Good News; Interesting News & Not So Good News

GOOD NEWS FIRST: My most recent brain MRI is good. No new lesions or tumors found, no changes since the last one. So, very good news. I saw my current oncologist (Dr. Suman Rao) earlier in the week and everything is looking good.

INTERESTING NEWS: On October 26th (yes, my actual 50th birthday), I had an appointment at Mercy with my prior oncologist (Dr. David Riseberg) - you know, the one who treated me for the first round of lymphoma back in 1999/2000. I missed my yearly checkup last year - I was busy having brain surgery, etc.! Anyway, it was odd walking through those doors and seeing him again, especially after all that I have been through. He had been consulted immediately after the brain tumor was diagnosed as cancer (lymphoma). I did not know this (but probably should have), but a person can only have so much of certain kinds of chemotherapy treatments in a lifetime and I apparently had the maximum amount of "CHOP", already. That didn't really matter because CHOP does not work for brain cancer anyway. There are also some rules about how much radiaton a person can have in a lifetime, but I have not needed to figure that one out yet, since I chose not to have the whole brain radiation at this time. Dr. Rao and my primary care physician had also updated Dr. Riseberg on my status throughout my treatment protocol. So, when I walked in the door, Dr. Riseberg was very happy to see me - walking, talking and alive! He knew what I had been through and was very pleased to see me doing so well. We all know that where cancer is concerned, a person is never "out of the woods", but it sure did feel good to be feeling good that day. I know it sounds a bit odd at this point in my life, but I am an ELEVEN (11) year survivor of the first cancer! No one can take those eleven years away from me - not the good or the bad! I am now a ONE (1) year survivor of the second cancer! (HMM - maybe I need to play some number 1's in the lottery:) In the past, when I would have appointments with Dr. Riseberg, I would bring him some home made cookies or some Berger cookies or some Rhebs candy - something to share with his team - the team that pulled me through the first cancer. This year, in honor of my 50th birthday, I gave Dr. Riseberg a box filled with origami cranes. I made each of the cranes myself and told him that I hoped that they would bring him a little joy. As some of you know, the origami cranes mean a lot to me and I have given them to nurses and other hospital staff and as favors at my celebration. I will publish the origami story again by separate post, just in case you have forgotten or missed the story. A special thank you to all of the health care professionals who have given me these last eleven years.

NOT SO GOOD NEWS: Well, some of you know that I have been complaining about hip/leg pain for the last two months or so. It was initially thought to be bursitis and was treated with steroids, but it didn't seem to help. Actually, the pain has worsened and I am beginning to limp. So, I had a hip MRI the other day and the results are a little worrisome. The good news is that it is NOT cancer. I have an appointment with an orthopedic doctor early next week and will know more after that. It annoys me to even think of having yet another health problem - especially now that I am just beginning to get some normalcy back in my life! Yes, I am very very annoyed. But, as I have learned over and over again during my various health issues - I will take one day at a time. I can't do anything about this problem until I have all the facts and when I do, I will take the appropriate action. Please keep me in your thoughts and prayers. Update to follow next week.