Friday, January 2, 2009

The Diagnosis

On Wednesday, December 31 my husband Jim and I met with my oncologist to receive a definitive diagnosis of my brain biopsy along with a treatment plan. I have Central Nervous System (CNS) Lymphoma, a very rare form of brain cancer. I have an extensive battery of tests next week (PET/CT scan, bone marrow biopsy, echocardiogram, blood work, etc.) to stage the disease. I should start chemo therapy the following week. I'll have a week of chemo and then two weeks off for a total of 6 cycles. What a way to start a new year...
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6 comments:

  1. katieJanuary 3, 2009 at 11:43 AM

    Wow, Denise. Thanks for setting up a way for us all to keep updated. I'll be praying for you as you go through an adventure of hope, but one that I know is also an adventure of great pain and wrestling. Blessings, friend, on the journey ahead.

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  2. DagodevasJanuary 5, 2009 at 8:27 AM

    Hi Denise, this is Peter from church. You will certainly be in our prayers through all of this. We love you guys.

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  3. AnonymousJanuary 5, 2009 at 1:09 PM

    Hey Denise

    It's Tamra Willett-Johnson, a voice from the murky mists of the past. Perhaps because I've been wrestling with my own brain/body health issues, your Dad and my folks told me about your situation and gave me the blog address.

    I so want to cuss here and say something like "Man, your situation is totally fucked up! It isn't right or fair--and I know the universe isn't right or fair, but it is still fucked up!!!" But since I don't know who you feel about cussing, I'll snap on my cuss-o-meter and keep it clean.

    If you'd like, I'd be happy to write you and amuse and/or bore you with the mundane routine that is my life since I had to stop working. Hollywood is screaming for the film rights, but unless they let me direct, I won't sign anything.

    I love the English language--I love how it adopts and creates words and metaphors. But it's sorely lacking in some areas. For instance, there's no word or phrase that conveys sorrow/support/hope with a dash of optimisim. If there was such a word, I'd be saying it right now to you.

    Tamra

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  4. Denise K. CastleJanuary 10, 2009 at 9:32 AM

    Tamra,
    I love your posts! You're a great writer and I appreciate your understanding of the difficulties that I face with my own "brain/body" isssues. If you don't mind my asking, what are your "brain/body" issues that cause you similar problems to mine?
    Denise

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  5. Denise K. CastleJanuary 10, 2009 at 9:35 AM

    Everyone,
    FYI, I start chemotherapy on Monday, January 12, and I'm scared to death.

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  6. AnonymousJanuary 10, 2009 at 6:04 PM

    Love you Denise,
    Julie

    ReplyDelete

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