I saw my oncologist today for my regular three-month cancer check. The usual list of exam room questions includes: do you have any new pains? I told about my hip hurting for a month or so – I suspect a kitchen remodeling injury magnified by my age. She noted that and the fact that one of my blood test numbers exhibited a small fluctuation from my beloved stable rating.
I reminded her that I just celebrated an anniversary – it’s been eight years since my stem cell transplant. Scanning her monitor, she added that it’s even more amazing that I’ve had ZERO cancer treatments in six years (far beyond the transplant warranty).
I asked her asked where I stood on the typical Multiple Myeloma patient timeline. “You’ve blown it out of the water,” she said, “you’re doing great!” I wondered out loud how many times in a row I could come in and draw the high card again. She said, “Well you did today! Just keep it up.”
Multiple Myeloma attacks the bone, so concern over my hip pain is a valid cancer concern, but I think that hip has hurt before, it’s probably no big deal. I know my blood test numbers have had small variations and that’s been no big deal. The two things combined didn’t exactly raise a red flag or produce a flashing emergency light. They represented something more like a slow-flashing, amber warning light – Caution: possible problem ahead.
My doctor said we could order a couple of tests, or we can wait. I chose to wait. We living are so busy!
My wife and I just got back from Florida where we met our new granddaughter. She’s pretty agreeable and occasionally offers an excited smile.
While there we shared a vacation house for a week with our younger son and family, three blocks from the beach on Anna Maria Island. I think everything is three blocks from the beach there, Anna Maria is a long and narrow island.
We were on the beach and in the warm water every day. We had a wonderful time. It makes me think seriously about going back.
I didn’t finish our kitchen by my wife’s requested deadline, but I can see the light at the end of the kitchen remodel tunnel. It will be nice to finish there and move on to remodeling the bathroom, the laundry room, or whatever we choose after that.
A friend recently stopped to visit. I mentioned in conversation something I’d posted here on the blog. She hadn’t seen it and sheepishly confessed that she didn’t re-subscribe when I moved the blog to its new address. “I’m not very good at that sort of thing,” she said.
I didn’t automatically re-subscribe anyone because I didn’t want to push my writing on them, and I did lose a few followers in that move. Inspired by my visiting friend, and thinking there might be others in the same situation, I’ve sent emails offering to get old followers back on the notification list with a simple click. I apologize for any duplications, and if I’m overstepping, please send me a note and I will remove you from the list.
I remain thankful to God for these passing days.
