Cycle 8 is done. 22 weeks of chemotherapy wrapped up. My oncologist and I have agreed to suspend treatment for now. Understatement of the year: I won't miss chemo.
My Status
TV/Movie cancer uses terms like "cured", "cancer-free", or "remission", etc... In the real world, those terms are used less often now. The status a cancer patient wants is NED (No Evidence of Disease). Theoretically, it's impossible to declare anyone cancer-free, because there's no guarantee that microscopic cancer cells were circulating around some system of the body.
For me, I'm currently NED. After surgical removal of about 12 inches of colon and lymph nodes, 22 weeks of chemo, and CT and CEA tumor marker blood tests, There's no evidence of cancer remaining. That's great news, and what I was hoping for.
Residual Side Effects
As I type this, my fingertips are numb, and several times a day I have further tingling/numbness in my hands/feet. This is normal, and while not debilitating, it's certainly annoying. I hope it doesn't get worse, and eventually fades away. My doc says for most folks it does fade, and exercise and drinking lots of water help alot.
Watching and Waiting
I'll have CT scans every 6 months for the next 5 years. I'll have CEA tumor marker blood tests every 3-6 months during that time. I'll have another colonoscopy in late winter 2021, and if that's clear, every 3 years for the rest of my life. My oncologist says that the next 2-3 years are the critical ones, when most recurrences happen.
So, the battle is won, but the war is not over.
Some Interesting Stats
On October 6, 2020, I'll have the port/catheter removed from my chest. That's the device used to pump chemo drugs into a vein that leads directly to my heart. That will be surgery #8 in the last 12 months, and hopefully my last for a while. 2 of those surgeries were dental/oral, and not related to cancer.
This year I've had several deaths in my personal network, 2 from cancer. I've said before, 2020 has sucked for everyone, and has been especially for me and my family.
But I have to recognize that even in these difficult circumstances, I'm very blessed. Here's some positive news on the home front:
- My parents survived their COVID outbreak and after a few weeks of sickness, seem to be on the mend.
- My immediate family is in good health.
- I get up and work every day, earning a living.
- I can get up and run personal errands without help.
- I can walk, hike, and pursue hobbies and interests.
- I recognize not everyone can do these things after a cancer diagnosis. I'm very blessed.
What's Next????
While my doctors will keep an eye on test results, etc... It's time to get back to living even more. I'm going to pursue the following:
- Catch up with friends as much as I can during the pandemic.
- Lose some weight (while my weight fluxuated some during chemo, I'm ending it on the heavy side).
- Continue to pursue exercising in as many ways as I can.
- I've recently been doing some wood working, and I want to continue to learn and grow on that front.
- Enjoy some sports events that are starting back up (football and golf still hold my interest).
- Maybe plan a vacation of some sort within the bounds of the pandemic.
I'll update this blog as news event occur, but I suspect less frequently.
Finally, a big thank you to everyone for their continued support and encouragement. It has meant a lot to me.
Want even more deatils? Check my daily chemo symptom log in the sidebar.