radiation follow up...

I met with Dr. Howard, my Radiation Oncologist, today. He said that I am recovering fine and everything (sunburn/dry skin will go away & my hair/whiskers will grow back) will continue to improve over time. I do not need to go back to see him UNLESS I have any problems and/or questions. He will continue to monitor my progress by checking in with Dr. Hei, my Oncologist, who I will continue to see every 3 months or so.

On a side note, Dr. Howard is very interested in learning Taekwondo. I told him that our group had originally started out there at UW hospital, meeting in a classroom. He will try to get a couple other doctors/nurses involved and try to find a space we could use. Something good may come out of this whole "cancer thing" after all.

OK, OK, I know I am w-a-a-a-y behind in my posts...

What can I say except for I AM SORRY!!! I know I am way behind in my posts. This whole cancer thing is a real drain on one's time and energy. BUT -- I am now starting to feel better AND things are starting to slow down to a somewhat normal pace. I will try to update my blog to "fill in the gaps" in my recent treatments and doctors appointments over the last 2 months (OK now I really feel bad since I thought it was only a couple of weeks). Please check back during the next week to catch up on all the details. Also, thanks to everyone for your support and kind thoughts over the past 6 months. The worst is behind me (as best as we can know), and now back to living a "normal" life.....

oncology follow up appt. & labs...

Met with Dr. Hei to have follow up lab work and discuss where my treatment goes from here. As for my labs, everything looked good -- blood counts were with in expected levels (except that I was slightly anemic but not enough to worry about).

From this point forward we are basically on a check-up plan - I will see him in 2 months, then every 3 months for a year, then every 6 months for a couple years after that. I will have lab work done at each follow up appointment, PLUS I will have additional PET scans every 6 months for the next couple years. Oh how I L-O-V-E doctor appointments.

Dr. Hei says the worst is definitely behind me. I am cured at this point as there are no indicators/signs of residual Cancer, and my chance for recurrence is very minor. That sounds great, but I was "cured" before I was diagnosed with Cancer; so, I will enjoy being "Cancer-free" for now, and try not to think about whether the Cancer will ever come back or not.