Backgrounder on Chantel's illness

January 16, 2006

Chantel is still doing well but we are nervous waiting for results. Chantel called the Specialist to see if the results were ready - but they won't be back until tomorrow. Wait and see for 1 more day.

January 12, 2006

She has the biopsy and the Specialist confirms on Friday that the sample appears to be in good enough shape for conclusive evidence on what is happening with Chantel. He also tells her that he is leaning to lymphoma but does not know specifically which one until the biopsy is complete.

January 11, 2006

We meet with the specialist who covers both the endocrine system (glands) and surgical oncology (cancer surgeries) who looks at Chantel's glands and reviews the history to date. He wants to do another needle biopsy which he schedules for following morning.

January 10, 2006

Chantel goes for another ultrasound and they find that the lymph nodes have increased in size. One of them by ~20%. Also, the smaller, irregular one appears to have grown somewhat as well. Chantel is pretty upset and I take the balance of the day off to be with her.

January 9, 2006

As you can imagine - we are getting pretty stressed by now. But the good news is that we are scheduled to find out today. Unfortunately, it does not happen - it turns out the biopsy was damaged and there is not enough materials that could provide conclusive results.

January 6, 2006

Chantel's Doctor calls and offers that it may just be a bacterial infection but does not rule out cancer based on the bloodwork but must still wait for the results of the biopsy to confirm. Chantel's Doctor books us with a specialist on Wednesday for a consultation.

January 3, 2006

Chantel and I visit her Doctor to have the bump examined and she is scheduled for a biopsy that day. We have the biopsy completed and must wait until the following Monday for the results.

January 2, 2006

Chantel receives first ultrasound. The ultrasound shows that there are two swollen lymph nodes above her right clavicle and a smaller swollen lymph node on her left that is irregularly shaped. The Doctors are unsure of what could cause this - there are 54 different illnesses that could be reflected by these changes - lymphatic cancers are among this including Hodgekins and Non-Hodgekins Lymphoma. They are non-committal on a diagnosis without doing a biopsy

January 1, 2006

Chantel wakes up and her neck no longer looks stretched - instead it looks more like a bump just abov e her clavicle. Chantel goes to clinic and they advise her to see her Doctor on Tuesday after the holiday. Chantel and Laurie go to hospital instead to get some quicker feedback. After a brief 5 hour wait (yes, that was sarcastic), she was examined and suggested to come back in the morning for an ultrasound of the growth.

December 31, 2005

Chantel notices that her neck looks 'stretched' - almost as if a muscle has been pulled. There is no pain but we decide that she should go to a clinic on Jan 1