Category Archives: hope

next oncology appointment is…

04 Wednesday Feb 2015

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next oncology appointment

Today I had to see my oncologist. My previous oncology appointment was on November 24th. At the time I already knew my PET scan had come back clean, but had to visit the onc to figure out what to do next, having reached the all-important 5-year cancer-free anniversary. Turned out I had to have another colonoscopy done first, which also came back with the ALL CLEAR. So I wasn’t too worried going to see the oncologist today. And in fact, it was one of the least stressful hospital visits ever. There was some discussion as to whether I’d continue to get PET scans, or “downgrade” to CT scans… and so far it looks like I’ll continue with PET scans. But just once a year now, rather than every six months. So I will probably have the next PET scan early October and then see the oncologist again on the 15th (the appointment is already fixed). And… well, it feels AMAZING that I won’t be going through scanxiety again in March or April. I don’t think I’ll ever feel “out of the woods”, but this is a very welcome break.

Now I’m just waiting to have the chemo port taken out. Gawd knows I’ve been living with that long enough, along with the monthly trips to the hospital to get it cleaned out. So today I also popped over to the Pain Clinic to see where I was in line. I knew back in November that it would be a bit of a wait as those needing ports have priority over those wanting them out, and rightly so. But it looks like there are only half a dozen people ahead of me now, so it should happen within the next month or so.

hope 2016

03 Saturday Jan 2015

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hope_2016

Continuing the “tradition of hope” started back on January 3rd 2009 when I posted my first ever Photohunt entry. The theme that week was “hope” and I put up a photo of my daybook turned to January 3rd 2010 with the words “STILL HERE!” written on it. I had finished a second stint on chemo just a few months previously and hoping felt like a very bold thing to do. Since then I have posted a similar photo on this date and – as always – hope with all my heart that I’ll be here to turn the page and see this next year.

This year is especially meaningful because in October I joined the “5 Year Club” marking five cancer-free years. But I know better than to assume anything and I feel just as tentative writing this as ever. But hey, it’s good to have hope.

5 year celebration

29 Wednesday Oct 2014

Posted by in cancer, change, friends, hope, tapas

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celebration (1)Celebrating 5 years of being cancer-free with Peter, Kyran & Claire.

celebration (2)First stop La Azotea…

celebration (3)Then we went to La Pepona…

It is still slowly sinking in. And in some ways it’s as much as an adjustment as when I did this in reverse. Except I hope this new feeling doesn’t ever go away – that feeling like it’s Christmas when I wake up in the morning.

the 5 year club

28 Tuesday Oct 2014

Posted by in cancer, change, friends, health & happiness, hope, hospitals

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pet tac

Today marked a very important milestone for me. I had my “5th anniversary” PET scan – which came back clear! – marking five cancer-free years (I finished my last chemo at the end of July 2009). I almost couldn’t believe it when Pilar texted me while I was out having coffee, saying that everything was okay. In fact, I burst into tears. This one is a game-changer. I won’t know exactly what they have in store for me now until I see the oncologist again next month, but today should be the last of the every-six-month PET scans (will switch to either once a year or possible every 10 months) and I will finally be able to get the chemo port out. That last one will be a relief and I won’t have to make my monthly visit to the hospital to get the thing cleaned out. So it’s all good.  I mean, I’m not “out of the woods” yet. The 5-year mark is kind of random and my case is more baffling than anything. Most stage-IV people don’t stay in remission for this long. But hey, I’ve made it this far and at least for now I am fine, so it really does feel like a fresh start.

As always I want to thank my amazing Nuclear Medicine team – Pilar and Isabel (Ricardo retired last year) – and also all of you for being there with me through all of this. You can all take the next year off.  😉

A side note: October 28th is the saint day of Santo Judas Tadeo (Jude the Apostle) patron saint of lost causes. Coincidence?

watery windows

23 Tuesday Sep 2014

Posted by in cancer, health & happiness, home, hope, hospitals

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water windows
The windows in the oncology waiting room are the one source of beauty there. I had to go see my oncologist to set up my next PET scan and was surprised to find out she wasn’t back yet. In fact, I haven’t seen her for about a year, but put that down to her being out of town or otherwise busy whenever my routine check-ups came around. Since I get my PET scan results in the same day as the test I don’t need that follow-up appointment afterwards.

Well, not only did I find out that Dr Ana wasn’t there, but I was also told she might not be coming back. Turns out she had cancer (!!!) and although she seems to be physically recovered now it looks like she isn’t psychologically well enough to resume her duties. So I had a chat with the new guy and was impressed that he’d read my file and seemed to know my whole story. I told him that both Dr Ana and Ricardo had recommended I do the PET scans every six months for 5 years (after finishing my last chemo) and this guy agreed that this was a good thing to do. Though he did surprise me – when I suggested I might also get the chemo port removed – by saying I could have had it taken out ages ago. When I asked him the obvious, he said if the cancer comes back they’d just put in another one. Well!

So I am now waiting to find out when the next PET scan will be. If all goes well I should be getting the port out soon and will be able to stop living within six-month segments of time. Meanwhile, I keep on working and playing as best I can.