The roller coaster ride continues.
Chapter II
In September of 2013, doctors diagnosed me with a malignant 5cm mass, discovered during a regularly-scheduled MRI (which I have as part of my follow-up from a 2001-2002 breast cancer battle). After surgery and tests, I learned that I had thymic carcinoma -- a rare and fast-growing cancer of the Thymus gland. Usually, it’s not diagnosed until it’s already spread to the lungs, heart, or other places, because it can be fairly symptomless. I was blessed, as my oncologist said, that my regular MRIs helped catch it early. My outlook would have been much worse if this had been discovered months later.
I am documenting my journey through Cancer Part II in the hopes that it will educate and inspire others who are facing a difficult diagnosis. In the days after I left the hospital, I sat down with my colleagues at Growing Bolder to share my thoughts on this new challenge. As we say -- I am Surviving & Thriving.
Rockin’ and Rollin’ in Portland and Beyond
2:19:49. That was my Rock and Roll Portland Half Marathon time last week. Note that I neither rounded up nor down with the seconds, because triathletes and runners don’t do that…
What do you Expect?
Way back in 2001 or 2002, during or right after chemo for breast cancer, I agreed to walk a 5K.
“Brilliant”
That’s how Dr Rajan described my scan results when I ran into him in the NCI cafeteria between appointments. My team was so excited, he had to tell me right away
An Overdue Update
We didn’t have to punt after all. On CBC 4 (out of an available 5), my white blood cells cooperated. I flew out to Bethesda about a week and and a half ago to meet with Dr Rajan and to MOVE ON with this trial. The visit itself was pretty anticlimactic, after the nearly 6-week…
One CBC Closer to a Punt
Since I last posted, I have failed two more blood tests.. Well, I didn’t fail, more specifically, my white blood cells/Neutrophils failed to show up. I needed an Absolute Neutrophil Count (ANC) of 1200 to start the second Sutent cycle. It was 900 ten days ago, dropped to 800 on Monday and came in at…