Hi Memarkiam,

A very warm welcome to our club.

I am so sorry to hear about your symptoms. Your consultant sees so many scans, that he could possibly tell you exactly what your symptoms are, even before the biopsy results come back. Likewise, he can say whether or not it is treatable. All the biopsy does is to say whether or not there is cancer present - you can't tell this from a scan.

You will probably find that the questions will come when you are a little further down the line.

In the meantime, I am hoping and praying for you that this is a lymphoma. Please keep in touch and let us know how you get on. We are always here for you.

Kind regards,

Jolamine xx

Thank you so much for your reply. 
 

That's very helpful. 

Feeling for you through this terrible stage of just waiting Memarkium.

Lots of tests eventually give your doctor and you the answers you want regarding treatment. When you finally get those, it is a relief as you can prepare for the known. Without that info I felt like I was waiting to fight this thing with boxing gloves on but the umpire wouldn't blow the whistle. Or more accurately, ready at the starting line but the chief steward will not tell you if your run is a sprint or an ultra marathon, or how long you have to wait to start the race but you need to be prepared for anything. I have my double mastectomy and lymph removal scheduled for 16th May and honestly looking forward to getting this fight started.

Please take the time to get your mind in order while waiting. Do things that you love doing, eat nice meals, get some exercise, prepare your liver to handle chemo by avoiding alcohol, and make up some frozen meals and soups ready for the days you will not feel like cooking once chemo starts. Try to make plans with friends and family to help share your jobs with kids and appointments. Let family and friends help as they want to.

Prepare to be strong to fight this and take confidence in the many who have achieved great results on this chatline. Good luck from the rest of the team on this site that are with you on a similar journey xx

Thank you so much. I really appreciate that. 
 

I am feeling mentally strong, motivated, and strangely feeling pretty good at the moment. I've handed my diet over to my wife, who has been nagging me for ages about it! ;) and she's making me healthful salads etc. 
 

but she seems to be struggling with this news more than I am. And I haven't told my daughters yet. Or my son. I know this will be a team effort to get through this, even if I have to lead the team, at least initially. 
 

as you say, the waiting's not easy, but one step at a time...