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.