Scans

Several beautiful well-behaved Labrador Retrievers are sitting on and around a CT scan. The meme reads, “Sorry, sir, we can’t do your CAT Scan, but we can give you a LAB Report!”  Insert rimshot.

Doctor says to the patient, “I have the results of your MRI.  Half your brain is clogged with passwords and the other half is clogged with user names.”

I am amused by the plethora of jokes and memes regarding CT scans and MRIs.  Laughter is good medicine, and I love a good pun. I think we can all relate to the MRI joke with the new securities and technologies requiring newer and longer passwords–different user names for each site we visit–that are clogging our drains…eh hem…I mean brains.  My employer just announced the use of new VPN security due to a hacker getting into the system and diverting an employee’s paycheck! Yeah, I’ll take the extra precautions even though my brain is full of a few extra passwords.

Every three months my oncologist sends me for tests to make sure the chemo is doing its job:  CT scan of the abdomen, pelvis, and chest as well as MRI of the brain. Sometimes he does the bone scan but it doesn’t really tell him as much, so he didn’t do it this time. I didn’t mind not doing it as it meant one less visit to the hospital.

For about a year now the organs have been stable without any evidence of disease.  I am continually praising the Lord for what He is doing in my life.  Two tiny spots on the brain could be anything, but as long as they do not grow we must be doing something right.  Apparently, many people have spots on their brain and don’t even know it, so I guess one could say I fall in the ‘normal’ category!

In case you have forgotten, or don’t know my history, this round of treatment started with a diagnosis of metastatic breast cancer in December 2016, nearly two years ago.  I had a seven centimeter mass on my ribcage, spots in my spine, skull, ribs, as well as liver and lungs.  Since then, all of those spots have completely disappeared.

Today was another follow-up with my oncologist to go over Friday’s test results.  I am never worried, but always a little curious, to know what the results will be. Whatever will be, will be, right? Worrying only takes time away from more important things. I admit it is always nice to get the thumbs up and hear the words “stable” once again.  I think he is a bit surprised each time I come in.  We talked briefly about the treatment plan, e.g. continuing with infusions of Herceptin and Perjeta every three weeks, as well as daily pills (Anastrozole).  If it’s working, don’t fix it; so, we’ll keep plugging along.

I continue to work, and I continue to ride the Harley, and I continue to spend time with my family…not necessarily always in that order. LOL.  I will continue to do all of these things as long as the Lord gives me breath, strength, and adds to the days of life.  Everything I do is to glorify Him. People, God is evident in my life! I couldn’t do this without Him.

“You will live a long life and see my saving power.” Psalm 91:16 CEV 

Á la prochaine...until next time.

 

Blood Clots

Chemo day is usually pretty uneventful. Come in, give blood, get vitals, access port, get chemo, and I go home. Today, however, a little hiccup when the nurse could not get blood return from my port. He tried multiple times to no avail. He said it probably has a small clot in there. I admit I heard “clot,” and got a little nervous about that. However, this is fairly normal and apparently does not have any long-term concerns. He said they have to do a TPA and clear the line of any blockage. This takes about an hour. Basically it’s a syringe with some medicine connected to the line.

To move forward with my Herceptin and Perjeta treatment, they had to put an IV in my arm.  Ouch!  I have also been having trouble with IVs, so he went in through the wrist. The hand and wrist are pretty sensitive. My nurse Marco, who I had last time, took good care of me. It only hurt a little.