Cancer Update

Thursday 08/26 7:30 AM

As usual, I’m starting this the day before an appointment. This time with the urologist. But also in the mix is a dentist appointment in four hours.

Never would have thought I’d say the latter of the two will be a breeze. I don’t know anyone that likes dentists. Me included. But I found a great dentist that doesn’t induce pain. I like that and her.

As for the urology appointment I suspect it will be a breeze as well. Pretty sure we’ll just schedule a biopsy.

Christmas Tree

I’ve ordered a new Christmas Tree for the holiday season and have asked some of the same friends that have chosen ornaments in the past to do so once again.

Within seconds of my sending the requests out, longtime friend, Kristyn Burtt messaged me back. “Yay, such a fun tradition,” she wrote. “The perfect showcase for all of your ornaments.”

This will be the third year I’ve done it. The first year in ’23 floored me. Forty-five friends had chosen ornaments as a means to cheer me up during the worst of times.

Cancer is no joke. It changes you mentally, spiritually and physically. So began a tradition with ’24’s tree (below) and the additional 20 plus ornaments added. These too were chosen by friends.

It was a crazy idea that began after best friend Tara Edwards, and her daughter chose two ornaments to cheer me up during cancers early days. It made me so happy I asked others. And it just grew. So much so, I had to cut back.

With the new tree, I’m adding only those ornaments gifted and or chosen plus a select few I personally love. But deep inside I know there will be more.

Biopsy

“Biopsy ugh…uncomfortable to say the least,” I said to friend Ines Bigot when asked what was coming up next.

I haven’t hidden any procedures and I’m not about to start now. First, I’ll be taken off Eliquis (a blood thinner) for a week leading up to the procedure. I’m on them for heart disease and they cause excess bleeding if you’re cut.

In the morning and the evening of the procedure; I’ll take a 500 mg tablet of Ciprofloxacin to help protect from bacterial infections.

Then the fun part, giving myself an enema before I leave for the institute. I know TMI but keeping it real for those about to go through the same thing for the first time.

My prior biopsy was done in office. This time my oncologist wants me to go to Karmanos Cancer Institute in Midtown Detroit. They are nationally renowned, and he’s associated with the institute.

I suppose I should be feeling good about that. Yet having a device stuck up your you know where and having tissue samples taken is as I said, “uncomfortable to say the least.”

Biopsies and False Positives

One thing does concern me. That’s the false positives associated with a biopsy after radiation therapy within the first three years. Seems the results don’t always jive with the findings.

Below is a list of possible reasons leading to ‘false positives.’

I’ve come this far; there’s no going back now. It just reminds me of an old saying. “If if’s ands and buts were candy and nuts, we’d all have a Merry Christmas.” Perhaps that’s what I’m trying to do, make every day Christmas by staying happy.

By the way, the new tree arrived! Sadly, Santa didn’t deliver it though. FedEx did.

I might not have caught Santa, but I did catch my dentist and her assistant. We all smiled today! At least I’m pretty sure they did behind the masks.

Friday 8:30 AM

How am I feeling right not? Frustrated

Somewhere between the lines there’s been a miscommunication. I called Karmanos, yesterday, and they have no referral for a biopsy. Of all things I detest its miscommunications. They have a way of crushing things. I learned that all too well in February of ’23 and they can become even worse when the other party doesn’t respond.

Good thing I have an appointment this morning with urology to help straighten this up, as sending me there was his idea.

Miscommunicating anything is wrong but dealing with it when it involves cancer can be detrimental if not deadly.

Urology

I’m back from urology appointment and all is settled. Will have another biopsy, but in office, during the middle of the month. We talked about false positives. A negative return would definitely be nice, if not we’ll go from there. Likely using that last MRI that I’m hoping against. But that will be up to cardiology and oncology.

So, the answer to today’s Daily Prompt “How are you feeling right now” question would be. Anxious as ever to get this over with!

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