Cancer--My New Full-Time Job

I thought I was a busy person in my BC (before cancer) days, but honestly, cancer is a full-time job for those of us taking a proactive approach to our cancer treatment. I spend so much of my time these days doing research via the internet, reading books relating to cancer treatments and nutrition, planning and cooking healthy meals, concentrating on getting proper exercise and vitamin D (either via a vitamin D lamp or natural sunshine), relaxing, getting proper sleep, going to Dr. appointments, getting blood work done, getting PET/CT scans, working in my garden to grow even more organic produce than I did previously...the list goes on. Just preparing my breakfast takes approximately 20 minutes out of every single morning. Gone are the days of dumping cereal into a bowl and sloshing milk over it.

As mentioned in my previous post, I had a PET/CT scan performed on May 2. I'm horrible at explaining technical things, but Patti over at Mom's Story
gives a wonderful explanation of it all. If you want to know the hows, whys and whats of a PET/CT, check out her post.

Anyway, my blood work, according to Dr. J, looks great. He also stated that my PET/CT looks good. The PET/CT report states that there's "marked increased activity within the right lower pelvis which appears to correspond to the right ovary. This could be related to a recently ruptured follicle or follicular activity. There is otherwise no abnormal activity from vertex to midthighs to suggest recurrent or residual lymphoma. A right axillary lymph node and several mesenteric lymph nodes are all relatively stable..." This is all good news, however a repeat PET/CT is recommended in 6 months time "as a precautionary measure" to keep an eye on that activity in the lower right pelvis.

The friend in California with melanoma that I mentioned in my last post sadly died on May 10. He was an amazing person.

Take care of yourselves folks!

Reality Check

Some days I find it hard to believe that I'm "sick"...my energy levels are right up there, I feel great, as I've mentioned in other posts. In the back of my mind I find myself thinking things like, "I'm not really sick, the docs must have made some kind of mistake".

But, the grim reality of it all sets in when yet another needle goes into a vein for some more testing. I had blood work done on Friday (May 1), and my second PET scan was performed at 8:00 a.m. yesterday. The test itself is no big deal, but it IS creepy thinking that something radioactive is being injected into my body. I'm not sure I like that.

I'll know the results of both tests when I visit my oncologist, Dr. J. in a couple weeks.

I just got word today that an acquaintance in California has taken a turn for the worse and basically has been sent home from the hospital to die. He was diagnosed with melanoma last year, and things just got progressively worse at a rapid rate. We on the Turbo! mailing list refer to him as "Uncle Bob". He'll be in our thoughts and prayers.