Then the wait for pathology results to come back began. After more than a week, path was inconclusive, and Jen had been referred to RMCC for initial consult. By the time she had her first appointment with them, pathology had gone out to Mayo Clinic for a second look. So, she and her family waited again, only to have the same result. A report without a conclusive diagnosis. The next month would be a fury of procedures, including a more invasive lung biopsy, PORT placement, bone marrow biopsy, and PET scan. And they waited again.
On July 15th, they had a diagnosis. Primary Mediastinal Diffuse Large B Cell Lymphoma, which is a type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma. PMBCL develops when B-cells become abnormal, but the causes of PMBCL are not known. This type of cancer is fast-growing and must be treated quickly. Thus, she has already started chemotherapy. She will go through six cycles of four chemo meds, plus a steroid, every 21 days. Any cancer diagnosis is devastating, but there have been some silver linings. While the mass has grown slightly since Jen’s initial scan, the PET scan revealed no spread outside of the primary mass, and prognosis for PMBCL is good, with the chance of remission being high in a large population of people. Dr. Radaideh and his team and RMCC, as well as Jen’s PCP, Dr. Birks and his team, have been terrific.
The path to this point has been difficult, with so many of the above testing/procedures being very close together. Jen has had her loving husband, Gil, and her two exceptional children, Jordan, 16 and Marcus, 12, by her side every step of the way. Her CenterCare Hospice work family have supported the days she had to be off to find a diagnosis, nurses took over her caseload of patients, and the entire group has committed to helping her return to the team when she is able.
Due to the type and duration of chemo Jen is undergoing, she has had to take an undetermined leave from work. This has been personally hard for Jen, along with the illness itself, not being able to be 100% for her family, and not being able to provide patient care. But she has faith and hope that treatment will be successful, and will just need some help along the way. There is no way to express how grateful she is for the outpouring of support, love, prayers, and well wishes to this point.
Please help my friend if you are able with any donation. If you are not able to donate please simply share this GoFundMe account.
Peace and Love
Chelle
