Happily wrapping up another healthy quarter!
One check-up left to go, but the quarterly test results are in. Still cancer free, for one year, six months and holding.
Woohoo! I’m thankful and celebrating!
Reasons for the quarterly schedule
About six months after finishing chemotherapy and radiation, a CT scan showed new masses had developed. One on my intestinal wall, the other in my lung.
I was already getting scanned quarterly to keep an eye on two previously existing masses–one my right lung, the other on my right adrenal gland.
No one was happy to see two brand new masses showing up, one of them sitting next to the older one in my lung.
We were all relieved that they were small enough to not have to do any major intervention.
Yup, still celebrating that, too!
And so, my care team scheduled me for quarterly CT scans, to ensure if one of these masses gets up to any funny business, it gets caught early enough (hopefully) to wipe it out before it can do any damage.
The following quarter, CT scan showed no changes in the older masses, but there were changes in the new ones.
They were smaller! Bet you can tell I'm smiling... 😁
Clarification
There’s been no biopsies on any of these.
One is known to be a lipoma (the one in the intestines), and won’t be messed with unless it gets large enough to cause trouble. They’re vascular, bleed a lot and are a pain to remove, especially through a colostomy.
One is known to be a lipoma (the one in the intestines), and won’t be messed with unless it gets large enough to cause trouble. They’re vascular, bleed a lot and are a pain to remove, especially through a colostomy.
I’d provide a vid for an example, but don’t wanna get anyone wigged out over a surgical procedure.
The other masses, including the new one in the lung, we don’t know what they are, only that the two older ones have been stable since their discovery. The newer one, because it shrank and didn’t grow, was enough to not disturb it.
Something akin to stepping away softly and not waking the lion.
I’m sooo good with that!
I’m also good with not having to go through another colonoscopy for at least another six months and maybe another year, since I’m maintaining good results with the CT scans.
Looking for the good is sometimes like sifting through dirt for diamonds. But, when you find one, it’s always worth the effort.
Word up!
28 We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, for those who are called according to his purpose.Romans 8:28 (World Messianic Bible Translation)
The wrap
This is definitely a brag post. Not for bragging on myself, but definitely to brag on my gracious, loving Messiah, who consistently drenches His people’s lives in mercy.
From our perspective, doesn’t always seem like that, but He remains tried and true, not just in my life but in the lives of millions! As we walk by faith, He holds us tight, navigating us through treacherous circumstances.
If you don’t have that sort of relationship with Him, I encourage you to just try Him... He is the best thing that’ll ever happen to you.
8 Oh taste and see that the LORD is good. Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him. Psalm 34:8 (World Messianic Translation)
‘Til next time,
Shalom
