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<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>From Janice Ulangca</FONT></DIV>
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<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>Dear ICA friends,</FONT></DIV>
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<DIV class=dislike><FONT face=Arial>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.</FONT></DIV>
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<DIV><FONT face=Arial>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. </FONT></DIV>
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<DIV class=dislike><FONT face=Arial>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?!" </FONT></DIV>
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<DIV class=dislike><FONT face=Arial>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). </FONT></DIV>
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<DIV class=dislike><FONT face=Arial>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.</FONT></DIV>
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<DIV class=dislike><FONT face=Arial>Much affection to you,</FONT></DIV>
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<DIV class=dislike><FONT face=Arial>Janice</FONT></DIV>
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<DIV class=dislike><FONT face=Arial>Knowing nothing about the lymph nodes before
this diagnosis, here's what I found on line - skip unless
interested:</FONT></DIV>
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<DIV class=body>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. </DIV>
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