Here we go again

It’s not a comforting thought, but I’m familiar territory . That 8cm mass is malignant right behind the sternum.. My cancer doc doesn’t think it’s left over from my first wrestling match with cancer. Comforting until you realize this is another “out of the blue” cancer.So far, here are the facts as I know or remember them(another reason up I try not to talk to doctors without someone with short-term memory loss (not easy to find!) with me:

*The mass is at least 8cm My thoracic surgeon was surprised it was  so big. I still can’t bring myself to call it a tumor (“This is not a tumaaah” Name that film),

*Dr. Boyer took it out yesterday With the help of a robot. We should have pathology reports tomorrow.

*I get just as sick  from anesthesia as I ever have. It was a cookie-tossing kind of morning. So far, chemo doesn’t sound the best choice; (THANK GOD!) radiation or no further treatment have come up often but with my history, that last option probably won’t be my road.

So, how do I feel about all of this?  Definitely bummed and disappointed AGAIN That it was a positive diagnosis. That’s probably the only time you’ll hear/read me saying that. Just like last time, I’m making plans,changing my schedule around, and appreciating yet another time my friends and family rally with practical help and smirky laughs at my cancer jokes.

And talking about appreciative, for whatever reason, Huntsman Cancer Institute didn’t schedule my annual MRI, even though I gave them a prescription.  12 years is a long time from my first throwdown with cancer, so I didn’t push the issue. But Dr. Schroff, my oncologist in Orlando turned me around and sent me back Huntsman for an MRI. It showed the mass, confirmed by a CT scan. Thanks, Doc.

Now, I’ll just do what I do. rearrange a few things, continue to make plans. I fully expect to climb Kilimanjaro with Livestrong in February. I am not afraid