The Report

So today is the day I meet with the oncologist and find out the results of all the tests, scans, and biopsies I have had over the past few weeks. I know many people are praying for me, and I am not worried as I head out from work for my 11am appointment. If I were a drama queen, I would place the back of my hand strategically on my forehead, wilt a bit to the left and sigh deeply while announcing that I am off to learn my fate, standing on the cusp of disaster, clinging bravely to a thin strand of hope.

Fortunately, I am not a drama queen. I know the drill and what could come. I know that God is with me and come what may, I shall be fine. So I drive up five levels in the Strong Hospital Parking Garage, take the stairs to level one because I can, and march down the hall and into the Wilmot Cancer Clinic, giggling just a little because the player piano in the main hospital lobby is playing the same Chopin nocturne that it was playing last time I exited this building. Talk about deja vue! Or maybe deja aura.

I endured the endless wait, surviving no fewer than five whole episodes of WWII on the History Channel while I strained my ears for my name to be called. Finally they call me, check blood pressure (only 185 over 71 - not bad for me), temp 97.5 - normal, and escort me into an exam room for an additional wait. I hear the doctor making her rounds from one room to the next, greeting patients, wishing them well. She is very upbeat and encouraging.

My turn at last. She has been busy on my behalf. Yes, the biopsies confirm what we have suspected all along. I have a lymphoma, low grade and prospering. With this firm diagnosis I can now be referred to a specialist - and they have a well known specialist right at Wilmot - hard to get in, but I have an appointment for March 24 since she has been talking to him all along about my case.

And I still have to have the bone biopsy. They will schedule it before I see the specialist, so sometime in the next week or so. But its not the rectal cancer flaring up. She is fairly certain its not. Barring anything unforeseen from the biopsy. And the good news is, now that they know what we are dealing with, I will not need a scan every 8 weeks. I can drop to 3 months now (OK, so its not that much of a deal, but I'll take it.).

And that's the skinny. The doctors are happy. They expect it will not affect me any more than it currently is, and that's a good thing. Except for that little blip on the spine. That and whatever the new specialist might suggest. So life is good. Let's keep it that way for awhile!