PET SCAN Results

I went to see Dr. Illyass, my oncologist, on Monday to get the results of the Pet Scan. I wasn't nervous or worried. I figured the treatments had been successful.

Well, the good news is that the scan didn't show any activity, except left over burning in the areas where the cancer had been. HOORAY!!!!

Maybe not ALL good news. They do want to do a CAT scan of my lungs in 3 months.

It seems there were a few pesky nodules that they will have to check out and make sure they are nothing.

Otherwise: HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO ALL.

PET SCAN, Part 2

Yesterday, I had my second PET scan. This is the one that will tell me if there is any cancer leftovers from the treatment.

First I was given some radioactive injections, the syringe sheathed in a protective metal sleeve. Then I drank some nasty 'berry' flavored liquid. I think that's the glucose that they monitor thru the scan. And lastly I got another weird injection that made me feel all hot.

After that I was scanned to bits.

Later, I got radioactive cramps and couldn't go to my dance class. BooHoo.

Awaiting the results next week. Stay tuned.

Good News from Dr. Who

I went to see Dr. Who. It was a routine visit; he only planned to check the progress of my backside burns. But my anxiety had been growing lately. I begged him to check out if the tumor was gone or not.

He warned me it might be painful but I was willing to try. And after the exam he told me he had felt no tumor where tumor used to be. Sorry little tumor, but I think you have been defeated!

This, of course, is not the definitive test. I'll have to go and see the surgeon who did the biopsy. He's the one who has the 'illuminated dildo' as I like to call it. Others might say 'anoscope'.

And in a few months time, I'll also have to have another PET scan to check out all my other organs.

But in the meantime, Dr. Who's exam made me awfully happy.

Painkillers, Part 3: Alternatives

I was desperate to find some alternative to painkillers. Almost all of them seem to cause constipation, which would mean 'playing around' to find the right combo that wouldn't leave me seesawing between diarrhea and constipation. I really didn't feel up to all that and I realized that my main problem was sleep. During the day, I didn't use any painkillers because being active, even just reading or watching TV, was enough of a distraction. But once I was in bed, I was alone with my pains and even though they weren't huge, they did keep me awake.
Voila! I thought of marijuana. Besides fun, it's mainly used for nausea, but there were reports that it dulled pain. I won't say where I got it from, but a couple of joints were donated to me. THANKS!!
I did try it. First off, even not inhaling deeply, it really burned up my lungs and throat. Laying in bed afterwards, my throat hurt more than my butt. But after awhile, all the pain did go away. So it was working!!!
Sort of....but I was left in this fugue state, not really asleep, just sort of comatose.
"Do you feel like laughing?", I asked myself. The answer was no. "Do you feel hungry?". Again: no. Just laying there, unable to sleep, albeit painfree.
Somehow, this wasn't working either. Hopefully, Part 4 will be the end of my quest for pain relief AND sleep.

Evil Radiation Techs

The Radiation Techs have been so nice, kind and helpful. But, sorry guys, I'm truly sick of seeing you.
You mean well, I know you do. You are the soldiers, shooting down my tumor as well as doing search and destroy missions in my lymph nodes.
But here we are, at the last week. The techs have coned down to a pin point place on my butt. It's starting to really hurt and I'm getting some very strange imagery as I lay on that damn table.

Tumor Talk

.....Message.......
Hello....you don't know me. And, if you are reading this now, I am probably dead.
I am Imelda's tumor! I left this message secretly on Imelda's computer (it was Very hard to access the keyboard from my position) in case anything ever happened to me.
I just want to give MY side of the story. I am not a villain. I am not Evil. I want what we all want. To live long and prosper in peace, to have children, to form a community of friends and relations. I am not an illegal alien. I have lived inside of Imelda her whole life and share many of her values.
We have only reached this parting of the ways because I was willing to DO something about my dreams, OUR dreams, that she was too timid to even imagine. YES, I have strived for immortality. I have had to overcome enormous prejudice and outright hostile action from the rest of Imelda's body in order to reach my personal goals. Against overwhelming odds, I have gotten to where I am today.
Except, as I said, if you are reading this, I am probably no where today. SHE attacked me when I was so willing to live in peace with her. She poisoned me, burned me as if I were some sort of medieval witch. I am not that at all. I simply tried to overcome our mutual enemy: Death. And I am not ashamed that I died trying.
.......End of Message.......