Rocco Maiolo's Ramblings and Musings

Someone who has lymphoma told me that it's a roller coaster of emotions.  Sometime between this post and the last, I had an appointment to go over my results. It was a very good appointment: bone marrow, bone sample, blood work all came back good.  The CT scan showed 2 very slightly enlarged lymph nodes.  One centimetre or less is normal.  My two were each 1.2 cm.  The doctor says that typically when someone is first diagnosed the CT scan usually shows a half dozen or more nodes each 7 or 8 cm. My wife and I were prepared for the worst.  We thought I'd be getting chemotherapy.  As it is, I have 3 months of watchful waiting and then another CT scan and more blood work. Thanks to all my friends and family for their out-pouring of prayer and support.

I don’t want to seem morbid or dark, but I must say, there are things that have struck me as ironic in the last few weeks since I’ve found out that I have lymphoma. For better or worse, my wife and I have decided that the right thing to do is let people in on our journey.   So, a few days after telling my immediate family, I told my extended family, colleagues, former colleagues, and close friends.   I’ve let people know through phone calls, in person, emails and social media.   My wife linked my last blog post to her Facebook. It’s been exhausting, but it’s also been good for my soul.   The outpouring of love has been overwhelming.   It has brought me to tears several times.   One colleague with whom I’ve been working for only a short while said she felt like she’d been “kicked in the gut.”   A former student – one of the brightest, kindest people I’ve ever known – told me to “add [her family’s] voices to the swelling chorus of love and support.” This is

January 31, 2014             Less than a week ago, I was diagnosed with low grade, follicular lymphoma.   The surgeon who did the biopsy was the one who called.   She rattled off all these words: test came back positive low grade follicular lymphoma oncology medical not surgical CT scan test any questions?   I said, “yeah, … can you repeat the part about… well, the whole thing?”               So she did.   And she followed it, predictably, with, “Any other questions?”             “No.”             “Low grade” sounded good. “Lymphoma” not so much. Told my family.   Did a bit of research.   Watched a Youtube video of a Swedish surgeon. Family was pretty much devastated.   I was mostly in shock.   Now, it’s mostly surreal.             A doctor friend told me that as soon as something comes back tagged “cancer” that the system moves super fast.   He wasn't kidding.   I got two calls several days after receiving the news.   One from the oncologist for an appointment exactl