Follow Up on Cancer
It’s been awhile since I’ve done a follow up on cancer (I just scrolled through the archives, so it’s true). Some of you may be thinking, “But aren’t you done with all that cancer stuff?” I wish. In my head, yes I am. Chemo is two months gone and done, so I’m THROUGH. If only it were that easy.
We were told, at some point during the cancer journey, that the first stage – treatment – would take about a year, then we could expect to recover for a year. Yes, I say we. Hunny has been a rock for me though every stage of cancer and treatment. And they were spot on. Not that I ever listen or do what I’m told, but I’m getting better at that. I guess I expected them to be wrong about the recovery part.
How could they be wrong? For seven months last year I was pumped full of poison. How could my body not take a solid year to recover from that? And mid-year I had major surgery, but no chance to heal, since they threw me back into chemotherapy soon after. I’m healing now. That was mid-May. It still hurts when Chewy stands on an incision site and stares deeply into my eyes, begging for a Jones Natural Chew.
Tests and Results
This follow up on cancer is brought to you through the marvel of modern medicine. Two weeks ago I had my first follow up colonoscopy (the cancer was rectal, and even though they removed the entire rectum, that whole area gets scoped, due to the finding of polyps in the colon in the last scope, the one which found the tumor). It was clean and clear. I can wait a whole three years before having another one done! Yay!
Yesterday I had my first follow up on cancer with the oncologist. They drew blood. My labs look great, he said. He’ll see me in four months. But the CT scan was postponed. I just got a call scheduling it for Monday afternoon. That’s the big deal, looking for shadows on my liver which will indicate whether or not the cancer spread. Paws crossed. But the oncologist has maintained that I look great and am healing well.
Of Feet and Hands
I may be healing well, but this is where the year of recovery comes into play. Stupid neuropathy. Granted, my energy levels are climbing, so I’m getting better every day in that way. I’m feeding the chickens and hanging out with Jimmy again (and have the bruises on my hands to prove it).
But the feet and hands, not so much. My fingertips are still numb, making fine motor skills nearly impossible. Even so, they’ve healed a lot in the past two months. The feet are killing me. Okay, not literally. They’re actually improving, too. They feel like they’re covered in sand, and I walk like Frankenstein. Electrical-type pain shoots through my feet randomly. They hurt when I stand on them for more than a minute. But the oncologist says it sounds like they’re healing, and that I can push myself. Yay! Nerves are regenerating! I’ve been pushing myself every day.
But Wait! There’s More!
More follow up? Say it ain’t so! No. More treats! Thank you, by the way, for reading and checking up on me. Every step of this is new and strange. This next part, though? I’m a pro at this part. You’re also here because you have a dog. The best dog in the world, right? So don’t hesitate – click this sentence and a new tab will open with a giveaway for a Jones Natural Chews Pumper for your dog. It’s a pork heart, perfectly baked, just for dogs. They go bananas for these things. Lookit.
So what are you waiting for? Click it! And stop on your way home tonight, pick up Jones Natural Chews for your dog. You don’t want your dog to wait too long. It’s drooling right now, anticipating. I just know.
Spreading the good chews …
Flea