At the Farmers Market
March 2010
It is hard not to be alarmed when my oncologist called. He never calls unless I have left a message for him. He just called.
It is Friday morning and I'm planning a little trip.
"I'm concerned that your CA-125 is rising," he began.
Since I was in for a check-up two days ago and blood was drawn, he was concerned with the results that just came in. When I saw him on Wednesday, the plan was to begin taking the 6th month of my ChemoCaps (8 Hexalen capsules a day for 14 days). Up until last month the medicine was bringing down the CA-125 tumor marker.
As a result of this decrease, I have been feeling pretty healthy and confident.
But on Wednesday, when I asked what April's CA-125 was, he reported, "65." I knew it was up from the previous months, but I quickly responded, "Oh, a hiccup!" (I'm thinking, the number just went up and then it will drop--right! But it didn't drop THIS month either.
Two days ago the plan was to have a PET scan in a few months, depending on the results of my monthly blood draw. STOP THE PRESS!
My doctor of six years is calling in for an immediate insurance approval for a PET scan, asap.
"But Doctor, I'm planning on taking a little trip, can I still go?"
"Sure, Go and have a good time!"
We both chuckled--the quality life of a person with cancer is so often determined by the results of the monthly, or regularly scheduled scan and lab work.
Right, sure,
celebrate! With this hanging over my head...
OkOkay,
Think the big picture:
He is catching this early,
There are more chemotherapy medicines to help extend my life, as he is treating me,
But, why did I throw-up two days ago? This has happened twice in the past two years of chemo.
What's that ache in my hip?
What will the new chemo be like?
But he is catching it early, or is he?
Ovarian-type cancer has a mind of its own...
...Go and have a good time...
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