A Mixed Bag of News this Week

I had four doctors' appointments this week--all of them related in one way or another to my 2009 cancer, my treatments and the resulting side effects.  Most important and best news first--the PET scan showed No Evidence of Disease, either in the primary area or any place above my hips.  That means I am now six years with NED, and the lead oncologist says that he'll order no more PET scans in the future unless there is a certain need for them down the road.  I'll now get annual CT scans instead.

Those Deadheads out there will recognize this adjusted chorus from a certain song:

N-E-D, N-E-D
Ain't no letters I'd rather see
Doc checked the scan and said to me--
Mike, you're N-E-D!

The news from the oral surgeon wasn't quite that good, and will lead to more wait-and-see about any further surgery on my jaw.  Some of the news from him was good--he was able to wiggle out the growing bone shard in my jaw--and it was trophy-shard big.  That's good news because it means my body is fighting off additional necrosis, so if the soft tissue covers over the area where the dead bone came from, no more surgery will be needed in that specific location. If the necrosis continues or gets larger, then we could be looking at a partial re-do of the major jaw surgery. He is also a bit concerned about a small area just on the right side and under of my chin that is oozing some puss and blood on a pretty regular basis.  It is likely that one of the surgical screws is infected so he prescribed some antibiotics for me.  If those don't do the trick, I'll have some outpatient surgery in late December or early January to replace the screw--thus the wait-and-see decision.

So, please send Good Vibes that both of these issues don't escalate into more surgery--especially the possible larger procedure.

While we had a lot of good news this week, we also got some bad news that Deb Pangrazi's cancer has returned.  She had ovarian cancer in 2010 (see January 15, 2010 posting) and put up a great battle to survive it.  The docs now say she has chest or lung cancer and they are doing the early diagnostic work to get a better picture so they can start treating it soon.  Please, please send her and her husband Bob the best Team Mike Good Vibes you can muster--we are fearing the worst from this news.

Mike

Neat story, some updates, and Good Vibes needed

I am a member of the Cancer Survivors' Network, which is a great virtual community for current cancer patients, their caregivers, and those like me who have been fortunate enough to survive this terrible disease.  It is very helpful in many ways and every so often someone posts something that we all think makes for great reading to put our experiences with cancer into perspective.  This was a great example of that:

http://www.ted.com/talks/debra_jarvis_yes_i_survived_cancer_but_that_doesn_t_define_me/transcript?language=en 

The name of the link gives you the gist of her story, but you should read it for the full message.  While cancer has been the most defining thing in my life since 2009, I have made every effort not to let cancer define who I am as person.  If someone on that train has asked me, I would have told them "I am..."

Terry's husband and best friend
Dear friend to a handful of special people in my life
Sibling to three brothers and four sisters
A good teacher and mentor to my students

"A cancer survivor" would not even make the top 10.  To do that would give the Prairie Dogs too much credit and admit that they took part of my identity along with the physical damage they and their treatments have done to my body. I agree with Debra--even though I am reminded several times every day that I had cancer and survived it--I won't let it define who I am as a person.

I have not heard from Steve in a while so can't give an update on his status--so if you are reading this, Steve, let me know how you are doing.  I did hear last week that a professional friend in California, Shane, has had a recurrence of his Leukemia and will undergo another round or two of chemo in the coming weeks and months.  Please send him your best Good Vibes.  I will admit that my biggest fear would be to have to face a second attack by the Prairie Dogs and the barbaric treatments they call for.  The first round nearly killed me and I was much stronger and 6 years younger when I had to take that on.  It is said that every battle with cancer takes a physical, mental, and emotional toll that can't be recovered from 100%, so you start the second round with less reserve than the first.  Shane is now living my worst fear, and I hope he can summon the strength and support to fight this disease again.

All of that makes me amazed that my friend from Arkansas, Pat, is somehow still enduring his fourth bout with cancer.  He has been told that he won't survive, but he's hung in there for a lot longer than predicted.  Please send him your best Good Vibes for a peaceful and painless time until the inevitable does happen.  I've told him I'd like to visit him if at all possible, and am hoping he can find a window of opportunity before he becomes too weak for that.

The last, and least necessary Good Vibes are needed for me this week.  I have my annual scan tomorrow and feel no reason why it won't be another NED (No Evidence of Disease) result.  I see the oncologist on Friday to hear those results from him in person.  Also this week I have an appointment with my oral surgeon who will give me his latest assessment of the bone necrosis in my front left jaw.  I already know that he will tell me it's getting larger, but I don't know how much longer he'll keep watching it before more surgery is needed--or what the extent of that procedure will be. 

More on my status soon, but please send your thoughts and Good Vibes to Shane and Pat this week.

Mike