all clear -- again :-)

September: yet another "all clear" set of scans :-)

One of my great pleasures is to make Deb happy. Finding that I am still clear of cancer makes Deb very happy. Yes, I'd noticed that she had pre-scan nerves. Now I am sure -- seeing Deb's relief -- that Deb's worry is stronger than mine. There are a few possible reasons:

I practise "not worrying". It doesn't work but it works better than Deb's efforts. And Deb does have more to worry about: I'll just be dead but Deb will be living without me... oh, the horror! Finally, Deb has a firmer grasp of reality. I just hum happily in my own little world :-)

Even so... my own relief is also noticeable! Another three months' of not worrying. Well, another three months less the week or so when the worries hit. For now: woohoo!

Dr Nick Lethbridge / Consulting Dexitroboper

...        Agamedes Consulting / Problems ? Solved

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There's a party in your heart and all the bladed weapons are invited. Have a pleasant day. … Blingtron 5000

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Dying for you to read my blog, at https: // notdotdeaddotyet .blogspot. com. au/ :-)

one down, one to go

Today I wake up hungry. Not that I am really hungry but I'm not allowed to eat breakfast. So I imagine that I am hungry.

Then head off for a PET scan.

I arrive an hour early, I had allowed a lot of time to cope with the awful parking situation. As it turns out I battle through narrow passages, dead ends and lots of other cars -- then drive outside the building and find plenty of space in the open area.

I'm early to the Nuclear Medicine section, that's okay. Time to fill in the usual forms... Today's form is even more vague that usual. Have I been scanned before? Yes, often. Have I had treatment? Yes, lots. When did it all happen? Some vague time in the past. Best I can do, I don't fixate on dates :-) (Or facts, for that matter. Past is blogged and forgotten.)

I sit, relax. Get called to the cannulation room where I am cannulated. That is, a tube stuck into a vein. Or artery, I never ask. A finger is pricked (ouch!) and my blood sugar is found to be normal. I'm moved to the next room.

The reclining chairs are all occupied so I get a bed. Radioactive sugar is pumped in, I am left to relax, while the sugar circulates.

The bed is not very comfortable, there's a light just outside, a red light ("Do not enter") occasionally turns on in my room. I fall asleep. To be woken an hour and a quarter later. The cannula is now removed.

I walk to the PET scanner room. (Oh yes, just assume that each time I move to another room -- I go to the toilet on the way.)

Today both head and body are to be scanned. I lie down. My arms are held in place with a wrapped blanket, my head is strapped down. Kinky. I spend half an hour sliding in and out of the scanner.

I go to the "recovery" room -- for a sandwich. Ten minutes later a doctor comes in. She has a French accent but I get the gist of what she says: photos are in focus, I can go. So I do.

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Today is our day for taking grandson to swimming lessons. Because I'm now radioactive, Deb takes him by herself. After the lesson they will go to our place, so I don't go home.

I get a cake and coffee in Kings Park, and wait.

I get a message from our medical inside informer (should that be Deep Ears Nose & Throat?) : The body scan is clear :-) The PET scan of the head is never definitive, tomorrow's MRI will tell that story.

Deb sends a message: the house is clear of grandson. I go home.

A bit of low level good cheer, tomorrow is another scan.

Dr Nick Lethbridge / Consulting Dexitroboper

...        Agamedes Consulting / Problems ? Solved

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There's a party in your heart and all the bladed weapons are invited. Have a pleasant day. … Blingtron 5000

===

Dying for you to read my blog, at https: // notdotdeaddotyet .blogspot. com. au/ :-)

today: all well

Next week is scan week. Two scans: MRI of the head, PET of the body.

This week I read, play games, try to not think too much.

I try to keep balanced expectations. Or, rather, non-expectations: don't expect good results, don't expect bad. That way the actual results are not a terrible shock... nor a great thrill, either. This time my expectations are somewhat negative.

I wonder if a string of "good" scan results makes me think that my luck is due to run out? Whatever the reason, my expectations are not as neutral as I would like. Not worried, though, just a little bit gloomy.

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As with any pre-scan period, any physical twinge is a worry. A few nights ago I had a minor headache, I "never" have headaches, is this the start of a brain explosion? Logic tells me that a tumour-related headache would be on the same side of my head as the tumour. The worry fades as quickly as the headache.

The soles of my feet are still numb in spots and sensitive in other areas, my toes still occasionally itch horribly, I blame this on the chemo drugs. They are known to affect extremities, there's a medical name which I forget. It was a relief when one extremity stopped being numb and I could feel myself pee.

Sensitive readers may skip this paragraph... I now have a slightly itchy spot on the end of my penis. It looks red and a bit dry. Is this some weird after-effect, or is it age-related? Has it just appeared (I don't often stare there)? Whatever it is -- I don't like it. And mysterious red spots just add to my bad mood. Which should clear when the scan results are in.

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I've finally accepted that I have reached the limit of my skills for writing a phone app. Not to worry -- I will pass the task on to experts. I'm starting discussions with a development group. So I shall be wasting money rather than time... I hope it's worth it!

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For those who read the holiday posts in this blog: Yes, we did arrive home safely. It's a common problem, we arrive home and notes from the last day remain unwritten.

For those who care -- and who will not see the final printed version -- think: Jurien, picnic with wildflowers, a cache or two, disappointing vanilla slice, a final day of peaceful roads less travelled... and home.

Dr Nick Lethbridge / Consulting Dexitroboper

...        Agamedes Consulting / Problems ? Solved

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I'm not cynical… just experienced… per Ginger Meggs

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Dying for you to read my blog, at https: // notdotdeaddotyet .blogspot. com. au/ :-)