Everything I needed to know about Hodgkin’s Disease…

I learned from the internet!

No, not really.  But close.

We met with the surgical oncologist yesterday afternoon for Matt’s follow-up.  He confirmed what we had already suspected from the PT scan reports and our conversations with him in the hospital: that cancerous lymph nodes were detected in Matt’s neck, under his arm, and in his abdomen.  Because cancer was detected on both sides of the diaphragm, he is considered to be Stage III.

Though this sounds frightening, we’ve done our research.  We’ve had it reiterated many, many times: Hodgkin’s is a “good cancer.”  It is survivable.  It is treatable.  Most Hodgkin’s patients are cured fully and go on to live many more years of normal life.  The doctor himself said that Matt’s prognosis is “very good.”  He wholeheartedly supported our decision to get a second opinion and highly recommended M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston.

Of course, as with any serious illness, there are downsides.  The survivability rates drop from 90% (or higher) at Stages I and II to 60% at Stage III.  Though that’s still a majority, it’s not the unqualified success rate we were hoping for.  The doctor spent time discussing chemotherapy with us yesterday and that treatment alone has its own risks and side effects.  Hodgkin’s patients are more likely to develop secondary cancers such as leukemia, non-Hodgkin’s lymphomas, and others.

While I want to be well-educated about this disease and Matt’s treatment, I also recognize that all of this – the statistics, the risks involved, the possible side effects – are far beyond my control.  I know that God alone holds Matt’s future, and I am more than happy to place my trust in Him and allow God to be glorified through His plan.

Last week, I discovered a Bible verse – one of those “I never knew this was in the Bible!” kind of verses.  I’m convinced that God gave this to me as a promise, and I intend to claim it for our situation:

This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God may be glorified through it.” – John 11:4  (emphasis mine)

Now it’s time to sit back and watch what God’s gonna do!  It’s going to be an exciting ride!