Anniversary

It was a year ago today that I went in for a CT Scan and found out my cancer was back. A year ago I really didn't think I'd be around now, let alone feeling reasonably good. I didn't know if I'd see my next birthday in March or make my niece's wedding in August. After the first miserable 4 months of treatment and a couple months of recovery, I feel I've had a very good year. I've been to Yellowstone for the first time, made several trips to the Washington/Oregon Coasts, enjoyed a summer of beautiful weather in Seattle, watched my niece get married in southern Oregon, spent time with family, gone to Disneyland and treated myself to a night at the Salish Lodge. I'm going to Arizona for Thankgiving to get a little sunshine and warm weather... and spend more time with family. I feel blessed to have had the last six months.

I'm still feeling pretty good though my hip has been a bit achier lately than it has been. It also seems like the bump on the side of my head from my tumor is a bit bigger. Maybe it psychological, knowing that I have another CT scan coming up in about 3 weeks, and this being the anniversary of my re-diagnosis, I'm really thinking alot that maybe my treatment break is coming to an end. I want to keep planning trips to look forward to, but I think I should wait for the results of the December scan. If my break continues, I'll definately be thinking of more trips to make in the coming months. If I have to go back into treatment, I'll buckle down and get it done, one day at a a time.

Another visit with the oncologist

This was a fairly quick visit. I had a pelvic exam and everything seems fine. He's encouraged by no new symptoms and I'm feeling fine still. So I'll have another CT Scan December 4th then I need to schedule a follow-up with him the following week. I had a blood draw for the CA-125 level and I asked if that was elevated if he would bring me back earlier. He said it would have to be VERY elevated before they would do that. He also mentioned that there are a couple new clinical trials that we could try when the times comes to get back into treatment. All in all another encouraging visit.

I forgot to ask if I should be getting an H1N1 flu shot.

By the way, the Disneyland visit last week went very well. I thought my energy stayed up pretty well (although my traveling companions might differ) and I had a great time. The park was pretty crowded Friday, Saturday and Sunday with lots of locals there to check out the special Halloween decorations, rides and fireworks. We had to cut out early because we couldn't take crowds like that. Here's a picture of Darcy and I enjoying one of my favorite Disneyland treats -- Mickey beignets!

MRI today: more pretty good news

I had an MRI this morning at 7:30. I prefer the evening MRIs where I can take a couple ativan and go home and relax post exam. I didn't get my ear plugs in properly so the sound wasn't as muffled as I would have liked and it seemed like this one took longer. I survived though, then had to get through the day at work until I could go get my results this afternoon.

So I got to the Cyberdoc's and her staff was really perky and telling me to relax. Probably didn't mean anything, but I took it as a good sign. When the doc came in she said everything is exactly where it was back in April when I finished the regular radiation. She said because it's a slow growing cancer it may take a while to see results. It may also be that the bone never shrinks down so that it always looks to be the same size. But as long as it's not growing, which it is not, we're good.

So she put me on an MRI every 4 months schedule "for the next 2 years", then every 6 months for 3 years. She actually said after 5 years, we'd go once a year. I laughed at that because I don't seriously think this will stay dormant for that length of time. But I guess you never really know and that's the first time someone has said something that positive to me in a very long time. :)

She also gave me a sheet from my treatment plan that shows the radiation shots and the tumor from many different angles on the MRI scans. If I can get it scanned, I'll try to post it. Looking at the shots makes me want to name the sucker. "Timmy Tumor"? Any other suggestions? Maybe if you can see it, we can come up with a good name...


Addendum: Here's the MRI pic. You can tell the orientation you're looking at by looking at the little blue head in the lower left corner of each shot. I think I like the name "eye-gor" for a name. :)

Ooops... still have to work on that photo. It's in bmp format right now. Might have to change it to jpg.

Hopefully this works...

FANTASTIC news!

I saw my oncologist this afternoon and was really stressed out waiting for my appointment. I had to wait a long time to see him, too, because he was running late. But it was worth it -- the CT scan actually showed that most of the tumors are continuing to SHRINK! My spleen tumor has shrunk 40% just since April! The hip looks better... no new tumors. This was good news beyond my wildest expectations! I had figured the best I could hope for would be stable disease. I don't think I've ever left his office happier. :)

And I don't don't have to go back again for 2 months!

Visit with the cyberknife doc

I must admit I got quite concerned when I walked into the exam room and saw the Swedish pamphlet on advance directives laying on the exam table. Uh-oh. Reminded me of when I walked into the radiation doc's exam room in January to find a head mask sitting on the counter. I knew then that the lump on my head was cancer.

Turns out it was just there... not related to me at all. Whew. So we just went through the kinds of side effects I'd been experiencing. She said we'll want to MRI it every couple months and watch for changes. So I go back for an MRI and an appointment the same day -- September 16th. Lets hope tomorrow goes as smoothly.

CT today -- Results Friday

I had a pelvic, abodomen and chest CT today, with contrast. I wil see the cyberknife doc tomorrow and the oncologist on Friday afternoon. Should have updated info then, but will be going camping so the blog may not get updated until Sunday.

REALLY enjoyed getting away to spend the week with family for my niece's wedding on the eighth. I had some pain in my hip from all the car sitting (9 hour drive with stops) and getting used to a new bed, but it got better pretty quickly. It's hard to come back to the real world today and the rest of this week. I'll try to take it as it comes.

Meantime, enjoy some pics from last week!

Latest Oncologist Appointment

I saw my regular oncologist today for the first time since mid-May. After the exam he said things seemed to be going well so far. He will schedule a CT scan prior to my next apointment next month so we will then see how things are REALLY going. He was happy to hear my energy level was close to normal. And I am pleased that I am done with treatment issues until after my niece's wedding in August. Eight months ago I wasn't even sure I would be able to attend.