It’s official. We now have a name for the cancer that birthed Hadji: Lymphocyte Predominant Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. Leave it to my husband to get a rare form of a rare cancer. I always knew he was unique, but don’t you agree that this is taking his individuality a bit far?
There is good news in all this. Hodgkin’s, though rare, is extremely treatable. The survivability rate for early detection (Stage I and Stage II) is above 90%, with the 5-year survivability mark at the same level. It is generally a slow-growing cancer and is non-aggressive, which means the element of time is on our side. But by the same token, it’s still cancer. People do die from LPHD, to the tune of about 1,300 annually. And every one of those deaths represents someone’s son, daughter, sister, brother, mother, father, or husband.
We still don’t have confirmation on the stage or spread of his cancer, but we are going to take the small bit of good news as a positive sign. And yes, we will be calling Houston (M.D. Anderson Cancer Center) for a second opinion and to discuss treatment options. Hopefully one day soon, we’ll be able to sound the “all clear” for him and rejoice in his complete healing.
Finally a bit of good news. We pray this is the first in a lengthy list!