Thanks EJ

I was diagnosed with Mucosis Associate Lymphcytic Tissue Lymphoma (M.A.L.T. Lymphoma) in 2002. The doctor treating me call me and tell me that I had lymphoma, we caught t early so its noting to worry about. So thenI called some family members who are in the medical profession and asked them what lymphoma was and they told me it was cancer and to call the doctor back with a list of questions that they wanted me to ask him. The doctors nurse was shocked that I was able to get accurate detailed information as to what lymphoma was. She got the doctor on the phone. He told me I had stage 1 and this kind of cancer people have a 50 - 50 chance of remission the first time around so he wanted to wait until it progressed to the next stage. He said why charge the medical card now lets wait. I told him where to put it and I would be glad to forward his respose to the medical licensing board and also told him if he was not willing to treat me since cancer runs in my family and I have family members who are in the medical profession I do know how to get treatment elsewhere and gave him the address of a cancer treatment facility in another state where he could forward my file to my family member there. Then I hung up on him. 15 minutes later he called and told me what medication was needed at this stage and he would gladly give me the treatment needed. But not to get my hopes up, or down its still 50 -50. three months later I was in remission. and have remained there. This doctor says I can consider myself cured but yet has me come in for yearly endoscopies and colonoscopies. My family member with the cancer unit in another state says lymphoma is like leukemia. no cure but it can be held in remission indeffinately which is why I am still required to have the procedures for biopsies every year. The doctor knows from seeing my physicans file that I have a mental problem so he is probably thinking he is saving me undue mental anguish by saying I can consider myself cured. the family member also told me most cancer specialists say with ANY cancer the odds go up on being cured if the person holds the remission for 7 years. So Im keeping my thoughts not on being cured because there is always a chace for cancer cells to reappear once a person has been diagnosed with any cancer but I am also keeping in mind that 7 year mark of 2010. I like the idea of the odds going up. LOL

Do't worry EJ. Defying the odds no matter what I am doing is definately a part of me. I have no plans of dying. Hey Got to be here in 5 years to welcome my son home. LOL nothing is going to stop me from bringing my boy home no matter how old he is when it happens.