The Beginning

        As many of you know, I was recently diagnosed with stage four leukemia. I plan to keep this blog updated with the latest news and progress with my battle against cancer, and for my first post I think I should fill everyone in with what has been happening the past few months. This February I discovered a lump in the center of my throat, and with a family history of thyroid cancer we chose to have it checked out. My family made an appointment with a doctor.  Soon after, and they concluded that this suspicious lump was not connected to my thyroid. The doctor was persistent that I should go see a neck specialist/surgeon.  Next stop was to go see a doctor at UCSF (where my aunt had been treated for Thyroid cancer). After a second ultrasound, a biopsy, and more blood work, the doctors at UCSF still had no confirmation about this lump. During this month-long process I began to suffer from sharp chronic back and leg pains, but brushed it off as a softball injury. As the pains grew more intense, I saw my peditrician (doctor #3) who did a back xray and saw nothing.  She prescribed muscle relaxers that helped tremendously, but needed to be taken with Advil or Tylenol round the clock in order to make th pain bearable.  I took a break from school and had an at-home tutor sent to my house so I could complete my schoolwork. Once the neck Dr. saw the inconclusive results from the biopsy, etc., she scheduled me for an MRI for both my neck and back.  On Friday, April 15th, I lived thru a 3 hour MRI, with one of my scans lasting 2+ hours in that little tube....  good thing I was not clauserphobic.  The following Monday morning, we received a call to be seen that same day and to bring an overnight bag.  Further testing over the next couple of days showed that these "pains" all over my body were actually malignant tumors. After this discovery, the doctors at UCSF began to consider the idea that my pains were due to leukemia or lymphoma cancer. A bone marrow test coupled with the MRI showed that although tumors were present in my throat and organs, there was also cancer in my bone marrow. On Wednesday the 20th it was confirmed that I had stage four mature B-cell Leukemia and we began chemotherapy the following day. Currently I am still at the children's hospital at UCSF and am responding to the treatment really well! I have completed the "mini" round 1.  On Saturday, April 30th, I will begin a more intense round 2.  I have high spirits and greatly appreciate all the support from my family and friends, I couldn't be this strong without you guys and love you all!