You tested positive for a rare type of lymphoma....

The week of Hurricane Florence (12 Sept 2019), I ran by my dermatologist's office to have a nodule checked out.  She biopsied it immediately and on 26 Sept 2018 she contacted me to let me know that I tested positive for a rare type of Lymphoma and that I will need to see an oncologist.  Hmph, didn't see this coming.....

After thinking about it, I was/had been experiencing ridiculous fatigue & constant itching (apparently both symptoms) since mid-summer.  But I disregarded it b/c the past year had been stressful, work was stressful, sleep was rare and I just didn't have time to think about it or deal with it.  And it was summer, so it's hot as hell, there's bug bites, there's itching from bug bites & from being outside, there's sweat, etc.  While I did have a little bit of weight loss, it was nothing crazy. I mean, come on, we all know I've battle being fluffy on the regular, so losing a few pounds is a Christmas miracle for me, not a concern.  And I typically lose weight in the summer b/c I'm outside all the time sweating, playing rugby, etc.     

I was referred to Duke Cancer Center where I met with a Hematologist-Oncologist on 10 October 2018. I was told my biopsy was positive for  MALT (Mucosa-Associated Lymphoid Tissue) Lymphoma, which is a Nod Hodgkin Lymphoma (NHL). And that to determine if I just had the H-Pylori infection or if I had lymphoma in other parts of my body, I would first be tested for H-Pylori because the Helicobacter Pylori infection is a pre-MALT Lymphoma condition meaning it has the potential to develop into a MALT Lymphoma.  Confused yet??  Let me try to break it down as best I understand it myself...(don't judge me too harshly if this isn't 100% accurate, I'm still learning as this is all new to me). 


Testing for the H-Pylori infection will assist in determining if I just have an infection in my gut that needs to be treated, or if I in fact have a type of MALT Lymphoma.  If I am found to be positive for H-Pylori, I'll be treated with antibiotics & an antacids for 2wks.  If I am negative for H-Pylori this will not only rule out this type of infection, but it will tell us that I do have a form of MALT Lymphoma and from the other tests we should be able to pin point where in the body it is and what type of MALT it is.  My oncologist tested me for the H-Pylori infection today (10-10-18) and I will be scheduled for a PET scan, a bone marrow biopsy and because I'm at a high risk due to having Celiac Disease, I'll also be scheduled for a colonoscopy & endoscopy.  Joy!!