4/16- A series of examinations

Today is the fifth day after I am diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma.

I had a bone marrow aspiration yesterday and PET CT scan(something like a more fashionable X-ray scan). The function of bone marrow aspiration is to see whether cancer cell could be found inside bone marrow or not, it will help with the cancer staging. While PET was to see the spreading of cancer cell (by looking at the metabolism of cells) in my body. Cancer cell usually has higher metabolism rate (they used up more sugar) than normal cell. For this scan, I must fast for 4 hours before scanning. Then I will have to be in lying position for at least 15mins to quiet down my muscular activity to avoid misinterpretation.

Then I will be injected with FDG, a sugar solution with radioactive trace, to my vein. Then I will have to lie down for one hour to let my body consume the sugar solution injected earlier. As I've mentioned earlier, cancer cell used up more sugar than other cells, and the radioactive trace will "shine" under the PET-CT scanning device, so any parts of my body which has cancer cells will "lit up" after the scan. [Note: Brain and bladder will lit up as well, not because they have cancer cell, but it was dued to brain has high metaolism rate and bladder has to collect the metabolism waste]

Guess what, after the FDG injection, I became a radioactive emitter. I was warned not to stay close with children and pregnant woman. LOL.

Next, I will have to lie on an high-tech bed, which moves automatically into a space-shuttle-like machine. Then the computer will scan my body... bla bla bla... and the computer will come up with some images to tell which part of your body has high-sugar-uptake cells (which should be cancer cell). This is a very expensive scan and I am blessed to have such courteous treatment. Will update you with my cancer staging when I get the answer from my doctor.

While bone marrow aspiration is relatively easy in theory. I was first injected with painkiller and locally aneshetized. Then my doctor took a needle (I guess so, because I can't see it, I was lying with my face facing down) to drill a hole into my pelvic bone (Iliac bone). Then he withdrew my blood from my pelvic and also took a small bone sample.

I was very tired after such long hours of scan and bone marrow aspiration yesterday, I slept for 8 hours straight yesterday night. Will write to you more tomorrow since I am in great pain after inserting Port-A today. However, don't worry too much since my friend in my lab accompanied me along the whole process. I am very grateful to have them in my life.

Last but not least, I want to thank you for your support. Let's pray for the world and also, please spare some prayer for my body. Haha.

"I will live through this."