I went in for my biopsy today. Good news is they didn't have to keep me overnight because of low O2 levels like the last time. Bad news is that the spot that concerned them this time is malignant. And my first thought was literally here we go again!
Is it surprising? Yeah, somewhat. But I beat this shit in a different location twenty years ago and I'll beat it again. Of that I have no doubt. Just not looking forward to the process, y'know? Further good news is that it was caught early, treatment options have progressed substantially over the past two decades and I have a wonderful support group that I did not have in 2003.
Next steps are CT and PET scans and we'll go from there.
I didn't have a blog back then so you didn't get to read about it in real time (probably just as well, frankly), but I had been keeping a daily journal for the previous twenty years. Because I didn't know how any of it was going to play out, I even gave up that because I didn't want to it to turn into a morbid, morose pity party.
I kind of know what to expect this time and anything I write about it won't fall prey to that, but I'm still not sure how much I'll share with you guys.
If I've learned anything over the past years, this is just another adventure in this thing we all signed up for called, "Life." Stay tuned.
Hi Mark,
I agree with you about being able to beating it again: positive thinking is a key weapon to get through it.
"Mind over matter", as they say. I firmly hold on to that thought back in the days when I was paraplegic due to severe Guillain-Barré – nasty seroconversion thing. And, in spite of every Doctors' opinion, I was able to push it back and recover in less than three months instead of minimum a year.
Anyway, along with the support of your husband and your loved ones, the strength of your will is and will remain your best ally.
Sending you my most positive vibes,
Laurent
Positive thoughts.
You did this once and, as you said, times have changed, so keep up the good work.
Well, fuck. That's annoying, and certainly not what you wanted to be dealing with in retirement. Glad it was caught early; as you said it's a lot easier to deal with at that point.
Well, fuck! Just know you have many people thinking good thoughts for you (and for your husband) and you're right, treatments have advanced vastly over the past 20 years. Stay strong! I'm an older fart than you (will be 68 in September unless the orange jackass kills us all before then), and I always remember Roseanne Roseannadanna's observation: "it's always something". Hoping for your speedy recovery!
I like that you sound confident of beating this! Consider it just another one of those annoying bumps in the road.
Sounds like you have a positive attitude. This is good.
Stay positive.
Hi Mark,
I wish you well. Better yet, I hope you have wonderful oncologists.
Hugs….
Bud