Since I finished active treatment six months ago, I have had three follow-up scans. This is what I mean when I say cancer never ends. The first scan I had was to follow up on all the treatments; and was used to compare the new post-treatment me, to the scans I had before treatment. Then the next scan (a PET scan) was to get more info on a couple changes found in the CT scan and then the most recent scan was to see if anything changed from the PET scan.
First and foremost, nothing changed!!! Nothing is more wonderful than hearing your scan was unremarkable! That means the initial couple of weird things found in scan 1 and seen on the PET scan were due to changes from radiation. I hear that many people have cancer treatment and go merrily on their way, no follow up scans necessary. I, however, get extra close treatment because I'm BRCA-2.
On the one hand, I'm grateful to have close follow up in that if anything showed up, then it would be smaller and able to be treated faster. On the other hand, scans cause major anxiety for many cancer peeps, like me. It's a very stressful time that brings back all the worries of when you first found out you had cancer and all the worry that this scan is going to say the cancer is back and spreading. That's what no one tells you, once you have cancer, you can never go back to not having had cancer. The only way you know that you have "beat" (and I do not like that term) cancer is if you die of another cause. Otherwise you just never know what the future holds for you.
The key is to figure out how to balance having very valid worries and living life. That's one tough key. Because of the COVID-19 virus, many people now know more about living with uncertainty. So welcome to my world, it's a bummer to be here. Let's hope there is a great vaccine for COVID-19 soon and some amazing new treatments in the world of cancer that turn advanced cancer into a treatable disease that doesn't shorten lifespans.
Below is a review of a fun book. Books are a great escape when life is filled with uncertainty. I like mysteries and romances because I know the killers will be brought to justice and the lovers will get their happily ever afters. When life is uncertain, stories can give you certainty!
xoxo
First and foremost, nothing changed!!! Nothing is more wonderful than hearing your scan was unremarkable! That means the initial couple of weird things found in scan 1 and seen on the PET scan were due to changes from radiation. I hear that many people have cancer treatment and go merrily on their way, no follow up scans necessary. I, however, get extra close treatment because I'm BRCA-2.
On the one hand, I'm grateful to have close follow up in that if anything showed up, then it would be smaller and able to be treated faster. On the other hand, scans cause major anxiety for many cancer peeps, like me. It's a very stressful time that brings back all the worries of when you first found out you had cancer and all the worry that this scan is going to say the cancer is back and spreading. That's what no one tells you, once you have cancer, you can never go back to not having had cancer. The only way you know that you have "beat" (and I do not like that term) cancer is if you die of another cause. Otherwise you just never know what the future holds for you.
The key is to figure out how to balance having very valid worries and living life. That's one tough key. Because of the COVID-19 virus, many people now know more about living with uncertainty. So welcome to my world, it's a bummer to be here. Let's hope there is a great vaccine for COVID-19 soon and some amazing new treatments in the world of cancer that turn advanced cancer into a treatable disease that doesn't shorten lifespans.
Below is a review of a fun book. Books are a great escape when life is filled with uncertainty. I like mysteries and romances because I know the killers will be brought to justice and the lovers will get their happily ever afters. When life is uncertain, stories can give you certainty!
xoxo
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
The second installment in this series and both Sophie and I made a very silly mistake. My mistake was reading this book while hungry. Oh my goodness Krista Davis is masterful at writing about food preparation. I wanted to eat the book! And it doesn't end there, the book is also full of discussion on how to set a table for festive events.
Sophie's mistake, I'm not going to spoil that for you. Suffice it to say, she overlooks a really obvious clue--but that is understandable, she has a lot going on! I enjoyed the wedding backdrop for this story. I missed June and the Colonel--and Francie! I do not know why Humphrey is the way he is but I hope he finds what he is looking for!
This book just keeps me turning pages. Oh by the way I loved that in the advice columns Krista Davis includes links to actual websites. Too funny. My only complaint is that Sophie doesn't stand up for herself more when she is dealing with Natasha, her mom, or Hannah.
You can read this as a stand-alone, but book 1 "The Diva Runs Out of Thyme" is very enjoyable so add that to your TBR!
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