#hodgekins

[stonershrub-blog]

as a cancer survivor the only thing i need to do now is to emjoy my life i could die in 1 year or 60 but i am not slowing down because life is so short. love.dance.drink.smoke.smile.

[mynameisragan]

Becca Hodgekins is my spirit animal.

[let-me-be-br0ken]

This might sound sad..

But I won't lie. I litterally sit on YouTube for hours before I fall asleep watching peoples cancer survival stories. I tear up even at the thought of someone I don't know going through it, and seeing how much they've recovered and how much there outlook on life has changed...it honestly humbles me so much. It gives me hope for Laura and for anyone else fighting this battle. I never knew how strong and brave people could be, but seeing it for myself and watching someone so close to me have the ability to fight something that devastes millions of peoples lives like she's done it a million times before. I'm so proud of anyone who relates to this post. Even if you haven't been diagnosed, maybe its family or a friend who has been. I'm proud of every last one of you strangers.

[kickinghodgkinsass-blog]

Day 1

My name is Kelly, and on February 28th, 2011, I was diagnosed with Hodgkin's lymphoma.

I'm currently a 17-year-old senior in high school, I've been ranked number one in my class for the past three years, and in the fall I'm heading off to Steven's Institute of Technology. I have a wonderful boyfriend whom I love with all my heart; I would do anything for him. My family and friends are nothing short of amazing - my parents, brother, grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins, friends, and classmates are all supporting me 100% of the way. I really couldn't ask for a better support group.

I guess I should begin my tale, well, at the beginning.

Oddly enough, on Chrismas Eve, I noticed two bumps in my neck - one on each side. I was worried and thought it was strange, but never gave it much thought.

A few weeks later, I had a regular check-up with my pediatrician. I asked her about the bumps in my neck - which she told me were lymph nodes - and she assured me that I was fine. Haaaaaaa. Right.

About a week or so later, I spent a day in NYC in the absolute freezing cold. I shivered all day. And, what do you know, I got sick. I had a fever, dizziness, a headache, and a terrible cough...some sort of the flu. I went to the doctor's (this time a different doctor than the pediatrician!) and went on antibiotics. Within a week or so, everything got better except the cough.

About two weeks later, I went back to the doctor because the cough was persisting. I was prescribed a stronger antibiotic and a nebulizer (a breathing machine thingy) to use four times a day. When that didn't help, my doctor suggested that I go for a chest x-ray.

The chest x-ray didn't really do much. The doctor then sent me to have a CAT scan of my chest, so they could get clearer and better results. The CAT scan showed that everything - my lungs, my organs, etc. - were all clear. The problem was that my lymph nodes were super enlarged, so my primary doctor suggested that I go to a specialist - an Ear, Nose, and Throat doctor.

A week or so later, we went to the ENT (the specialist doctor). After feeling my lymph nodes and looking over all of the CAT scan results, he proposed that a biopsy of my lymph node would be done. Normally, they stick a needle inside the lymph node and pull out some fluid - in my case though, it was better to just take out a whole lymph node. I was going to have surgery the next Tuesday (February 22nd).

I was told that I would be in the hospital overnight. My doctor said that because of the location where the biopsy would be done, there was the possibility of "dropping" a lung, problems with nerves, etc. I was going to have a breathing tube down my throat, so I would probably have a sore throat for a while. Depending on how the surgery went, I possibly needed a drain at the surgery site (it just collects fluid...ewww).

I went to the hospital with my mom and dad at 6AM on the 22nd. We filled out paper work, I changed into a gown, and got into a bed. My first nurse was so nice and explained everything! I loved her. She even gave me heated blankets because I was freeeeeezing! She put an IV in my arm, which they would give me anesthesia through when it came time for the surgery.

After that, everything was sort of a blur. I remember being wheeled down the bright hallways into the operating room. I remember being moved onto a different bed. And the next thing I remember is waking up in the recovery unit! The first thing I said when I woke up was, "Holy crap! It's 9 AM!"...yeeeah. Hahahaha.

My surgery went so smoothly! There was no drain, I hardly bled, and all they had to do was lift up my sternocleidomastoid (thats the muscle in your neck, for all you non-anatomy buffs) and pull out a lymph node. Well, I'm sure it wasn't THAT easy, but it went smoothly. I felt fine in no time at all! I was talking, watching TV, and just being my normal Kelly self within an hour. I got tons of flowers, balloons, and stuffed animals, which were all lovely, by the way! :) I was in no pain at all.

At 4 PM, they let me leave!! Yay! No overnight in the hospital! I was feeling fine! I went home, ate normal food (!!), and napped for a looooong time. I missed school the rest of the week and anxiously waited for results.

The Monday after that, the 28th, they confirmed that it was Hodgkin's Lymphoma. Scary news. But, everything happens for a reason. The good news is that Hodgkin's is very, VERY treatable. My case appears to be a "classic case" of Hodgkin's...no abnormalities. Which is good! Everything is just what the doctors expect it to be, so i'll be treated and better in no time, hopefully!

Tuesday the 29th, I met with the oncologist at the Cancer Institute of NJ, in New Brunswick. Since I'm 17, I still go to a pediatric doctor - so there were trains and toys, nurses wearing "Dora" on their scrubs, a box of prizes that you can win, etc. I kind of felt out of place, but it was very humbling. Seeing little, tiny children - only 2, 3, 4 years old - that had cancer made me feel brave. If they can do it, so can I. And I will.

I met with the doctor and he was AMAZING! He was so nice, and so throrough in all of his explainations. He scheduled me for a bunch of routine tests to check all of my organs and stuff before chemo can begin. They want to make sure that everything is in good, working order before they put such intense medicine into my body. Makes sense to me! So this week I'm going for all sorts of things like CAT scans, pet scans (whatever those are...), echocardiograms, and so on. I don't even know half the things I'm doing!

Yes, I'm going to lose my hair...which sucks. My amazing boyfriend said that he's going to shave his head, too, which to me is so honorable and so outstanding, and I can't love him enough for it. It really means a lot to me. My mom says she's going to do the same thing. Obviously, I can get wigs and stuff, but it's only hair. As much as I love my long hair, it's more important that I get healthy.

The oncologist (cancer doctor) said that I'll be going through four cycles of chemo. Each time, I'll be in the hospital for three days (usually Tuesday-Thursday) and then I'll be sent home. Chemo is spaced three weeks apart. And in between sessions, he said that I can do whatever I feel up to! So that means school, seeing friends, going out - yay! I'm not too scared. I feel like everything will work itself out.

Today, the 2nd of March, I had an EKG and and echo cardiogram. Basically, they put these magnetic stickers on me and attached wires to them. A woman sort of did an ultra sound and "mapped" out my heart. It took about 35-40 minutes, I'd say, and I fell asleep during it! Hahaha! Then I had blood work, which was just routine.

Tomorrow I have a couple more tests, so I'll be missing school. At this point, school is the least of my priorities. Obviously my health comes first. My teachers are all so wonderful and so understanding about it. I can't thank them enough! I think I have a pet scan and a pulmonary test...hmmm.

So, the bottom line is, I have cancer. I'm only 17. It's scary, and its a damn sucky situation. I believe that everything happens for a reason, and I'll get through this. I don't have a choice. I'm just fortunate that it's not anything worse! Like, what if the doctor was just like, "Sorry, there's nothing we can do for you." ? It's been a crazy whirlwind, but I'm ready to do whatever it takes. Cancer, you're gonna lose this battle.

I'll update more as I go, to the best of my abilities!