Hey y’all! A quick post before I head out to pick the kiddos up from school, but I just wanted to share that I returned a few days ago from my trip to check-in with my oncologists, and after bloodwork, CT, DRE, and anoscopy, I’m all good and continuing NED! This is a little more than 18 months out of chemo-radiation, and almost 17 months out of surgery to address the liver lesions.
I feel great, and my team all seems be gaining optimism with every 3 month check-up. There is a particular doctor on my team who is typical most reserved with his optimism (he is extremely kind and very helpful, just reserved) and even said to me, “I think you’re going to be just fine.” That kind of cautious-but-positive proclamation from him was pretty meaningful to me. I’m not counting chickens or anything, but yes, checking-off another three months of being cancer-free and feeling great!
I had a bone density scan, too, which had some osteopenic results, but that’s for another post later.
Best wishes to all,
Red
Hey Jaycee12 ! Yes, I feel and hear a shift in my oncologists’ words to me now. It does seem that they’re moving more toward a “we got it” attitude. Yes, we’re still being extremely vigilant, yes, I’m still under frequent surveillance and monitoring, but we breathe easier and easier every 3 months. I’m pretty sure I will cry hard at 2 years NED!…big, fat tears of joy and relief!
The osteoporosis is actually in my lumbar spine, too! My radiation oncologist says she won’t take the blame for that, because she says that’s out of the field of radiation. She thinks that might be due to the systemic chemo, plus the basic risk factor that I’m a thin white woman. She was expecting osteoporosis in my hips and pelvis because that’s where the radiation hit, but that’s not the case. I’m just barely osteopenic there, almost normal, in fact. She says that my baseline bone design, before treatment, wa a probably higher than most people’s due to a lifetime of ballet and running. Anyway, I’ve added a good quality calcium supplement, will continue with the vitamin D I’ve been taking, and will keep at the exercise. She thinks it’s possible to reverse the damage.
I told her not much that’s not cancer worries me these days. It’s not that I won’t take it seriously, but more like “osteoporosis “ doesn’t even land anywhere in the panic zone these days, so I guess that’s good! Lol!
Best wishes to you as continue to heal!
Red
Suz! You crack me up! I will 100% co-sign the label of “badass mama.” I don’t always feel that way, but every once in a while, I find that kind of swagger. As always, I appreciate your enthusiastic support and kindness.
Hugs,
Red
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