Healthy heading into 2011 …
December 8th 2010
Okay, so who has been messing with my watch … and calendar? I mean, how else can you explain to me that it is practically the MIDDLE OF DECEMBER! How did that happen? Last time I looked, it was nearly Bonfire Night!
The time has flown by … on December 16th, it will be SIX MONTHS since my chemo finished, and yesterday (7th December) marked 5 months since the PET Scan results gave me the All Clear. Amazing.
And then, we had this morning’s follow-up appointment with my consultant. I had a second PET Scan two weeks ago, and today we were getting these results. I’ve been fine in the lead up to this, but Donna has been pretty stressed, as she had “seen” a lump on my neck that worried her. We had met with the Registrar about 6 weeks ago because of this, but even though her examination had not found anything of concern on that occasion, Donna needed this PET Scan to be clear to reassure her that I was as well as I have been feeling.
So, of course, at this morning’s appointment with that Registrar, the PET Scan results hadn’t been returned! She agreed with us that we shouldn’t have to go away without knowing the results, so there then followed an interlude, where she chased various departments to track the scan down and get it faxed. (Yes, faxed … in this day and age, well really!) across to her. When she did finally get it, she did not help Donna’s anxiety level much by disappearing off to consult with Mr Tueger (my consultant), who then Pow-Wowed with her in her room for another five minutes.
So when he opened the office door and said “You can come in now”, Donna fixed him with an iron stare, trying to read his poker face. He ushered us into the room, before saying “I’ll let her (the registrar) tell you” and made to leave. But I think he then saw Donna’s face, because he quickly added “No, no, it’s all good” before rushing off!
And it was ALL GOOD. The PET Scan was ALL CLEAR again/still, showing that the chemotherapy had been completely successful. But it did show that I … had some enlarged nodes on my neck (oh, that eagle-eyed wife of mine!), but these were absolutely nothing to worry about, and were probably a reaction to the radiotherapy treatment I’d had. But, honestly, Donna, NOTHING TO WORRY ABOUT!
So we can relax now, I hope, and settle into the Christmas festivities knowing all is well. 2011 will be a New and Even-More-Positive Year, with lots of plans for the business and some significant building work on our house to be survived (they started digging the foundation trenches today, gulp!). A certain someone (with the initials CC) has a significant birthday this coming year too (okay, okay, divide 365 by 7, and subtract 2.14, if you must know 
), so I hope it can be a real celebration for those who get to join in, one where we can all shake off the shadows of the past few years.
The 365challenge will continue to be a presence though: my 2nd challenge is well and truly on hold just now, as I struggle to overcome a bit of ITB bother, but I’ll get back on track. I will be working to bring more bodies on board again now also, now that I have come through these past couple of months. Developments ARE still developing …
So, until next time … have a VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS and a HAPPY and HEALTHY 2011.
Slainte, Colin
