Good News and Sad News

Wednesday I had my scheduled PET Scan  to see how I am doing now that I have finished the last chemo treatment.  I think I have had every scan possible over the last nine months.  The PET Scan is very thorough and was done from the top of  my head to below my  knees.  I had one done in January and at that time I was completely clear. 

Needless to say, I was very nervous about the results.  Waiting for the results is extremely difficult.  

I was scheduled to fly to Butte on Thursday and I was very anxious to get up here.  Dave had driven earlier with the pugs and his golf clubs.   I think it was the longest we have been apart.  However, I had one more chemo. Judy stayed with  me and I made it through the rough days fairly well.

When I got to Salt Lake and turned on my phone, I had a bunch of messages.  Dave's brother, Dan, had passed away.   Although his health wasn't great, this was not expected. His sister found him and called Dave immediately.  Dave was Dan's guardian because he had some special needs.  However, he was able to live on his own.

Friday Dave and his sister had to make all of the funeral arrangements which took them all day. 

Late morning I received a phone call from Dr. Bhoola. He wanted me to know that my scan had come back and I am completely cancer free.  They are able to look at everything from the brain to the lower leg--every organ in between.  There is absolutely no cancer anywhere and everything looked really good.  Dr. Bhoola was very pleased and feels that I have responded extremely well to chemo.  He feels that I am going to be fine.  We didn't talk for long, he just wanted me to know the results and I am so grateful to him for that.  I have my regular appointment next Weds. where we will go over everything.

I was so excited but it was so hard because of what Dave was dealing with.  But we made it through it and today was a very good day!

June 5--National Cancer Survivor Day

Today is National Cancer Survivor Day.   I think I can count myself in this group at this point.  I finished my last chemo two weeks ago tomorrow--May 23.   That concludes all of the treatment that has been recommended for me.   I started the treatment journey with the hysterectomy and then had three chemo treatments three weeks apart.  I then made the decision to try radiation even though Dr. Bhoola felt I didn't need to do it.  That decision on my part contributed to the sickest I have ever been in my life.   Radiation was certainly not for me as it caused a lot of inflammation in my intestines that became life threatening.  I did make it through 14 radiation treatments and three brachytherapy treatments.  Had to take a bit of a rest before finishing the final three chemo treatments.

BUT I MADE IT!!!  The last three chemos I finally figured out how to stay in front of the bad days so they weren't awful.  I am actua  lly feeling quite good two weeks out and hoping that my strength will start to come back sooner rather than later.

This week will bring the PET Scan on Wednesday that will determine if there is any cancer anywhere.  The last one that I got in December, I was completely cancer free.  That was only after three chemos.   Am I worried?  I have to say "yes" but I am also positive and hopeful that the results will be the same.   

I have a ticket to fly to Butte on Thursday and will do my appointment with Dr. Bhoola over the phone.   

If everything is clear, I will be checked every three months to make sure that it hasn't returned somewhere else.  I have thought a lot about this and have decided the only thing I have any control over is taking care of myself and living each day to the fullest and I will be doing that for sure!!!

Of course, my sense of humor has gotten me through a lot of this even on the bad days.   When I went in for bloodwork prior to my last chemo, I was very worried about having to postpone the chemo because that had happened the treatment before because of low platelets.  I waited for my results and all was good.   I sent a text to the family to let them know the news.   My text read, "I passed!"   After I sent it, I realized that I did pass the blood test but that was probably not the best choice of words!!!

TO BE CONTINUED!........................................