The next step

[ritaxis]

Pathology report came back with a 6 mm tumor in one of the lymph nodes. This puts me in a different world from where I was before.

I'm now in the world of chemotherapy. Next steps are a CT scan (tomorrow) to look for more tumors or seeds, and a cardio ultrasound to determine how much treatment I can take.

If I'm clear of other tumors or seeds, we'll move on to the more aggressive chemotherapy. If I'm not, there are apparently two possibilities: either there's a couple of operable tumors, or there's junk that can't be removed. If the former, more surgery, I think, followed by chemotherapy. If the latter, there's no point in aggressive therapy because it won't remove the cancer completely however aggressive it is. In that case, I get a more conservative chemotherapy focused on controlling the cancer instead. In that case, I will most certainly die of cancer, but it might be a longish time from now. In the former cases, I might die of cancer, but I might live long enough to die of something else first.

If you're having Jay Lake flashbacks, why yes, I am too. At least my kids are grown.

By the way, none of this is secret. If you run into someone who knows me, feel free to tell them. But don't feel obligated to either.

Comments

[hrj.livejournal.com]

Well, crap. Very sorry to hear this.

[nancylebov.livejournal.com]

I'm very sorry to hear this.

Thank you for the update.

[karinfromnosund.livejournal.com]

I'm holding my thumbs for you.

Take care of yourself, whatever happens.

[ritaxis.livejournal.com]

Holding your thumbs? That's a new one to me. Tell me about it!

[karinfromnosund.livejournal.com]

I hope it goes well.

(You fold your fingers around your thumbs, hålla tummarna in Swedish)

[green-knight.livejournal.com]

'jemandem die Daumen drücken' in German, same gesture. It fulfils exactly the function of 'keeping your fingers crossed' in English.

Wishing you all the best either way.

[ritaxis.livejournal.com]

ooh thanks for this too!

[ritaxis.livejournal.com]

Thank you so much for this little piece of richness.

[james-nicoll.livejournal.com]

I am very sorry.

[kate-schaefer.livejournal.com]

Uh. Not what one wanted to hear. Best of luck with the next steps, whatever the hell they turn out to be.

[heleninwales.livejournal.com]

I'm sorry that things aren't as straightforward as you'd hoped. I'll keep my fingers crossed that the treatment goes well.

[browngirl.livejournal.com]

aigh.

I am thinking of you very very much.

[julesjones]

Crap. There could have been worse outcomes, but I wish you'd had a better one. Best wishes for the next stage.

[kareina.livejournal.com]

ick! I wish you much luck with dealing with this. May your energy always be enough, and may your body find ways to heal and feel strong.

[tavella.livejournal.com]

Damn. I'm sorry to hear this.

[kiya]

Best wishes for you, continuing.

[randwolf.livejournal.com]

Sympathies. May your further treatment go well.

[khiemtran.livejournal.com]

Oh no! Sorry to hear it...