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.
