McClintock's and Those

What McDad has been doing for the last year. The interview aired locally in Charlotte on June 24.

My bloodwork came back really postive. The lymphoma has not metastisized (spread to other parts of my body) and is only in my skin. The treatment, then, is extremely light, most likely topical steroid creams or nitrogen mustard, something to keep the "rash" on my skin from inflaming. I'm scheduled for a CT scan on July 1. This scan will confirm that I have no internal tumors as a result of the lymphoma. From there, I'll schedule periodic visits with my dermatologist and oncologist (1x each per year?) to monitor the lymphoma.

All in all, this is all realtively good news. We continue to be grateful for the prayers of His people on our behalf and have sensed His presence throughout this process. Please pray for Rachelle as well as for me. She not only has to deal with me and my doctor's appointments, she's dealing with being 10 weeks pregnant (morning sick, fatigue, etc., etc.).

It still seems surreal that I now have an oncologist.... Nevertheless, Rachelle and I met with 2 highly qualified, well-respected oncologists yesterday (June 22). Both had the same opinion: It ain't that bad.

"Lymphoma? Not bad?" Essentially, the Lymphoma was caught extremely early and I have mild case of it. While there's no cure for CTCL today, it is readily containable and treatable. Both were of the opinion that neither chemotherapy nor radiation treatments were yet necessary, but rather a form of light therapy called PUVA. (One side effect from PUVA is that I'll get a nice tan....finally!! And no tan lines!). We will not yet need to see anyone at MD Anderson in Houston as it would be pre-mature.

Rachelle and I slept really well last night as our heightened levels of stress and anxiety came down a few notches from this relatively good news. We are extremely grateful for the prayers of God's people for us. We have experienced His peace, have had doors open to see doctors immediately, have received acts of kindness...it's hard to describe. Perhaps it was taste of Heaven - experiencing the Community of Faith (the Faith) here and now.

Thank you. Please keep praying.

It's Tuesday, yet it already seems that much more time has lapsed. We learned the results of the pathology report just last Friday, but since then:
1. I'm scheduled to see 2 oncologist in Charlotte tomorrow (Wed. June 22) - I'll need to pick one of them to be my ongoing oncologist.
2. I've made contact with MD Anderson in Houston. There's a chance I can see one of the doctors next week when I "swing" through (I'm driving from Charlotte to Austin next week with a friend who is moving there). If not next week, then I have an appointment with another doctor on July 20. Either way, it's amazing that I can be seen this quickly.

I mentioned above that "I" did this or that, I really mean to include Rachelle too. Today has been a busy day of phone calls, and Rachelle had been extremely engaged and my "Momma Bear." I'm blessed to have her on my team.

I'm equally blessed and quite impressed and encouraged by the prayers of God's people. Rachelle and I are seeing doors open, experiencing God's peace and being overly blessed with peoples' acts of kindness. Thank you...and keep praying.

Duke: Elise A. Olsen, MD
MD Anderson: Dr. Madeleine Duvic (specializes in CTCL)
Carolinas Hematology Oncology Group; Steven A. Limentani, MD (recommended by S.Byne)

1. Cancerbacup (Rachelle): CTCL Basics (link also on left). Layman's terms. If you read only one article, start here.
2. Cancerbacup (Rachelle): Non-Hodgin's Lymphoma (NHL) Overview. Layman's Terms.
3. Cancerweb (SuzieQ): Written for Doctors, but helpful, detail info if you don't mind looking up a few words.
4. Moffitt (Scott): H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute, Tampa, Fla. Clinical, but readable.
5. WebMD (Scott): Basic info. Layman's terms.
6. The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.
7. Lymphoma Focus. A Comprehensive Educational Resource for the Lymphoma Community.
8. National Cancer Institute

06/18/05: I have been diagnosed with a form of Cutaneous T-Cell Lymphoma (CTCL). A recently performed biopsy says that CTCL is present, but additional blood work are needed to stage it (i.e. determine how "bad" it really is) and determine the course of treatment. The blood work is scheduled for Friday, June 24 and results are expected the following week.

For years, I have been coping with what I thought was a form of eczema on my legs and hips. My current dermatologist decided to conduct a biopsy last week as she became concerned that the eczema might be CTCL. The pathologist confirmed her suspicion.

Rachelle and I have been facing this present reality with lots of prayer. As we tell people and we get beyond their shock, we simply ask for people to pray for healing, faith, wisdom, courage and rest. Rachelle is also 9 weeks pregnant with our second child, so this news comes at an otherwise exciting and joyous time.

My own emotions have been up and down. Shock. Disbelief. Faith. Fear - rational, irrational. The stress has made me restless, often waking up in the middle of the night. However, I do feel on overarching Peace, of being within the hands of the Father. My parents reminded me of Isaiah 43:

But now this is what the Lord says, He who created you, O Jacob, He who formed you, O Israel: “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior...Since you are precious and honored in my sight, and because I love, you, I will give men in exchange for your life. Do not be afraid, for I am with you!”

Please join me in this prayer.