Help Bethany Stout Beat Lymphoma
Donation protected
On December 15, our dearest friend, wife, sister, and daughter Bethany (Schoessler) Stout was diagnosed with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, mediastinum.
Mediastinal large B-cell lymphoma (MLBCL) is a rare type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma.
The mediastinum is an area inside the chest, between the lungs and behind the breast bone. It contains the thymus, the heart, some large blood vessels, the windpipe and lymph nodes.
MLBCL usually affects younger people aged 25 to 40, and is more common in women than in men.
After weeks of not feeling well and being diagnosed with pneumonia, a sinus infection and an ear infection, a CT scan on December 12 revealed Bethany had a mass the size of a large avocado, (a little over 5 inches) sitting right behind her sternum, above her heart. It had wrapped itself around the vessels in her chest, causing superior vena cava syndrome. Superior vena cava syndrome (SVCS) occurs when a person’s superior vena cava is partially blocked or compressed. The superior vena cava is a major vein in a person’s body. It carries blood from the head, neck, upper chest, and arms to the heart.
One of the key indicators that it was cancer, was the way the tumor had intertwined itself within and throughout her vessels. If it was benign, it would have just grown pushing things out of the way, instead of weaving itself through her chest. Based on the size and the way it is growing, the tumor is aggressive and started about 3 months ago. Thankfully, both the PET and bone marrow tests came back clear.
Bethany started chemo on December 17. The first day was the worst, as she had a reaction to the medication, but they were able to get it under control and she was able to finish the treatment with no problems. She was then on a 22 hour drip for the final 3 days of the same treatment. She will have 5 more rounds of chemo on a 5 day on treatment, 16 days off for a total of 6 rounds--planning to be completed by the end of April.
Diffuse Large B Cell Lymphoma is typically contained, and does not spread, making it easier to treat and beat. The cure rate is in the 90% up to as high as 97% after the 6 rounds of chemo. 65% of people with DLBCL are women in their 30's.
Medical treatment can be overwhelming--from both an emotional and financial perspective. Our hope is that donated funds would help with long term medical expenses (which includes, but is not limited to chemotherapy, reoccuring appointments, scans/imaging, a wig, future surgeries, etc.) to allow Bethany and Neil focus on the number one priority--beating cancer!
Above all, please continue to keep B in your prayers. She is upbeat, strong, courageous and ready to take on the months ahead. She refuses to let cancer define her.
Photo from the day she was admitted--swollen from superior vena cava syndrome, her blood was having a hard time pumping at a regular rate:
After Day 1 of chemo. Swelling had gone down immensely:
From Bethany:
..."After several hours of digesting this, something came over me. I can only chalk it up to the Holy Spirit, but I knew right there this wasn't my time. What I did realize was this was my time to beat this, and there was a reason I would go through it. I don't know how this story will end, or what the purpose is yet, but I know there is one...I will continue to document my journey for anyone who wants to know how it is going. Again, Neil and I and our families cannot tell you all enough how much you are appreciated and how much we love you. Thank you for your support, unconditional love throughout this journey in our life. God bless all of you. xo"
For more information, please visit:
https://www.caringbridge.org/visit/bethanystout
Mediastinal large B-cell lymphoma (MLBCL) is a rare type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma.
The mediastinum is an area inside the chest, between the lungs and behind the breast bone. It contains the thymus, the heart, some large blood vessels, the windpipe and lymph nodes.
MLBCL usually affects younger people aged 25 to 40, and is more common in women than in men.
After weeks of not feeling well and being diagnosed with pneumonia, a sinus infection and an ear infection, a CT scan on December 12 revealed Bethany had a mass the size of a large avocado, (a little over 5 inches) sitting right behind her sternum, above her heart. It had wrapped itself around the vessels in her chest, causing superior vena cava syndrome. Superior vena cava syndrome (SVCS) occurs when a person’s superior vena cava is partially blocked or compressed. The superior vena cava is a major vein in a person’s body. It carries blood from the head, neck, upper chest, and arms to the heart.
One of the key indicators that it was cancer, was the way the tumor had intertwined itself within and throughout her vessels. If it was benign, it would have just grown pushing things out of the way, instead of weaving itself through her chest. Based on the size and the way it is growing, the tumor is aggressive and started about 3 months ago. Thankfully, both the PET and bone marrow tests came back clear.
Bethany started chemo on December 17. The first day was the worst, as she had a reaction to the medication, but they were able to get it under control and she was able to finish the treatment with no problems. She was then on a 22 hour drip for the final 3 days of the same treatment. She will have 5 more rounds of chemo on a 5 day on treatment, 16 days off for a total of 6 rounds--planning to be completed by the end of April.
Diffuse Large B Cell Lymphoma is typically contained, and does not spread, making it easier to treat and beat. The cure rate is in the 90% up to as high as 97% after the 6 rounds of chemo. 65% of people with DLBCL are women in their 30's.
Medical treatment can be overwhelming--from both an emotional and financial perspective. Our hope is that donated funds would help with long term medical expenses (which includes, but is not limited to chemotherapy, reoccuring appointments, scans/imaging, a wig, future surgeries, etc.) to allow Bethany and Neil focus on the number one priority--beating cancer!
Above all, please continue to keep B in your prayers. She is upbeat, strong, courageous and ready to take on the months ahead. She refuses to let cancer define her.
Photo from the day she was admitted--swollen from superior vena cava syndrome, her blood was having a hard time pumping at a regular rate:
After Day 1 of chemo. Swelling had gone down immensely:
From Bethany:
..."After several hours of digesting this, something came over me. I can only chalk it up to the Holy Spirit, but I knew right there this wasn't my time. What I did realize was this was my time to beat this, and there was a reason I would go through it. I don't know how this story will end, or what the purpose is yet, but I know there is one...I will continue to document my journey for anyone who wants to know how it is going. Again, Neil and I and our families cannot tell you all enough how much you are appreciated and how much we love you. Thank you for your support, unconditional love throughout this journey in our life. God bless all of you. xo"
For more information, please visit:
https://www.caringbridge.org/visit/bethanystout
Organizer and beneficiary
Katherine Udeze
Organizer
Bellevue, WA
Bethany Stout
Beneficiary