Medical Update

Today, Derek and I went up to meet with my oncologist up at UCSF! It was a fairly exciting trip because we already knew that since I have been blessed with great news on all the scans that I had taken since last July, that this trip was to now discuss what we were going to make as our "game plan" from here on out....

Today was really busy at UCSF. Each time I've gone, it's been on many different days, it had never been this full of people in the waiting room. It didn't create a problem by any means, it was just a little alarming. A reminder of how many people were dealing with cancer, and that was just a Wednesday at 11:30am in a San Francisco center. Agh! If that doesn't put a different perspective on it... Still, I have to say, things went smoothly. I had to wait a little longer, but not by much. I really love this hospital. Whether it's busy or not, things seem to run smoothly and calmly. Call me selfish, but I personally need that when I'm about to delve into some life altering issues. So, if you're listening UCSF...thanks, I appreciate it!

The meeting itself was only about 30 minutes or so, but it felt like a whole lot was accomplished. It felt like there was a lightness in the air and that we had stepped over this big bump in the road and we clearing our path for the rest of the trek. First, let me back up a little....

Last I left it, I was waiting for clarification on how the last scan report (in Sept.) was reading and the various "new" spot(s) showing up...(read in my Sept. "medical update" entry).

It was finally made clear (in lemans terms) that basically everyone has random "spots" throughout their body and these scans detect ones that may appear to have some abnormalities. Being that I have had cancer already, these spots need to be really closely monitored. However, the scanning process can be a little tricky when reading results because it is very sensitive to how the imaging lasers catch each section of your body. A minute shift in body positioning can alter what is picked up on the image. But basically, the size of the findings (spots) are too small to be significant and so therefor we were continuing to monitor them by re-scanning every 2 months.

Well I had another scan done in November and once again things appear to be unchanged!( Woo hooo! ) (read in my last "medical update" entry). This was the last scan in the series of scans that I was doing. Now that it has come back once again with good results, a new decision was made to now spread the scans out further...instead of every 2 months, every 4 months for now. At that point, if I'm still getting good results, then maybe every 6 months, and so on. Basically, there's a plus and a negative to taking these scans. A plus because you are keeping a watchful eye on things...a negative because your putting your body through alot of radiation which can have negative effects on your body. So essentially, you're damned if you do, and damned if you don't;) All we can continue to do is pray and hope for the best. The way things have been going so far, I think I'm doing pretty well;)

I will also be getting yearly colonoscopies (the next one starting in March of next year) which are pertinent in detecting any signs of colon cancer again. Not looking forward to it, but I can honestly say that it's a fairly easy (out-patient) procedure. And knowing that it aided in essentially saving my life the first time, I am all for it again. If anyone out there is contemplating the idea of getting one but maybe are unsure, or understandably nervous about it, feel free to talk to me:) I'll help you through it!

We left the 4th floor Oncology Dept., and headed up to the 5th floor Infusion Center. Don't worry...not to get an infusion, but better yet, to meet a little angle of mine who works there. You may remember me mention Mairead Shaw, who had found me through the benefit party that I was an honoree of back in May. She is an oncology nurse there at UCSF and was essentially my bridge to the care I found at UCSF. Up until this point, we had never met in person. All of our conversations were over the phone and via email. At the beginning of this process of beeing seen at UCSF, we were in contact almost every day. As the months have rolled on, and things have started to smooth out a little, we were less in touch on a daily basis, rather just the occasional email correspondence over my regually posted "medical updates". Today, I knew I had do go and officially put a face to a name and share with her where I am at today. I'm so glad I did! She is awesome and adorable....I'm serious, I wanted to pick her up and put her in my pocket!

To top it off....the sun was shining in San Francisco.... I love when that happens!