Just Surviving
Hello! I have been absent for a long time, just living my best life! Hoping to have some good news by the end of the week in my personal life, something I can get wrapped up in and that will keep me busy and completely distracted from the fact that I have metastatic cancer. But one day at a time, right?! I am so grateful each day that I have made it to a point in my cancer journey where I can just live again. For a decade, I never thought I’d be able to do that. Cancer was always in the back of my mind. But it is on my mind today since I just had my every-six-months appointment with oncology yesterday. I left the appointment feeling good. Next appt. in 6 months. No scan on the horizon since I’ve had so many for various other reasons than cancer. I won’t have to worry about or think about cancer again for the next six months. Oh, and my bloodwork came back great – just low on Vitamin D, which is not unusual for me.
My NP asked me if I was still having my port flushed every six weeks since there was no order for it in the system. I said I was and that I wanted to ask her about that because I am finally getting to the point, after two years off treatment, that it’s getting a little bit annoying having to go in every six weeks to get it flushed. Maybe I can be brave enough to get it out. I am not wanting it out because it’s not uncomfortable, it’s been a great one for me, and I fear as soon as I get it out, that cancer will come back, and I’ll need one back in. I’m sure it’s going to pretty tough to get out, as well, since it’s been in there so long. It’s pretty much a part of me now, at least it has been for the past decade.
But I’m so glad she asked me about it and we had that discussion because she went to talk to my oncologist about it after my appointment. We had agreed I’d get an ultrasound of my neck because of some past reactivity on my CT/PET scan, which is most likely resolved now; I’d bet money on it. But, after reviewing my last CT/PET scan results, they reminded me that a lymph node in my chest, where I had my mets, had reacted. So, they want me to schedule another CT/PET to see what’s going on with that before we decide what happens with my port.
My NP and oncologist are so thorough and always err on the side of caution, so I feel very good under their care. Plus, a scan, while completely nerve-wracking for a week in total – between scanxiety and results – is always reassuring to me. It gives me information that I can do something with. If it’s bad news, I can process and deal with it. If it’s good news, I can go back to living my life for the next six months.
So, that’s where I’m at right now. I am dealing with trying to figure out a new health problem. My blood sugar has been dropping pretty low about every few days. I’m not sure what’s causing it. But it just reminds me that it is possible to get other health problems besides cancer! Cancer is just so all-consuming. Anyway, I have an appointment with my primary care doctor in a couple of weeks, so I’m anxious to see what it is going on. It’s on my birthday, and while I am feeling so old now, I am so happy I will have made it to another birthday. Time is flying so quickly. I can’t believe it is the end of May already.
Well, that’s my update for now. I will post again after a port flush or when I schedule my next CT/PET scan. Hope all is well with you all! Stay safe and healthy, everyone!