Remission

I went to my oncologist today and was told that my cancer is in remission, total remission!

It was a very emotional moment after a year of a very strange, but enlightening journey that took many turns but ended on a good note.

Next, I'll be having the surgery to removed the mediport and will be monitored for the next five years. I feel that God and early detection saved my life and I will be forever thankful!

Blessings,
-Mike

Scans Completed

I had the scans done twice. After the first one, they claimed they couldn't get a good image and wanted to increase the IV dye.

They sent me to the lab to have blood drawn to see if the kidneys were strong enough to "work harder" with the increased dosage.

I thought that the jug of chalky stuff would have been enough, but what do I know?

On the second trip into the radiology center, they were able to get better images. I'll get the results next Tuesday.

Now it's wait and wonder, but thinking positive!

May 11th - 2009

It's been almost a WHOLE YEAR since my diagnosis now. I'm starting to feel a little anxiety about my upcoming CT scans and blood tests. Eight more days!

Then a week after that I have an oncology appointment to have the port flushed and get the results of the procedures. I'm hoping that the scans are clean and I'll be able to have the mediport removed soon.

I hope that everyone had a Happy Mother's Day yesterday.

Neuropathy is much better, but still evident. More later...

A Day In The Life

I now have my dates for my scans!!! I'll be going into the hospital in Mid-to-late May for the scans and then have the followup with my Onclogist a week later. At this point I'm continuing to let the body heal from the toxic chemotherapy meds and feeling a little better with each passing day.

Now comes the waiting...as it's been said "the waiting is the hardest part" to find out if the chemo did what it was supposed to do. More later...

March 24th - Oncology Follow Up

I had my next follow-up this morning and was told that everything looked good, so my oncologist ordered a CT scan for mid-May and my next follow-up for May 26th.

I asked him about CEA blood tests and he said he was sending today's bloodwork out and would let me know if there was anything to worry about. He said the scan would be the biggest help in determining if anything is showing, but it has to be worked out with my healthplan provider before scheduling.

So, we went with the May 26th for the next follow-up, but he said if insurance doesn't approve the scans yet, then it may have to be re-scheduled later. If those come back good, then he said I could plan on my follow-up scope for June or July.

The neuropathy has improved and is only slightly felt in my fingertips. He asked if handling ice cubes caused any problems and it doesn't, and told him so.

So, it was a good visit and now I just wait to see how the insurance company is going to react to the scans. My last ones (CT and PT) were done last May.

If all goes well, I'll be able to have the surgery to remove the mediport in my chest sometime this summer :)

Thanks again for the positive support and mojo!