My journey - battling lymphoma

Recently I celebrated my 46th birthday. I love celebrating birthdays! Then I participated as a co-captain for our local "Quabog" Relay For Life and the Pack 57 Rocks! Cub Scout Team. This was the time frame that I had discovered an uneasiness in my stomach and growth in my spleen and stomach. After weeks of monitoring, my husband Steve took me to the doctor who felt the lumps and ordered a CT scan. The CT scan showed a massive area, my spleen enlarged to twice its size and an additional growth lower in my stomach. Next was the localized CT guided biopsy and subsequent PET scan. The biopsy showed positive for lymphoma and most likely Diffuse Large B-cell Lymphoma.

This is my online journal sharing my experience through battling this cancer that has abruptly entered my life for no apparent reason. The story is documented here if you want to start from the beginning, you can check the archives on the side bar.

As a top competitive master athlete this year winning my age group at the Marine Corps Marathon and placing 3rd in the New England Trail Running Championship I have been truly excited with my results of late and am a truly driven athlete. Driven by goals.... my goal right now.... to beat this "thing"!

Monday, July 12, 2010

Hope & Inspiration: The Wall of Hope and the Healing Garden

Photo of the picture of Lynne Graziano-Morin with her Dr Gebhart - the doc she trusts!  :)  Lynne has been a great friend and true resource for me.  I think you can read her story below -- it in itself is a true story of hope and faith in surviving cancer.  I feel truly fortunate to have her as a friend and someone I trust to help me get this diagnosis as quick as possible.  She directed us to Diane Smith the head nurse at Mass General Cancer Center to get our intial appointment with Dr. Hochberg that we had to cancel for insurance reasons.  and then was also just able to help us quickly navigate the system and get real feedback -- and she always answers my phone call.  :)



The Healing Garden on the ninth floor outside Children's Oncology area.  A calm and beautiful spot overlooking the city of Boston and the Charles River








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