I Don't ♥ Cancer

Zak had the port surgically placed and will begin treatment on Wednesday, August 19, 2009. This is the 1st week of the 1st cycle.

We went downtown to the University of Chicago for a 2nd opinion. Diagnosis confirmed.

Once again, we met with Dr. Goodell to get the results from all of Zak’s tests.  It was at this time that Zak was officially staged at a 2A.  The “2″ signifies there were masses in more than 1 location, but on the same side of the diaphragm.  When they divide your body in half, they do it horizontally.  In other words, he has several masses throughout his neck, but ONLY in his neck.  There were no other signs of cancer to be found at this time.  Thank God!!!!!  The “A” signifies that there are no other symptoms at this time.  Examples:  weight loss, fever, night sweats, chills, etc.  It was at this visit that Dr. Goodell presented us with a treatment plan.  Zak would need a port surgically placed in the upper right side of his chest.  This would allow easy access for chemotherapy.  He then will go through (3) 3 week cycles of treatment.  The 1st week would consist of chemotherapy for approximately 7 hours.  The 2nd week would consist of chemotherapy, but for a shorter amount of time.  Week 3 would  consist of port flushing, lab work and other tests to make sure Zak is responding well to the treatment.  Assuming all goes as planned (fingers crossed here), there is a chance that the port could be removed after 9 weeks and Zak would be closely monitored for quite some time.  However, if Zak does not respond well to treatment, we will need to make some adjustments.  I KNOW he will respond well!  We have caught this in a very early stage and have a fantastic doctor!!  I trust we are in the best of hands!!!!!

This was the date of our first meeting with a Pediatric Oncologist, Dr. Goodell.   (It literally took me a very long time to be able to say those words.) We are seeing an oncology group out of Lutheran General Hospital. After a 3 hour consultation, it became very clear to us that Zak really DID have cancer. The next 2 weeks consisted of several trips back and forth to Lutheran having every test imaginable! Pulmonary Function Test, EKG, Echocardiogram, Chest X-Ray, CT Scan and the dreadful PET Scan.

Diagnosis: Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. We were devastated!!!!!