[Dialogue] What's happening with Janice

[Jack and Louise Ballard]

Dear Janice,
We are sending our prayers of healing your way.  Many friends have recovered
well from this situation to live on for decades.  Please know that you are
supported by your friends and colleagues everywhere.  You are a woman of
resilience, we know.

Love to you in springtime,
Louise, Jack and Peter
  -----Original Message-----
  From: dialogue-bounces at lists.wedgeblade.net
[mailto:dialogue-bounces at lists.wedgeblade.net]On Behalf Of Janice Ulangca
  Sent: Saturday, May 11, 2013 12:47 PM
  To: Colleague Dialogue
  Subject: [Dialogue] What's happening with Janice


  From Janice Ulangca

  Dear ICA friends,

  Since January I've experienced increasing tiredness that's become extreme.
At first I chalked this up to local projects that were rewarding - and
challenged everything I had to give. "Or maybe it's just old age catching up
with me!" But something else was going on.

  Thursday I saw an oncologist, who went over results of tests with me.
Almost a week of tests came in April, after a mammogram followed by a breast
biopsy March 28 indicated large B-cell lymphoma cancer. The bone marrow
biopsy, PET and CT scans did not indicate widespread cancer, which is a
relief. The oncologist says that this is stage 2 - more widespread than
stage 1, but not as much as stages 3 or 4.

  Now I'm due to start chemotherapy Wed. May 22. Each 21 days I'll spend
most of the day at Lourdes hospital in Binghamton in the oncology center,
receiving chemo and antibodies (don't know what they are yet). June 12, July
3, and July 24 will finish the chemo. Two more sessions with antibodies only
on August 14 and September 4.  A good friend went with me Thursday, and we
were laughing about this typical fall question: "And how did you spend your
summer vacation?!"

  People do respond to chemo differently, veterans tell me (and so did the
oncologist). Weakness is common - sometimes does not appear until after a
few treatments. What - more than I'm already experiencing?! Good grief! (as
Charlie Brown would say).

  Thoughtful friends have already gone with me to some of the tests and the
oncology visit. Their support is wonderful. So gratitude for blessings -
especially through people and Spirit - really lift me with caring. And I
have to say - such a beautiful time in this part of the world. Walking
through the neighborhood, with lilacs in bloom, trees covered with pink or
white blossoms, bright yellow forsythia bushes everywhere, flowers in front
of many homes, birds singing their hearts out on behalf of the next
generation - seems the world is exploding with beauty that points to the
Sacred all around us.

  Much affection to you,

  Janice

  Knowing nothing about the lymph nodes before this diagnosis, here's what I
found on line - skip unless interested:
  Lymphoma is a disease of a part of the immune system, the lymph nodes.
Normally, the lymph nodes serve as "sentries" of our bodies defense against
disease. When bacteria or viruses enter the body, the cells of the lymph
node divide to fight it. However, sometimes the cells in a lymph node begin
to multiply without any reason, and make a tumor ... Lymphoma causes a lump
or mass, and may also cause the patient to be tired, weak, prone to
infections, or have a fever.
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