How I was Diagnosed with Lymphoblastic Lymphoma

In mid-April 2004 I presented to my physician with shortness of breath and coughing. I also reported getting night sweats. I was prescribed antibiotics but the symptoms did not improve. A chest x-ray was done and it showed there was excess fluid in the area around my lungs. A CT scan showed there was a large mass in my chest measuring about 16 cm by 11 cm. The fluid surrounding my lungs was removed in a procedure called “thoracentesis.,” and a biopsy of the chest mass was done, as well. The tissue from the chest mass and the pleural fluid both showed that I had T-cell lymphoblastic lymphoma. I was diagnosed on April 30, 2004. My primary oncologist at City of Hope is Dr. Amrita Krishnan.