Stanford Visit

We seem to have just as many questions now as when we set out this morning, but I guess there’s no better place to be than with the experts at Stanford when there are lots of questions.  Jim and I spent a good portion of this afternoon there with a Lymphoma specialist. We were referred there because Dr. Lemon told us that not everything about my case added up or even made sense for Diffuse B Cell Lymphoma (DBCL), thus the importance of seeing a specialist for a second opinion. 

At this point, we don’t know much more than we knew before.  I do have Lymphoma, but Stanford is rerunning the pathology to confirm the type of lymphoma.  This is because I have not responded to treatment in the manner that everyone expected - i.e. my spleen is not shrinking which 2 rounds of aggressive chemo should have made happen if the lymphoma were DBCL as the original pathology report indicates.

What this means is that we will wait to hear the pathology report from Stanford.  It’s going to be at least a week before it comes back.  While there is some question about the type and/or subtype, they are all certain that it is lymphoma.   I will not be starting my 3rd round of chemo next week though.  The oncologists in Fresno and the one at Stanford all agreed to wait for more information from Stanford’s pathology before planning our next steps.   There will be an updated treatment plan which may include removal of the spleen.  The Stanford doctor was very clear with us about what he knows and he was also very clear that he does not want to speculate on what he does not know.  He wants to wait for the pathology report.  He did confirm what Dr. Lemon said, that this does not appear to be presenting itself as typical Diffuse B Cell Lymphoma.  

While he didn’t want to speculate too much, he did indicate that there is a chance that this could actually be an indolent (slow growing) lymphoma or that because this lymphoma isn’t responding to the current chemotherapy plan, I could be a candidate for a new clinical trial treatment.  However, both of those options are dependent upon the pathology report.  

Jim and I are thankful that we were sent to Stanford.  Both the Stanford doctor and pathology team will be looking at my case from the very beginning in order to give a true second opinion.  

As for me, I am thankful to get a break from chemo.  As long as I’m having a good day, I fully intend to go for a (albeit probably short) hike in the mountains at least once next week.  My favorite place to relax and encounter God!!   

Thank you to everyone who has helped us with meals, rides to and from appointments, rides to and from work for the kids when we’ve been short a car here and there, and for your kind and caring words and prayers. As difficult as this journey is, it is made so much better by the love we have been shown.  

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