Manolo Leon’s restaurant/bar is about half-way between the hospital and my place. In fact, it’s right across the street from where Susan (aka Pipocas) used to live. And some of you may recall that it was where I went for the post prognosis party back in October 2008, when I was – mistakenly! – told that my cancer was untreatable and I had maybe a year to live. On that occasion Nog, Pablo and I splashed out on a gorgeously decadent lunch and later on met Susan for cocktails at a smart little bar across the street. So it seemed appropriate to stop off there on the way home from receiving my GOOD NEWS yesterday …

It actually took awhile for this good news to sink in and I was mulling it over on the way home after the PET scan when I suddenly went w00t! and decided a glass of cava was in order. And we happened to be right next to Manolo’s! The original idea was to have a glass of cava and share a ración of chistorras & scrambled eggs in the bar area, but Manolo had other plans for us after hearing my good news. First he moved us over to a nice table for two, which was much more comfortable than perching on bar stools, and along with the cava he sent over a plate of complementary jamón serrano and two small marinated octopus salads. And when I ordered the chistorras (small spicy chorizos) and then wondered if we should also have a half-plate of the house croquettes, Manolo said that I simply had to try their new chiperone croquetas – so new they weren’t even on the menu yet! So well …

As you can see, it was a fabulous lunch, and it did feel especially wonderful to be there celebrating good news for a change.

So yeah, the PET showed no change from last January. Isabel told me that the liver was negative for tumours, and the dodgy inflamed area was the same as before. Which she said confirmed their belief that the inflammation is due to granulomas related to unhealed scar tissue. Those were what the surgeon thought were peritoneal mets during my open & close liver resection in September 2008, which was what led to that idiot onc telling me I was suddenly untreatable (though she hadn’t bothered to read the biopsy reports first). They still may have been mets that got killed off with the first chemo, which is worrying in case of recurrence, but so far there is no significant change and that’s totally okey-dokey with me.

And now I plan to enjoy this wonderful chemo-free summer to the hilt. I’ve got a lot of work to do in order to get the shop open by September, as well as move forward with my other projects. Suddenly I feel highly motivated to make the most of feeling good, which will include putting in some more gym time. I’m assuming my next PET scan will be next January (will find out when I see Dr Ana again in July) and so I am back to living in semi-denial until then. No more scanxiety until after my next birthday.

Thanks for being there for me, guys.

My new motto: Just say NO to cancer.