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 A blog of no uncertain musings. What goes on in my mind is often a source of wonder to me. |
| Today is the first anniversary of my journey into the realm of cancer. Cancer awareness has a new meaning for me. Last year on 27 Dec, I had a phone interview with a VA representative in which I described a sharp pain I was having in my left side for the past two days. The rep set me up for an Ultrasound the next day at our local hospital. I thought, 'That was pretty quick.' And the next day was a Saturday. Though the procedure happened quickly, it took more than three weeks to get the results. In the mean time, within days the pain disappeared and never returned. But I was now in the system with an ailment that needed to be diagnosed. That diagnosis was finally made after many two-hour drives to the VA Hospital in Columbia, MO with successive tests and scans over the following two months. My original diagnosis was returned as Stage 4 Kidney cancer based on a biopsy that discovered cancer in a lymph node. My choices were chemo or surgery--that determination to be made following one more test. I met with Oncology and Urology doctors in mid-March who stated they thought surgery was the best option. The earliest I could get scheduled was 7 May. I set the appointment and did the next best thing. I went on vacation to Colorado for a family ski trip three days later. While on vacation, I received a call from the VA telling me I could have surgery on 17 April if I wished. I wished! That first week in April was a blur. Jeanette had eye surgery to remove some cataracts that first Monday with a follow-up appointment the next day, both visits in Springfield, a 50-minute drive. Wednesday I had to go to the University of Missouri Hospital, next door to the VA Hospital, for an Echocardiogram and a meeting with my surgeon. The surgery would be done at the UofM hospital because they had the robotics surgery equipment necessary for the surgery. They also had the best robotics doctor in the state to perform the surgery having performed my exact surgery MANY times. I said I was good with that. Oh, and I had a dental cleaning the day after that followed by replacing my car's four tires on Friday. Busy week. Life goes on. I had my surgery on 17 April in which they removed a sizeable tumor, my right kidney and a lymph node--the one in which they thought they found cancer necessitating that stage-4 diagnosis. Turns out they found no cancer there. Bottom line: The doctor removed all the cancer they could find (a thorough search, he said--or from what I remember he said since I was still under the anesthesia effects), and I would not require any chemo or immunotherapy. I would have to come in for scans every six months for the next three years or so. On this anniversary, I celebrate all the gifts God has given me--life, family, friends, and health. I've a lot to do in the coming year. Think I'll get started with that "Dear Me" letter. |
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