Showing posts with label Lymphoma. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Lymphoma. Show all posts

Thursday, November 27, 2014

14-year-old Emily battling lymphoma



By ROBERT PIERCE

Leader & Times

Recently, Emily Bremenkamp was taken to Liberals Southwest Medical Center with what was first thought to be a simple case of pneumonia.

Physicians at the local hospital, however, seemed a bit confused though as to what the 14-year-old girl actually had.

Her lung function just wasnt getting better, said Emilys mother, Michele Bremenkamp. Her kidneys and blood levels were just out of control. They really couldnt figure out what was wrong with her.

This is when young Emily was sent to a hospital in Wichita, where doctors discovered she was suffering from Burkitts lymphoma.

According to the medical site Web MD, Burkitts lymphoma is a form of non-Hodgkins lymphoma in which cancer starts in immune cells called B-cells.

As one could imagine, Michele was more than a little scared when she heard the news about Emilys condition.

Absolutely horrified, she said. You never think your baby will have anything like this. You cant fathom it. You do everything youre supposed to do as a parent, and all of a sudden, your child has something horrible. Its something no parent should have to go through.

As of Monday, Emily was still at Wesley Medical Center in Wichita, where her family is waiting for her condition to stabilize so she can come home.

Kathy Bloom and Kylee Harrison of Seward Countys K-State Research and Extension office, the administrators of the local 4-H program of which Emily is a part, are asking for help with money and prayers for the youth.

Prayer, prayer and more prayers, the agents said in an e-mail to the Leader & Times. Donations of money to be used for things not covered by insurance. Emilys room is literally filled with flowers and plants.

The e-mail also stated the Extension is working to set up an account at a bank, but until all the paperwork is complete, donations may be dropped off at the K-State office at 1081 Stadium Road in Liberal.

Make checks to the Emily Bremenkamp fund, the e-mail said.

Michele said many other people in the community are helping the family out, including Liberals Parks and Rec Department, which is hosting the Thanksgiving Day Turkey Trot 5K for Emily. That event is scheduled to begin at 9:30 this morning at the Rec Center in Blue Bonnet Park.

Liberal High School, where Emily is currently a student, has likewise helped out with fundraisers, and Michele said this is just the beginning of the community support the Bremenkamps have received.

Weve had tons of letters and cards and prayers, she said. The Southwest Miracles has helped us with our motel expenses while were here. Weve been here almost three weeks now.

All of this support has come willingly from all involved, as Michele said the family has not asked for anything.

The things that are being done on behalf of us is because people want to, she said. Weve never asked for anyone to do anything. Weve not asked the community or any organizations for a dime. Anything thats been done has been done because somebody else started the ball rolling. We havent asked for anything and would not. You try to do what you can do to take care of your child, and the outpouring of support has been fabulous.

Today is Thanksgiving, and at this point in time, Michele said the Bremenkamps are thankful for the doctors in Liberal who sent Emily to Wichita to find what was wrong with her and start immediate treatment.

Had we waited, the prognosis probably wouldnt have been as good, so were thankful that they sent us here, she said. Were thankful for all the things the doctors and nurses have done here. Were thankful for the communitys prayers and love and support. We feel with everything people are doing, praying for Emily to get better is going to help us and help her spirit as we move through the next few months.

Michele said the doctors in Wichita are not sure how long it will take to get the cancer out of Emilys system, but they, along with the Bremenkamp family, are confident the young lady will be cured and survive the condition.

Itll be months of chemo, Michele said. When this type of cancer is caught, as they have here, the chemo is very, very successful. Different cultures show different numbers, but were talking 80, 90 percent success rate for this type of cancer. It is the fastest growing cancer from what weve been told, but the chemo can almost melt the tumor and the cancer cells.

Emily has been at Wesley for about three weeks now, and Michele said the family is thrilled with the progress she has made thus far.

She has made great strides in getting better, and the chemo has already started to show good results, the mother said. Were very optimistic that shes going to beat this and be the active kid that shes always been with school and 4-H and bowling and all the things that she does.

Doctors likewise were not sure how long the lymphoma had been in Emilys system before she was diagnosed, but original estimates put that time frame at about two to three weeks.

It just progresses that rapidly, Michele said.

Emily is heavily involved with 4-H, serving as the president of the local Wide Awake chapter.

She does arts and crafts, foods, quilting, photography and the shooting sports, Michele said.

Outside of 4-H, Emily also has a few other activities shes involved with, according to her mother.

She is active in bowling and marching with the high school in That Liberal Band, she said.

Michele emphasized that the support the Bremenkamps have received has been wonderful.

Theyve sent lots of notes and cards of encouragement and balloons and texted her and communicated back and forth with her, she said. That helps a lot knowing so many people care.

Michele said she would once again like to thank the community for all the support the family has received.

We go about living our lives, she said. We dont ask for anything. You dont seek out anybody to help you, but its been overwhelming the amount of support weve received from the community as a whole in getting us through this.

Source: http://www.leaderandtimes.com/index.php?option%3Dcom_content%26view%3Darticle%26id%3D19078:14-year-old-emily-battling-lymphoma%26catid%3D12:local-news%26Itemid%3D40



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Wednesday, November 26, 2014

Former Vol Eric Berry may have lymphoma



Former Vol Eric Berry will see a specialist to determine whether he has lymphoma.(Photo: USA TODAY Sports)

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At a press conference Monday, the Kansas City Chiefs announced that former Vols safety Eric Berry will see a specialist to determine whether a mass in his chest is lymphoma.

While no definitive diagnosis has been released, the team's trainer told reporters that the "leading consideration" is lymphoma, which is a cancer of the immune system.

The team found the mass following Kansas City's game on Thursday night against Oakland.

Berry, who has two brothers on this year's Vols team, Evan and Elliott, released a statement.

It reads: "I am truly thankful for all of the support from family, friends, coaches, teammates and the entire Chiefs kingdom. At first I was in shock with the diagnosis on Saturday and did not even want to miss a game, but I understand that right now I have to concentrate on a new opponent.

"I have great confidence in the doctors and the plan they are going to put in place for me to win this fight. I believe that I am in G*d's hands and I have great peace in that. I know my coaches and teammates will hold things down here the rest of the season and until I am back running out of the tunnel at Arrowhead. I am so thankful and appreciative of being a part of this franchise and playing in front of the best fans in the NFL. I will be back!"

Berry played for Tennessee from 2007 to 2009 and was the fifth pick of the 2010 NFL Draft. Twice during his time as a Vol, he was a consensus All-American.

Read or Share this story: http://tnne.ws/1tfmHfC

Source: http://www.tennessean.com/story/vols/2014/11/24/eric-berry-possible-lymphoma/70055384/



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Tuesday, November 25, 2014

Chiefs: Eric Berry has mass in chest, possibly lymphoma



KANSAS CITY, MO (KCTV) -

Chiefs starting safety Eric Berry has a mass in his chest, and it is likely lymphoma, a team doctor said Monday afternoon.

Team head trainer Rick Burkholder said he could not officially diagnose the mass as lymphoma. Berry traveled to Atlanta to see Dr. Christopher Flowers, a specialist at Emory University Hospital, and will undergo more testing including having a biopsy of the mass performed.

"We think we have Eric in a real good spot right now to have really good outcome with this mass in his chest," Burkholder said.

Berry is obviously out for the rest of the season, but in a statement Berry indicated he is hopeful that he will play again.

"I have great confidence in the doctors and the plan they are going to put in place for me to win this fight. I believe that I am in G*d's hands and I have great peace in that," Berry said. "I know my coaches and teammates will hold things down here the rest of the season and until I am back running out of the tunnel at Arrowhead."

Berry underwent testing after complaining about chest pain during the Raiders loss last Thursday night. On Friday, doctors determined it wasn't an orthopedic injury. He underwent tests with the team on Friday including an X-Ray and an MRI, which revealed the mass on the right side of his chest. He then went to the University of Kansas Hospital on Saturday for additional testing including CT scans and blood work.

The Chiefs next game is on Sunday Night Football at home against the Broncos. Coach Andy Reid said he, his staff and Berry's teammates were shocked by the diagnosis. Reid said the upcoming battle against the Broncos is secondary now.

"We know it's going to work out for Eric," Reid said. "He's a beast and right now he needs to be beast. He'll attack this along with Dr. Flowers and I think it will be a very positive result when it's all said and done."

Berry addressed his teammates on Monday. Reid, Burkholder and physicians told Berry about the test results on Saturday and that lymphoma was the likely cause.

Lymphoma is a form of cancer in the lymph nodes. Some of the symptoms include abdominal pain, swelling, sudden weight loss and heavy sweating.

Reid said Berry felt his teammates love and support on Monday.

"When you get into these situations, you honker down and you battle for your life is what you do," he said. "You have to be in a certain frame of mind. You have to have a certain support system to back you up and Eric's got that, not only with family but also with the Chiefs."

Berry, 25, underwent his yearly physical in June, which included a chest X-Ray and blood work, but nothing was turned up at that time. He doesn't have a family history of the illness.

Berry is being placed on the non-football injury list. Berry was drafted by the Chiefs as the fifth overall draft pick in the 2010 draft. Berry is from the Atlanta area and he wanted to undergo treatment closer to his family. The Atlanta Falcons are assisting the Chiefs and Berry in getting him treated in Atlanta.

Chiefs chairman and CEO Clark Hunt said he was shocked by the news and sad for Berry. He said as an organization and family that the Chiefs will be there for Berry and his family.

". . .. Just to tell Eric that we love you, we're thinking about you and we hope that you have a quick recovery," Hunt said, adding his prayers are with Berry. "He's a very focused individual and his mindset was very much of tackling this and trying to get past it as soon as possible."

Reid said that Berry is in good spirits all things considered.

"He was upbeat and very positive. He was awesome this morning," Reid said. "He's not one that likes to do a lot of talking but he felt like the team needed to hear it from him that he's Ok and he's going to get after this thing and get it fixed. . . .Football isn't as important as him getting himself better at this present moment."

He said Berry is a big part of the team as a player, person and leader.

Dr. Joseph McGuirk works at the University of Kansas Hospital and is familiar with cases like Berry's but is not treating Berry. The physician said it's rare for someone as young as Berry to have the disease, but said it's very treatable and Berry can return to play in the NFL.

"Possibly we look forward to seeing him on the field next fall," McGuirk said. "The good news is that these lymphomas in generally are highly treatable."

He said that Berry's age and physical condition will help him beat the cancer and endure the chemotherapy treatments.

"There's probably 50 to 75 to 80 percent chance that one way or another this is going to be cured," he said.

On Tuesday, teammates Josh Mauga and Dee Ford said during a previously scheduled community blood drive that they are rallying around Berry.

"Eric is a soldier," Ford said. "He's an angel to me. I feel like his spirit will carry him so far. He has an incredible work ethic. This is just the beginning and G*d is using him. He's going to be a testimony for his situation."

Here is Berry's entire statement:

I am truly thankful for all of the support from family, friends, coaches, teammates and the entire Chiefs kingdom. At first I was in shock with the diagnosis on Saturday and did not even want to miss a game, but I understand that right now I have to concentrate on a new opponent. I have great confidence in the doctors and the plan they are going to put in place for me to win this fight. I believe that I am in G*d's hands and I have great peace in that. I know my coaches and teammates will hold things down here the rest of the season and until I am back running out of the tunnel at Arrowhead. I am so thankful and appreciative of being a part of this franchise and playing in front of the best fans in the NFL. I will be back!

Copyright 2014 KCTV (Meredith Corp.) All rights reserved

Source: http://www.kctv5.com/story/27471447/chiefs-eric-berry-has-mass-in-chest-possibly-lymphoma



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