Can I still post in here?

The Battle is Over and We Won the War!

It's been about 7 and 1/2 years when started I this blog to not only keep my family and friends up to date on my battle with the Big C, but also to serve as a journal, a diary and therapy for me.  Going back and reading this has been very difficult in places, but it has also been an huge reminder of all the wonderful things my friends, family, business associates, even strangers, and especially my husband, Bob, did for me during a very dark part of my life.

Early on in the blog,  I stated that not everything about cancer is "bad".  I was shocked at all the love and support I got from everyone around me, and a lot of people I never even knew who were checking my blog everyday, putting me on prayer lists, and sending me cards, comments, and good wishes. And I learned a lot about myself. I never thought I'd quote anyone on Real Housewives of New Jersey,  but it really says it all- "You never know how strong you are until it's the only choice you have."  Having a whole army of support from all of you was the key to keeping me going. I could not have made alone.  Along the way, I made some great friends, my "Sarcoma Sisters", and I will do whatever I can to be part of their army, until they get  the "cured" message too.

Now it's time to write the end of the story and not blog on this site again. I have not posted on this site for a few years, so likely no one will even read the ending here. You may hear me shouting it from the rooftops, however. According to the American Cancer Society, I am "cured", and there is a less than 5% chance my Sarcoma will come back. I will have CTs and MRI annually, for the next 5 years, just to be sure. There were many times I was certain this day would never come. I truly lost all the battles but somehow won the war. The details and series of events are all chronicled here, since early 2007. Everything you never really wanted to know about the "day to day" true battle with cancer. But thank G-d, and all of you, the story has a happy ending. And maybe, it will give some one else some hope too.
Many thanks and much love,
Geri

Six more month free!

Today, Dec 2, 2011 is the longest I've gone since my first Sarcoma diagnosis in Jan of 2007 without seeing a doc or have a test of some sort. It had been six months, and I was used to every three since the beginning. But good news for me. My chest CT is clear and we will not do another until June 2012' along with an MRI on my leg, as a yearly precaution. I had some big concerns this time that turned out to be nothing. There was a lump above my right thigh, Doc O deemed nothing He believes much of my pain in my leg is "his fault" from all the vascular stuff he had to cut out to take out the tumor and vein reflux is just part of it. There are simple enough procedures to handle this. When the cardio vascular surgeon learned I'd had two thorochotomies he and a new found respect for me like I was a war hero I will deal with this vein thing in a few weeks. Another concern i had was this upper respiratory infection I am fighting and how that might present some "spots" on my lungs. My first thorochotomy turned out to be an infection and not sarcoma, and I am determined to never be cut like that again if I don't have to be.

It was all a great relief and we are both so pleased! Boy, will I sleep good tonight! Our Xmas trip to England is stil up in the air as Bob has jury duty and we don't know how long he will be tied up with that and I have lots of work to do before year end. Bob!a going to be a grandpa in mid Jan so he may need to schedule his trip then instead. We will know more next week.

We hope you enjoy your weekend I know I am cherishing every moment of mine! By the way, as a early holiday gift, Bob made the first two years of this blog as a hard back book so I guess I am published now. I am hoping either Angelina Jolee or Halle Berry plans me in the movie!

Take care, and have a wonderful holiday,
Love,
Geri

Super news!

I had CTs on chest, abdomin and pelvic area as well as leg MRI and all is good. In fact,I sort of got promoted. I don't have to have chest CT for 6 months (had been every 3) and others for another year (vs 6 months). Doc O felt I'd been clear a long enough and did not want me to have so much radiation from Cts. Also, he'd consulted with other docs at a conference and their frequency for cases like mine was all over the place, so he felt sure this would be ferquent and not put me at risk. He said if I started feeling insecure about it or felt something was not right to call and come in sooner. As long as he is comfortable with this, so am I! We did talk about the fact I've seen him every 90 days for 4 years, so if I start missing him I should drop by for a visit and bring a 6 pack of beer. Very upbeat and positive vist and great way to start a wonderful holiday weekend.

Next scans not till Dec so we can make vacation plans probably through year end with out fear of any changes or surprise treatments! It is very weird being this "free" but a weird I really want to get used to feeling!

Assuming no problems that pop up before, I probably won't blog again till mid December. All is good, and we are attempting to live a very normal, and boring life! Yea!

Good news!

I got another "lungs all clear" report from Doc O today. It took so long to see him again that he had already gotten the written report from Radiology confirming what he saw-- or what he did not see, so it is official. We will do it all over again on May 20, including leg MRI, abdomin and pelvic area this time. The only change is I no longer have to have contrast. It is yucky stuff to drink, but the worse part is what they shoot up Your veins. It sends this warm sensation throughout your body. I always feel like I wet my pants! Then you kinds of feel yucky for a couple of hours; it is not awful, but just a pain!

Speaking of 'pain" - Doc O and I did discuss my leg/hip discomfort. He pretty much just said "it was just going to hurt" - all the radiation, surgery, scar tissue, disconnected and reconnection etc. So it is what it is and is nothing that I should be scared of - just something I live with! I get massages every two weeks, take some non narcotic pain medicine, stretch a lot and get on with life. And now I am going to get dressed for my tennis lesson! There were so many times, I thought I'd never get to say that again! I am a lucky girl!

Scan date changed!

Just wanted to let you know my doctor's plans changed, so my appointment changed, and I am not having my CT scan (was scheduled for today) until next Wednesday late afternoon. I promise to update as soon as I can next Wednesday night. Thanks so much for keeping up with me!

Another good report

I am so sorry I worried some of you by not blogging after my scans yesterday. It was all good news but everything ran late, and I rushed home just in time to head back to Emory for my sarcoma suport group last night. It was an exhausting day with full CT scans (chest, abdomin and pelvic area) and MRI on my leg. Then we had a long wait to see DocO. Often, when he sees me the full radiology written report is not in, but he has reviewed the scans and can generally tell what they are revealing. He always emphasizes there is a lot of scar tissue so there could be something he is not seeing, that the radiologist will pick up, but he has not been wrong yet. While our long wait to see him yesterday produced a lot of panic on my part, it was enough time to get the full written radiology report which was great news that showed nothing new and all clear!


DocO was a little concerned that I looked a little tired. I told him that since there was NED (no evidence of diease) meaning no cancer, that my being tired was not his problem but one I would take up with my family practice doc. I have been pretty stressed about these scans for the last couple of months so I think that is probably why I am tired all the time. Funny - I feel alot better today! But I will go get some blood run and see if there is more to it. But one thing for sure-- it is not sarcoma! The do a CT on my chest every 3 months but only look at pelvic, abdomin and leg every 6 months. That makes me more nervous about these scans as it seems like some bad stuff could grow in that time frame. I keep forgetting that if the docs thought that was an issue they would run the tests more frequently, but logic really does not come into play for me around scan time. I just get in panic mode and can't focus on much else!

I went to my Sarcoma support group and we talked alot about scan anxiety, and we all felt the same way. It is a great "rush" when the doc tells you all "looks good" and then about 20 minutes later you start sinking because you know that good report is only "good" for the next 90 days till the next time. You don't have a lot of time to celebrate the good news. Fortunately, the sinking feeling only last a few days and then you get on with life. Sharing all that at support group last night really helped me get past that alot quicker so I am already on the upside now!

We have been taking a lot of long weekend vacations the last couple of months so that and work has kept me occupied and not thinking so much lately. We have been visiting friends in Navarre Beach, Sarasota, Denver and Steamboat Springs, CO and it has been great. They have been good relazing vacations and gotten to spend wonderful time with good friends. This weekend we have a friend Debbie visiting us from St. Louis that we have not see in about 10 years. We go to Birmingham for Thanksgiving next Thursday, and then Bob is off to England on Dec 7 for Christmas. I will join him on the 21st, and we are both really looking forward to that.

Next scans are Feb 16 and I don't even see the DocO till 3:30 which really means about 5pm. So I will promise to blog that night but know it will be later since we will be coming back in Atlanta rush hour so who knows how long that will take.

We wish you all a wonderful holiday season. Again, we have an awful lot to be thankful for. All of you and your support are a major part of that!