Even as I wrote it, I knew I was asking for it, and as usual, the universe did not disappoint.
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.
Checking In
I am now 10 days in to the NCI Sutent trial, and I feel…. mostly fine.
A Series of Miracles (or Reasonable Facsimiles)
My last week has been insane and terrible and great and perfect. The headline is, I’m in the Sutent trial at the National Cancer Institute. My journey to get there, of course, has been circuitous and unpredictable and affected by the most amazing strokes of good karma. Backtrack to last week. I knew my white…
Where are the Whites?
I don’t know what you thought when you read the title to this post. After I wrote it and looked at it, I could see how it could be misinterpreted.
My Friend, Stu
In my brain, I knew Stu’s last relapse was a bad one. But it was Stu, so my heart figured it might be a little longer than usual, but I’d see him confronting his haters on Twitter (I asked why he even bothered answering them, but it was just another sport to him, I think) and looking better than he felt on tv
Everything is Awesome
I was pretty sure this visit to the NCI was going to end with me starting my clinical trial.