HAPPY DAY, HAPPY HAPPY DAY!!! Today I feel the battle is truly over. Today the chemo port was removed from my chest. Now I know for sure that the docs feel that nasty stuff is all gone. I AM A SURVIVOR. It's been a rough 9 1/2 months but the battle has been won.
We were going to go on a little trip to celebrate the cure and my birthday but we have decided to stay home. I wanted to go to Napa Valley but Jerry is not a wino like me, in fact he rarely drinks alcohol in any form. Wasn't it smart of me to marry my very own designated driver? We looked at a few other places in California but decided it was a little too much trouble to get the "bus" in shape and spend a lot of money when we can go there next summer and really enjoy it with, hopefully, some friends. It was my decision in the end so I am not disappointed. We will go to a very good steak house for my birthday dinner. I would rather have cioppino but that can also wait until spring or summer.
I will continue to write on a sporadic basis and I will try not to bore you.

Love and HUGS to everyone.


Linda

Good news, better news, WONDERFUL NEWS!!
Dr Najafian took a couple of chunks out of my butt on Tuesday and today I got the news: NO SIGN OF CANCER. It's been a rough 10 months but hopefully it's over. Now I just have to have the chemo port removed and we may be able to get away, at least for my birthday.
As you can see, Kirby and Kelsey are ready to take off. That was the vehicle available so they jumped in and just sat waiting for us to take them somewhere. Finally I will be able to chronicle my travels with Kirby and Kelsey.
Love and hugs to all.

Linda

Good News! I had the PET scan on Monday and saw Dr B yesterday. Everything looks good, the scan showed no activity. Now I only have to get through the biopsy next Tuesday but since the scan showed nothing I am sure it's only scar tissue that he felt. As long as that is OK I can then make arrangements to have the port removed. That will be a great psychological relief, as well as physical. It really doesn't bother me but I know it is there and when it's gone I'll feel sure there will be no more chemo in the near future.
So, now if it cools down a little perhaps Jerry can clean the outside of the "bus" which he says must be done before we travel anywhere. I can get the inside done in a day. Then maybe we can take off for northern California for a few weeks and MY BIRTHDAY!!!
That's all for now. I'll post again next week when I have the results of the biopsy.
Love and Hugs to all.
Linda

Hi Everyone,

I saw Dr Najafian today. He's the colorectal surgeon who found the tumor last November. He said  the same thing as Dr Lee's NP  that he felt a small, hard area in the anus. He is sure it is scar tissue but to be on the safe side he is going to do a biopsy on Sept 4. I am still scheduled for the PET scan on the 27th and will see Dr Banghar on the 29th to get the results. Dr N is anxious to learn those results also, but both docs believe physical exam plus a look-see is the best way to tell if there is any cancer left. The PET scan will show if there is any activity elsewhere in my body.
So, it looks like we will be staying here and I won't get my seafood and shellfish fix that I was hoping for in Northern California and Oregon. Therefore I am fixing fish for dinner tonight. I guess since we've lasted out most of the hottest part of the summer another month won't be too bad. I am actually hoping maybe we can go to Napa Valley for a couple weeks the end of Sept & early Oct. After all I will be the ancient 7-0 on Oct 6. I think I deserve something special for making it this far even though I plan on at least 20 more years on the green side.
I will write more after I see Dr B next Weds.

Love and hugs to all. Linda

Hi Everybody.

I got home Monday from a wonderful visit with my son, Pete, and his beautiful family. The first picture is with Ella (7), Paige (15), Claire (11) and Milo (1). The bottom picture is Pete. Unfortunately Carol, Pete's wife, was camera shy that morning.
I also saw my brother, Jerry's mother, brother and sister-in-law. I had a nice visit with my niece and her mother who is also a survivor. She is coming up on five years. Congratulations Marilyn!
I already miss Pete and his family. I love you all so much.
Today I saw Dr. Lee's Nurse Practitioner. He is the radiation oncologist. She did a digital exam which, thankfully, didn't hurt. I guess that area is finally healed. She said she barely felt anything and that tumors can take several months to go away completely. They told me that before so I guess we are making progress. I then went to medical oncology office to have blood drawn and my port flushed. My hemoglobin is still a little low but nothing to worry about. On the 27th I will have another PET scan and then see Dr, Banghar on the 29th and get the results.  Hopefully at that time he will release me for six months or so. Then maybe we can escape for a couple of weeks during September.
Oh, I forgot to mention I saw Paige and Claire  in Willy Wonka The Musical and they were both terrific.  We also celebrated Ella's 7th birthday while I was there. She is a very grown up 7 year old.
That's all I have to report for now. Will keep everyone up to date when I know more.

Love and hugs, Linda

Wow, I didn't realize it's been almost two months since I wrote anything. Actually it's been pretty quiet around here, except for a lot of monsoon storms over the weekend.
Tomorrow morning I fly to Michigan to visit my son, Pete, his lovely wife, Carol, and their three beautiful girls, Paige 15, Claire 11 and Ella almost 7. I haven't seen them in two years and this last year has made me realize what my priorities are. Paige and Claire are in Willy Wonka the musical Thursday and Friday nights. Paige has a lead and Claire is a townsperson. I haven't heard Paige sing and Pete comments on how beautiful her voice is. Jerry is staying home in Arizona with the dogs. We saw Kevin last summer but haven't seen Shelly or Steve or any of their kids in a couple of years. We will have to take care of that too. Family is too Important. I will also see Jerry's mom and my brother while I'm in the Detroit area.
All of my doctors' appointments have been pushed back to August, either by them or me. I will see them all after I get back and should have another PET scan near the end of August. I seem to finally be healed from the damage the radiation did to my skin in such a sensitive area. This is good because it probably won't hurt so much when doctors want to do a digital exam. I feel good and I know I have kicked this nastiness in the butt.
I'll have lots of pictures to post and will write more when I get back and have seen the docs.
Love and Hugs to all.

Wow, it's been over a month since I wrote anything. I guess that's good because nothing has been going on, just getting my strength back and hoping that "sensitive areas" are healing.
We saw Dr Banghar, medical oncologist, yesterday and he seemed pleased with my progress. He wants to see me in three months for another PET scan and to make plans to have the port removed. I told him I know it's psychological, but as long as the port is still in I feel they think I may need chemo again. He said no, but didn't give me any explanation except that they might need it. It does make it easier for them to draw blood which they did yesterday and my hemoglobin count is getting better each time. Oh yes, my hair is growing back very well but it's still not blonde. I have no idea where this silver and brown came from.
With all of this going on it looks like we will be staying here this summer. I am not looking forward to it but the motor home would need some expensive maintenance work if we were to travel and for a week or two it doesn't seem worth it. It has been over 100 most days already. It's not usually this hot in May, I think. The mornings and the evenings are still pleasant. I know about the evenings, but about the mornings I hear from others, those morning people. The summers we spent in Phoenix stayed hot 24 hours but I think it will cool off more here in the evenings because there is not as much concrete.
I am planning on flying back to Michigan for a week in July. I will stay with Pete so I can have some quality time with his family. Paige and Claire are going to be in a musical and I really want to see that. I have never seen any of them perform. Paige has a lot of her great grandmother Wigle in her and loves to show off her talent. I believe this is Claire's first experience on stage and I am really proud of her for trying out. Although she is also a beauty she is not as outgoing as Paige. I did not see Pete and family last year and this cancer really made me think about what is important in life. I want to see as much of my granddaughters as possible and I want them to remember Mimi with fondness.