From There to Treatment - Outside

August was spent being tested and seeing an oncologist.  The diagnosis was in by mid-late August: Hodgkin's Lymphoma.  That helped a lot: there's a  lot of hope in that diagnosis.  More testing.  Final Diagnosis, classic Hodgkin's Lymphoma, Stage IIA.

Starting with a CBC blood test and a CT (with contrast) with positive results, the path to this diagnosis was: A needle biopsy to positively determine malignancy and gross differentiation. An excision biopsy under general anesthesia to remove a lymph node for fine differentiation.  A PET/CT scan to determine the extent of cancer activity throughout the body.  A bone marrow biopsy. 

So many times I've commiserated with friends about the time from their diagnosis to treatment. It's a time of hurry up and wait. This is just how it goes. It's okay, it doesn't effect your outcome.  Everyone goes through it.  It's natural to want to get started treating tomorrow.  You'll get started soon enough.