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Boom Cancer!

Dr Yoffman explained tocancer, and had likely been intime He said many people never even exhibit symptoms and sometimes even a wait-and-see approach is feasible But because I had fevers, night sweats, fatigue, and even a ten-pound weight loss over the last few months, that could be an indication that my disease was more advanced Those words felt like a slahbreath with tears in my eyes, Dr Yoffman patted me on the knee

"The good news is that this is treatable It's generally not curable, but we have a good chance of getting you into remission"

Those words sounded sweet to nore the part where he said "not curable" and focused instead on the words "treatable" and "remission"

"How do you treat it?"

Standing up, he started s firstwe need to deterhow advanced the disease is I need to order some blood work; CT scan of your chest, abdomen, and pelvis; a PET scan; as well as a bone-marrow aspiration and core biopsy"

My head started swirab my hand She turned to Dr Yoffman "Can you explain those tests to us?"

Setting my chart back down, Dr Yoffman walked over to me and peered into my eyes "Most of them are noninvasive, but the bone-ive you a local anesthetic down here" He reached one arht side of my lower back, almost over the top of my butt cheek "I'll have to et down to the bone, I'll nu it has as well I'll use a needle to pull out an aspirate of bone marrow, then I'll have to use another instrument to drill down into the bone You shouldn't feel any pain, and once I get in, I'll pull out a bit of bone Some patients say it feels like an electric shock when I aspirate the , but you won't be in a lot of pain The procedure takes about five to ten minutes"

My sto with nausea, and bile rose in my throat All of a sudden, my confidence that Sutton and Stevie had worked so hard to build up took a big, fat nosedive "I can't," I blurted "I'm not ready for this"

Dr Yoff and he squeezed my shoulder "It's okay, Olivia This is a lot to process and sounds very scary It will take so to help you relax and relieve the anxiety How about today we at least get your blood work done and the CT scan, as I have that equipment here in the clinic We'll do the bone-oing to prescribe will help you relax And hopefully I'll get your insurance approval for the PET scan soon Sound like a plan?"

I sed hard and nodded at hithe sound of hi for the anxiety, because I felt like my body was about ready to blow apart in aso badly

Before he left, Dr Yoffman asked if I had any other questions, and I felt foolish over what I was getting ready to ask I didn't have any experience with cancer, other than what I had seen on the news or through friends on socialillness, and all I could think to ask was, "A the treatment?"

Dr Yoffood question, and there are many types of che called bendamustine has recently been approved that we've added to our protocol We'll talk about the details of the treat has mild side effects and shouldn't cause any hair loss"

I felt giddy and relieved and shameful all at once that that was a concern of mine, but at least Dr Yoffman didn't uilt by quipping, "Thank God I was so afraid I'd have to be one of those friends that shaved my head to show my support"

My tension was ihed A real laugh True, deep down in my belly

I spent the next hour getting the CT scan and blood work done, and et the bone- day Dr Yoffet the PET scan done after my insurance approved it, and then he said he would call o over all the results and develop a treatment plan

Then the shit was going to get real

The knocking on iddy in relief to be slung out of my memories over what happened today I'm excited to see Garrett because just like the other two tiiveback at htsort of I ue that hits ht sweats, and a lyhtly swollen, I' okay physically

For now

But for how er?

I quickly slip on the silver bracelet that my mom made me for Christmas last year and walk out of my bedroom My aparth roos, bright artwork, and several potted plants

Taking a deep breath, I open the door to find over six feet of gorgeous hockey hunk staring at me He has one hand raised and propped on the doorjamb, the other casually stuffed in the front pocket of his jeans He has on a black Harley Davidson T-shirt and I see a tattoo that looks like a blackbird peeking out on the underside of the arm that's raised above his head