Sequence of events............

Ok, so in order here is what I went through up until my first treatment:

August 29th - First doctor visit and blood test.

First week of September (can't seem to find the date) CAT scan.

September 17th - PET scan.

September 26th - First visit with oncologist and blood test.

September 30th - Appointment with Ear, Nose and Throat Doctor that will perform an incisional biopsy of my lymph node.

October 1st - Lymph Node Biopsy (outpatient, general anesthetic) A lymph node biopsy removes lymph node tissue to be looked at under a microscope for signs of infection or a disease, such as cancer. Other tests may also be used to check the lymph tissue sample, including a culture, genetic tests, or tests to study the body's immune system (immunological tests).

October 3rd - Diagnosed with Nodular Sclerosis Hodgkins Lymphoma

October 6th - Bone Marrow Biopsy (outpatient, local anesthetic) - This was not fun.

A bone marrow biopsy is the removal of soft tissue from inside bone. The skin is cleansed, and a local anesthetic is injected to numb the skin.The biopsy needle is then inserted into the bone. The center of the needle is removed and the needle is moved deeper into the bone. This creates a tiny sample, or core, of bone marrow within the needle. The needle is then removed, along with the bone marrow sample. Pressure is applied to the biopsy site to stop bleeding, and a bandage is applied.
An aspirate may also be performed, usually before the biopsy is taken. After the skin is numbed, the aspirate needle is inserted into the bone, and a syringe is used to withdraw the liquid bone marrow. If this is done, the needle will be removed and either repositioned, or another needle may be used for the biopsy.

October 10th - Second visit with oncologist to discuss treatment.

October 13th - Pulmonary Functions Test
Pulmonary function tests are a group of tests that measure how well the lungs take in and release air and how well they move oxygen into the blood.
In a spirometry test, you breathe into a mouthpiece that is connected to an instrument called a spirometer. The spirometer records the amount and the rate of air that you breathe in and out over a period of time.
For some of the test measurements, you can breathe normally and quietly. Other tests require forced inhalation or exhalation after a deep breath.

Pulmonary toxicity, or lung damage, can occur with the use of bleomycin in ABVD, especially when radiation therapy to the chest is also given as part of the treatment for Hodgkin's lymphoma. This toxicity develops months to years after completing chemotherapy, and usually manifests as cough and shortness of breath. High concentrations of oxygen, such as those often used in surgery, can trigger lung damage in patients who have received bleomycin, even years later. Pulmonary function tests are often used to assess for bleomycin-related damage to the lungs. One study found bleomycin lung damage in 18% of patients receiving ABVD for Hodgkin disease. Retrospective analyses have questioned whether bleomycin is necessary at all; however, at this point it remains a standard part of ABVD.

Cryopreservation 1

Infertility is probably infrequent with ABVD. Several studies have suggested that, while sperm counts in men decrease during chemotherapy, they return to normal after completion of ABVD. In women, follicle-stimulating hormone levels remained normal while receiving ABVD, suggesting preserved ovarian function. Regardless of these data, fertility options (eg sperm banking) should be discussed with an oncologist before beginning ABVD therapy.

October 16th - Cryopreservation 2

October 17th - CAT Scan

October 21st - MUGA Scan

A MUGA scan (Multi Gated Acquisition Scan) is a nuclear medicine test to evaluate the function of the heart ventricles.

Cardiac toxicity, or cardiomyopathy, can be a late side effect of adriamycin. The occurrence of adriamycin-related cardiac toxicity is related to the total lifetime dose of adriamycin, and increases sharply in people who receive a cumulative dose of more than 400 mg/m2. Almost all patients treated with ABVD receive less than this dose (for 6 cycles of ABVD, the cumulative adriamycin dose is 300 mg/m2); therefore, adriamycin-related cardiac toxicity is very uncommon with ABVD.

Cryopreservation 3

Ok. So now you are probably wondering what adriamycin (doxorubicin), bleomycin, vinblastine and dacarbazine (ABVD) is right ? Well it is the chemo treatment that I will be having starting on October 23rd. Follow this link for a more detailed explanation of the drugs and procedure. I will have to say I am a bit nervous about the effects of the treatment, but I will just have to wait and see how it goes.

I am initially scheduled to receive 6 cycles of treatment (one treatment every two weeks for 6 months totalling twelve treatments). Progress of the tumors will be monitored throughout. Lets pray it doesn't take that long. Stay tuned for an update after my first treatment.