UK
Judith: finishing high school; learned to fly gliders then learned to fly power planes; played on the school field hockey team and had played one game for the girls rugby team when she was diagnosed with lymphoma; planning to study human kinetics
We have not heard anything more about the bone marrow test.
I realise from some responses that many of you know one or two members of our family, and very little about the rest of us. Here is a brief intro. in order of birth:
Terry (aka Dad): programming background; now in software quality for the healthcare industry.
Ingrid (Mom, Moed): social worker currently working with homeless families among others; bionic woman with hips that can set off security alarms.
Miriam (Mir): social worker; busy on her MA.
Mark (Maak): Electrical Engineer; busy having fun with his boat and new SUV to pull his boat
Sean: just finished a diploma in catering and restaurant management; busy having fun
Stephen (Steve): going into 4th year mech. eng.; still exploring the boundaries of fun; currently got a summer job in the UK
Judith: finishing high school; learned to fly gliders then learned to fly power planes; played on the school field hockey team and had played one game for the girls rugby team when she was diagnosed with lymphoma; planning to study human kinetics
Monday, 22 May 2006
Judith: Diagnosis and Background
Some of you, our family and friends, are aware from email and personal contacts that Judith has been diagnosed with Hodgkin's Lymphoma. Others have only heard second hand. It has become quite an onerous task phoning people and sending email updates and so I decided to make use of this blog site to keep all of you, family, friends and acquaintances, updated.
Blow by blow diary of events leading up to the diagnosis:
Jan 7, 2006. Sat
Judith was concerned with a lump at the side of her neck. Being a Saturday, Ingrid went with her to the local Walk-In Clinic - a great Canadian medical institution that does not need an appointment and is good for keeping emergency wards for emergencies. The doctor there suspected Cat Scratch Fever and ordered an X-ray. We set up an appointment with our own GP.
Jan 16 Tue
Armed with X-ray went to see our GP, Dr Chernick, who happens to be a South African also from Johannesburg. He ordered blood works and booked Judith to have an ultra sound which she had Jan 25.
Feb 1 Wed
Follow-up appt. with Dr Chernick. After reviewing tests he referred Judith to ENT specialist, Dr Finkelstein. Appt. set up for Feb 28.
Feb 14 Tue
More lumps had developed so Ingrid & Judith dropped in on Dr Chernick while they were in same building. He had a cancellation and was able to see Judith almost immediately. He contacted Dr Finkelstein with a view to expediting appt.
Feb 16 Thu
Dr Finkelstein saw Judith and did needle biopsy
Feb 28 Tue
Consult w. Dr Finkelstein. Needle biopsy results were inconclusive and an antibiotic was recommended. Second ultra sound was ordered for Mar 14.
Mar 21 Tue
Judith had ultra sound. This had been postponed at her request so that she could visit Queen's University with a friend on the 14th.
Mar 31 Fri
Dr Finkelstein. Results of U/S were inconclusive. There was further development of swollen lymph nodes despite antibiotic. Surgical biopsy ordered.
April 19 Wed
Dr Finkelstein performs biopsy under anaesthetic at same day surgery, Southlake Hospital, Newmarket.
Apr 27 Thu
Dr Finkelstein. Biopsy results inconclusive - nothing ruled out however. Ordered CT scan and Gallium scan. The following link will tell you all about a Gallium scan. http://www.bchealthguide.org/kbase/topic/medtest/hw214778/descrip.htm
Biopsy specimen sent on to U of Toronto medical labs for further tests.
May 1 Mon
Southlake Hospital. First part of Gallium Scan: injection of agent.
May 4 Thu
Southlake Hospital. Gallium Scan.
May 10 Wed
York Central Hospital. X-ray & CT Scan.
May 11 Thu
Dr Finkelstein. Further tests on biopsy specimens had found Hodgkin's Lymphoma.
Judith referred to oncologist, Dr Zibdawi.
May 12 Fri
Judith and Terry meet school (Dr John Denison, Newmarket) vice-principal, Ms Bregg. She is very sympathetic and understanding, herself a cancer survivor, and promises school will accomodate Judith's treatment needs without prejudice to the finalization of her academic year.
See school website: http://denison.fdns.net/
May 18 Thu
Dr Zibdawi, Cancer Clinic, Southlake Hospital. Consultation. Explains to Judith and Ingrid probable course of treatment and some implications. Orders bone marrow test. Judith chooses to have this next day.
May 19 Fri
Judith, Ingrid and Terry all go off to Dr Zibdawi, Cancer Clinic, Southlake Hospital. Judith has bone marrow aspiration (drawn off with needle) and biopsy (section cut with knife) under local freezing. For more info see:
http://www.lymphomation.org/test-bmb.htm
During consultation afterwards Dr Zibdawi confirms that Judith has stage II Hodgkin's Lymphoma with sites in the neck, under left armpit and a "borderline" bulky mass between the lungs. Should the bone marrow test come back positive then it will be stage IV.
What is next?
May 24 or 25 (Wed or Thu)
Results of bone marrow test.
May 29 Mon
Judith has first chemo-treatment at Southlake.
June 9 Fri
Dr John Denison High School Prom.
June 12 Mon
Second chemo-treatment. Thereafter fortnightly for a total of, hopefully, 8 treatments in all (also called 4 cycles). This will be followed by a course of radiation. The oncologist may determine that 6 cycles are necessary but we are all praying that will not be the case.
June 28 Wed
School graduation ceremony.
How is Judith taking this?
I will answer this only very briefly as it is more appropriate for Judith to answer this question for herself, which, she tells me, she will do sometime.
As I see it, her attitude is great and her faith in Jesus is strong. She is actively confronting her illness by reading the literature and has heeded advice given by Mark's girlfriend, Luisa, a nutritionist, and has made changes to her diet. Parents, brothers and sister are all very proud of her and the way she is tackling this latest challenge in her life.
How are the rest of us taking this?
I will only answer for myself: My Christian faith has suddenly become even more important to me than ever. Each member of my family has become more precious to me. My work ensuring we produce quality software for the healthcare industry has taken on new meaning as I realize that I can help, albeit in a tiny way, other "Judiths" in other families. I feel deep appreciation for all the expressions of support from friends and family.
Blow by blow diary of events leading up to the diagnosis:
Jan 7, 2006. Sat
Judith was concerned with a lump at the side of her neck. Being a Saturday, Ingrid went with her to the local Walk-In Clinic - a great Canadian medical institution that does not need an appointment and is good for keeping emergency wards for emergencies. The doctor there suspected Cat Scratch Fever and ordered an X-ray. We set up an appointment with our own GP.
Jan 16 Tue
Armed with X-ray went to see our GP, Dr Chernick, who happens to be a South African also from Johannesburg. He ordered blood works and booked Judith to have an ultra sound which she had Jan 25.
Feb 1 Wed
Follow-up appt. with Dr Chernick. After reviewing tests he referred Judith to ENT specialist, Dr Finkelstein. Appt. set up for Feb 28.
Feb 14 Tue
More lumps had developed so Ingrid & Judith dropped in on Dr Chernick while they were in same building. He had a cancellation and was able to see Judith almost immediately. He contacted Dr Finkelstein with a view to expediting appt.
Feb 16 Thu
Dr Finkelstein saw Judith and did needle biopsy
Feb 28 Tue
Consult w. Dr Finkelstein. Needle biopsy results were inconclusive and an antibiotic was recommended. Second ultra sound was ordered for Mar 14.
Mar 21 Tue
Judith had ultra sound. This had been postponed at her request so that she could visit Queen's University with a friend on the 14th.
Mar 31 Fri
Dr Finkelstein. Results of U/S were inconclusive. There was further development of swollen lymph nodes despite antibiotic. Surgical biopsy ordered.
April 19 Wed
Dr Finkelstein performs biopsy under anaesthetic at same day surgery, Southlake Hospital, Newmarket.
Apr 27 Thu
Dr Finkelstein. Biopsy results inconclusive - nothing ruled out however. Ordered CT scan and Gallium scan. The following link will tell you all about a Gallium scan. http://www.bchealthguide.org/kbase/topic/medtest/hw214778/descrip.htm
Biopsy specimen sent on to U of Toronto medical labs for further tests.
May 1 Mon
Southlake Hospital. First part of Gallium Scan: injection of agent.
May 4 Thu
Southlake Hospital. Gallium Scan.
May 10 Wed
York Central Hospital. X-ray & CT Scan.
May 11 Thu
Dr Finkelstein. Further tests on biopsy specimens had found Hodgkin's Lymphoma.
Judith referred to oncologist, Dr Zibdawi.
May 12 Fri
Judith and Terry meet school (Dr John Denison, Newmarket) vice-principal, Ms Bregg. She is very sympathetic and understanding, herself a cancer survivor, and promises school will accomodate Judith's treatment needs without prejudice to the finalization of her academic year.
See school website: http://denison.fdns.net/
May 18 Thu
Dr Zibdawi, Cancer Clinic, Southlake Hospital. Consultation. Explains to Judith and Ingrid probable course of treatment and some implications. Orders bone marrow test. Judith chooses to have this next day.
May 19 Fri
Judith, Ingrid and Terry all go off to Dr Zibdawi, Cancer Clinic, Southlake Hospital. Judith has bone marrow aspiration (drawn off with needle) and biopsy (section cut with knife) under local freezing. For more info see:
http://www.lymphomation.org/test-bmb.htm
During consultation afterwards Dr Zibdawi confirms that Judith has stage II Hodgkin's Lymphoma with sites in the neck, under left armpit and a "borderline" bulky mass between the lungs. Should the bone marrow test come back positive then it will be stage IV.
What is next?
May 24 or 25 (Wed or Thu)
Results of bone marrow test.
May 29 Mon
Judith has first chemo-treatment at Southlake.
June 9 Fri
Dr John Denison High School Prom.
June 12 Mon
Second chemo-treatment. Thereafter fortnightly for a total of, hopefully, 8 treatments in all (also called 4 cycles). This will be followed by a course of radiation. The oncologist may determine that 6 cycles are necessary but we are all praying that will not be the case.
June 28 Wed
School graduation ceremony.
How is Judith taking this?
I will answer this only very briefly as it is more appropriate for Judith to answer this question for herself, which, she tells me, she will do sometime.
As I see it, her attitude is great and her faith in Jesus is strong. She is actively confronting her illness by reading the literature and has heeded advice given by Mark's girlfriend, Luisa, a nutritionist, and has made changes to her diet. Parents, brothers and sister are all very proud of her and the way she is tackling this latest challenge in her life.
How are the rest of us taking this?
I will only answer for myself: My Christian faith has suddenly become even more important to me than ever. Each member of my family has become more precious to me. My work ensuring we produce quality software for the healthcare industry has taken on new meaning as I realize that I can help, albeit in a tiny way, other "Judiths" in other families. I feel deep appreciation for all the expressions of support from friends and family.
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