Oncologist Report

I have to admit, there are little things about how I feel that don't seem quite right. It's worrisome. They could be nothing, but then again, it could be serious. Some days I have no energy - like the plug has been pulled and my power steeing is revoked. Some days I can feel swollen glands gone amuk in my body - all over. Some days I can't seem to get food and drink to move through my system well. Some days I spend in the bathroom. Some days for no apparent reasons I hurt all over.


I'm not trying to borrow trouble, and for the most part, I chose to ignore these irritations - chalk it up to my body having gone through a lot of distress. But on days like today, the thoughts tend to creep into my consciousness. Is the cancer back? Am I going to have to face death and dying all over? Go through heaven only knows what this time?



After all, last week I had to have a complete body scan - neck to toe. And this time they asked me to drink two full bottles of that white slimey slightly orangey tasting chalky barium stuff - a full cup every ten minutes for an entire hour before they took me back. The test was a quick zip zip of less than five minutes! But the results - that is what makes me pause today.



My concern shows up in my blood pressure - an unbelievable 172 over 90. Egads - just last Wednesday it was excellent. There is no hiding my steeling against any potential trouble. My doctor comes in and I realize how wonderful it is to see her. I have not been with her for 6 months now. She introduces me to her new nurse.



"This is Mrs. Gillie who has beaten two kinds of cancer against all odds. We are very proud of her."



The words hit me with direct impact. Wow! I am a winner! I have beaten that ugly cancer twice - and through tough conditions at that. My spirit rises with joy. I can almost feel my blood pressure going down. The doctor brings up the results of my scan and turns the monitor so I can read along. It is good. It is in fact, excellent. Even that mass we had seen on the last scan has shrunk.



She does an physical exam. Everything is as it should be. And then the bonus: she sits back and tells me about how she is organizing an event to ask for bone marrow donors for the purpose of trying to help match people who have combinations of ethnic background - many of whom are African American. They almost never find a match in the donor base because these people have so many racial components to consider.



She asks if PrayerSong would be willing to come and sing! I am delighted to be asked, and I commit immediately. There is no date set yet, but she will be in touch. I tell her about my March recital, and she wants to come. I will send her a flier as soon as I pull one together. We are friends who have this commonality of fighting against the devastation of cancer. It is a wonderful camraderie.

I float out of the clinic. Oh, I know this is far from the end of my journey, but it is GOOD to celebrate this milestone in my treatment. A heavy weight has lifted from my shoulders. Life is not all about fighting cancer - I am free to follow other more preferable activities. Body be hanged. I am going to dance - dance - dance - dance - dance!!!!