Hello everyone!
It has been awhile since my last post. Well, it’s worth the wait!
You may have already heard by now, but I am officially cancer free!
I had a CT scan two weeks ago, and followed up with the oncologist last week. Of course, it was suspected that the cancer was gone even before radiation started, but it is now for sure! This is of course a big relief to have the “final word”.
Since the last time I wrote, I’ve been getting stronger every week! I still struggle with not having the energy and endurance I need to keep up with my mind. My brain has been “go-go-go” for awhile now, but my body just can’t keep up. (Make all the old age jokes you want, Luyang!)
For the past two months, especially since the end of radiation, I had a strange side (late) effect of chemo. My skin started to become very sensitive, especially to cold temperatures, but moreso just in general. It
started in my feet and hands, almost like a deep itchy feeling, but not nephropathy. It then moved to my legs (very itchy!), and finally to my belly, sides, and back. Interestingly, it never effected the radiated areas. It was almost like this feeling you get before a cold or flu sets in, where your body just feels “achy”. Wearing clothes could be painful at times. It just never went away for 2 months. Now it seems to have passed. However, I do notice that I am still quit sensitive to cold. Just grabbing something out of the freezer is enough to make my fingers hurt.
Anyway, the hair that was radiated is just now starting to grow back. Another 2-3 months and it should fully return. I wonder how it will look? My fingernails are also still fairly brittle, but I do notice I am not breaking them as much as I was before.
I still get nauseous when I’m slightly hungry. Well I gained a bit of weight during/after radiation, but working on getting rid of that now! Working hard outside and taking care of the two goofy dogs helps a lot with that.
I am very excited to get on with life now. I suppose in a way I am already missing weekly and daily medical regiments. It had become so much of my life for the past 9 months. I almost have to get used to a new schedule again. Soon, this will all be a distant memory.
Once more, let me wish a huge heartfelt thank-you to all of you who have helped and supported me (us) along this journey. Even if you only took the time to read my story, it really means a lot. I hope that I have been able to help you, inspire you, make you laugh or be curious about something. When this all started for me I did take comfort in reading other peoples blogs that went through similar things.
These past several years have not been easy. It is great to have this good news. It is a great motivation to power and persevere through the next challenges. Times are not getting any better in this world. Things are crashing rapidly. I hope you are all taking measures to prepare for some very hard times ahead. Nonetheless, thanks be to God for good health once again! We are not invincible. Being told you have something that will kill you sure changes your outlook on life. It changes your priorities. It changes how you think.
My next scan and doctor visits will be sometime in November or December. Until then, every day, a little stronger. Every day, a better me.
I may not post as much to this blog going forward. I’m not sure what my plans will be. I have really enjoyed writing to all of you. I just don’t know how interested you may be in me now that my cancer journey is over! (lol) If you want to keep receiving updates, stay subscribed to the e-mail reminders!
Thank you all! Deo Gratias!