THE PORT IS OUT!
Some time around 8 am or so this morning it was finally removed from my chest.
Dr G; who did my first biopsy (of my neck) back in Dec 2006 removed it, cutting out the original scar and basically creating a new one.
Regardless...it is finally out. Now I feel like I'm done. The port still being there was the one physical reminder of this year I wanted to get rid of. Certainly my surgery and biopsy scars are physical reminders as well but they don't bother me as much. They feel more like badges I earned on the road to recovery.
Of course the immediate area re-sliced open is sore, my left shoulder area itself feels stiff and there is already some bruising and minor swelling.
...but my body will get over it soon enough.
Tuesday, October 23, 2007
Tuesday, October 16, 2007
Sunday, October 14, 2007
NANOWRIMO 2007
www.nanowrimo.org
November 1 - 30 2007 is National Novel Writing Month. (Nanowrimo)
This will be my fourth attempt at the challenge of writing 50,000 words in 30 days. Last years attempt was immediately suspended when I discovered the lump on my neck on November 4th.
I just didn't have it in me after that.
My last near successful attempt ended with me just over 19,000 words before I burned out and lost my focus.
This year I'm trying again...wish me luck.
November 1 - 30 2007 is National Novel Writing Month. (Nanowrimo)
This will be my fourth attempt at the challenge of writing 50,000 words in 30 days. Last years attempt was immediately suspended when I discovered the lump on my neck on November 4th.
I just didn't have it in me after that.
My last near successful attempt ended with me just over 19,000 words before I burned out and lost my focus.
This year I'm trying again...wish me luck.
Tuesday, October 9, 2007
First CT scan (Post Treatment)...
I have my first (post treatment) CT scan on Wednesday 10/10/07 around 3pm.
We stopped by the hospital and picked up my TWO containers of Barium Sulfate Suspension. An orange flavored chalky "beverage" they make you drink 2 hours prior to the scan. I will be consuming these at work which will cut down on my down time in the hospital.
I have to admit I am kind of anxious about the scan but I'm sure everyone who approaches this first post treatment scan is. The fact that Cancer is still a part of your life is brought back to you- front and center.
I'm not expecting anything tomorrow but a lousy afternoon with a belly full of this orange flavored snot and an IV in my arm riding in and out of the CT machine at Chilton Memorial Hospital...
JOY!
Sunday, October 7, 2007
Wednesday, October 3, 2007
Anniversaries ahead...
It's October.
I was born under an October moon 38 years ago this month. My birthday is two weeks away. Two weeks after that is the day that otherwise changed my life.
November 4, 2007 will be a year that I discovered the lump that altered the course of my life and my family's lives. 45 days after that (December 19) marks the year anniversary of my diagnosis of Renal Cell and Hodgkin's.
I'm not sure what I should do on these days. Celebrate? Take a long walk in the woods and take stock of my life since my diagnosis? Sit under a tree and think about life and the universe? Sleep? Do nothing and treat these days like any other?
It's been a long strange year. The cancer is gone. I should be getting my first "check up" CT scan this month. And while it's been a long, hard year -it's far from over. Unfortunately for the last couple of years the fourth quarter has been a struggle for us, for one reason or another.
And this year will be no different.
We are in mortgage freefall, since my diagnosis we have been in a hole and we are not getting out of it with the house in tact. That said we are in search of a new place to live...credit is severely damaged, medical bills are HUGE and complicating our lives everyday.
Our house has been on the market since March...no bites.
Recently Dawn added up my bills just from my Oncologist. 6 months of chemo cost $104,000.00. Yes just my Oncologist was $104 thousand dollars.
That doesn't include scans (which run about $5000.00 a piece), labs, biopsy surgeries, ($9000.00 to insert port-a-catheter last Feb) etc, etc. And don't forget my Kidney surgery cost $42,000.00 for two days in the hospital.
So even though my "you've got cancer" anniversaries of are worth marking in positive ways because I am still here...I am bracing for the legal crap to hit us hard before Christmas. It's what happens when life takes a dump on you.
We're thinking this house has a dark cloud above it. Once we are free of this place life has to get better.
I'll let you know.
Until then...I'll be posting again soon.
I was born under an October moon 38 years ago this month. My birthday is two weeks away. Two weeks after that is the day that otherwise changed my life.
November 4, 2007 will be a year that I discovered the lump that altered the course of my life and my family's lives. 45 days after that (December 19) marks the year anniversary of my diagnosis of Renal Cell and Hodgkin's.
I'm not sure what I should do on these days. Celebrate? Take a long walk in the woods and take stock of my life since my diagnosis? Sit under a tree and think about life and the universe? Sleep? Do nothing and treat these days like any other?
It's been a long strange year. The cancer is gone. I should be getting my first "check up" CT scan this month. And while it's been a long, hard year -it's far from over. Unfortunately for the last couple of years the fourth quarter has been a struggle for us, for one reason or another.
And this year will be no different.
We are in mortgage freefall, since my diagnosis we have been in a hole and we are not getting out of it with the house in tact. That said we are in search of a new place to live...credit is severely damaged, medical bills are HUGE and complicating our lives everyday.
Our house has been on the market since March...no bites.
Recently Dawn added up my bills just from my Oncologist. 6 months of chemo cost $104,000.00. Yes just my Oncologist was $104 thousand dollars.
That doesn't include scans (which run about $5000.00 a piece), labs, biopsy surgeries, ($9000.00 to insert port-a-catheter last Feb) etc, etc. And don't forget my Kidney surgery cost $42,000.00 for two days in the hospital.
So even though my "you've got cancer" anniversaries of are worth marking in positive ways because I am still here...I am bracing for the legal crap to hit us hard before Christmas. It's what happens when life takes a dump on you.
We're thinking this house has a dark cloud above it. Once we are free of this place life has to get better.
I'll let you know.
Until then...I'll be posting again soon.
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