"There must be some way out of here, said the Joker to the Thief"

soccerfreaks
soccerfreaks Member Posts: 2,788 Member
(Bob Dylan reference)

I visited ENT Man on Tuesday. As per the norm, I arrived early so that he could see me more than an hour later. Fortunately, CNN was on the television rather than Sesame Street so I was able to watch the Egyptian Riots Reality Show rather than Bert and Ernie.

This assisted in my remaining for more than my usually self-defined 30 minutes of ignoring the value of MY time.

When finally I got past ENT Man's new nurse (I really liked his old one, but as I have remarked in the past, she was looking really beaten down by the job so I am elated that she survived to retire. I hope that she is on a warm beach somewhere with umbrella drink in hand), I still had time to check the room. I looked high and low for NostrilDamus and didn't see him anywhere which is always a good sign.

I DID get weighed and am down to 143 lbs. When this saga began, back in September of 2005, I was a rather robust 215 lbs. I lost 75 lbs during the head/neck commotion, but had gained back to 170 lbs when the lung thing occured. I came out of that one, staph infection included, at again somewhere in the 140s. Just prior to losing my last tube, however, I was at a moderately acceptable 163 and it appeared that any nutrtional worries were behind me.

So. 143 lbs. ENT Man made note of that immediately. Not acceptable. May need to reinsert tube if things don't get better, even though he knows I do not want that.

He also noted his surprise that I was still in the building, in homage, I suppose, to my legendary ability to leave if not treated within 30 minutes of announced appointment time. He did not sound bitter but rather amused (which is difficult to detect in light of his almost stony stoicism).

He then got down to business, using the oversized popsicle sticks to probe high and low east and west and apparently satisfied with what he saw (more importantly, perhaps, what he did not see), pronounced me all clear, more than five years after diagnosis, more than five years after my last treatment for head/neck cancer.

All clear.

He made a rather scandalous remark about that '10 months to live' diagnosis ("So much for that diagnosis," he practically spoke to himself), which surprised me since these folks generally present a united front among us commoners.

He asked if I wanted another dilation, and I jumped at that. He also insisted upon a dietician and asked if I had had a thyroid test done lately. I advised that bad diagnoser, OncoMan, was on top of that one, and that I was apparently fine.

I shook hands, with ENT Man, a second or two longer than usual, said thank you a couple of times, and he said I knew where to find him if I needed him.

Driving away, I realized that cancer has now been a part of nearly 10% of my entire life. That's quite a piece of personal history to say goodbye to. A couple of more years, and maybe I will be doing the same with OncoMan and closing this chapter altogether.

As one of my doctors said not too very long ago, "You're a lucky man." Yes, indeed. Somehow, so far, I am finding a way out of here.
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Comments

  • D Lewis
    D Lewis Member Posts: 1,581 Member
    "No reason to get excited ..."
    "There are many here among us who feel that life is but a joke..."

    So much for that 'ten years to live' diagnosis, indeed. Thanks for the update and the good news.

    Deb
  • Skiffin16
    Skiffin16 Member Posts: 8,305 Member
    Ten Months
    WTG Joe, I love it when you can prove them wrong...in a very positive way.

    Best,
    John
  • soccerfreaks
    soccerfreaks Member Posts: 2,788 Member
    D Lewis said:

    "No reason to get excited ..."
    "There are many here among us who feel that life is but a joke..."

    So much for that 'ten years to live' diagnosis, indeed. Thanks for the update and the good news.

    Deb

    "But you and I, we've been through that..."
    Thank you for the kind words, Deb.

    I am hopeful that all is well with you!

    Take care,

    Joe
  • soccerfreaks
    soccerfreaks Member Posts: 2,788 Member
    Skiffin16 said:

    Ten Months
    WTG Joe, I love it when you can prove them wrong...in a very positive way.

    Best,
    John

    :)
    Thank you John.

    Take care, my friend,

    Joe
  • Jimbo55
    Jimbo55 Member Posts: 590 Member
    Ooooh, what a lucky man he was
    ELP reference. Joe great to hear, we should all be so lucky. Cheers

    Jimbo
  • mswijiknyc
    mswijiknyc Member Posts: 421
    Having fun at other's expense :)
    It's always interesting to prove people wrong, especially docs, and in hubby's case, nurses. Keep doing what you're doing as it's working for you.

    That and you're just too darn ornery :)

    Be good (HA)
    April
  • ratface
    ratface Member Posts: 1,337 Member

    Having fun at other's expense :)
    It's always interesting to prove people wrong, especially docs, and in hubby's case, nurses. Keep doing what you're doing as it's working for you.

    That and you're just too darn ornery :)

    Be good (HA)
    April

    Did you really leave after 30 min?
    Hi Joe, thats great news. Sounds like you have a pretty good relationship with your ENT, the kind that takes time to build. I think he is saying you don't need him as much anymore?
  • Hondo
    Hondo Member Posts: 6,636 Member
    ratface said:

    Did you really leave after 30 min?
    Hi Joe, thats great news. Sounds like you have a pretty good relationship with your ENT, the kind that takes time to build. I think he is saying you don't need him as much anymore?

    Hi Joe

    Keep them on the edge and keep them straight, glad to see you have a good clean report.

    Take care
    Hondo
  • sweetblood22
    sweetblood22 Member Posts: 3,228
    Hondo said:

    Hi Joe

    Keep them on the edge and keep them straight, glad to see you have a good clean report.

    Take care
    Hondo

    "So let us not talk falsely now, the hour is getting late."
    Awesome tune, done by Jimi Hendrix, it's magic.

    I always love your posts, Joe, they make my day. So did your news. Five years. Love it.
  • mixleader
    mixleader Member Posts: 267 Member
    Hey, Joe
    Thanks for the entertaining and informative post. I love reading about people who have beaten the odds. It sounds like you have been through a lot on your road to recovery and I am happy to hear that you are doing well. Hopefully, this monster is out of you for good now.

    Roger
  • soccerfreaks
    soccerfreaks Member Posts: 2,788 Member
    Jimbo55 said:

    Ooooh, what a lucky man he was
    ELP reference. Joe great to hear, we should all be so lucky. Cheers

    Jimbo

    "A bullet had found him..."
    That one does not end so well, jimbo :) but I got the message.

    Indeed, may we all be so lucky!

    Take care,

    Joe
  • soccerfreaks
    soccerfreaks Member Posts: 2,788 Member

    Having fun at other's expense :)
    It's always interesting to prove people wrong, especially docs, and in hubby's case, nurses. Keep doing what you're doing as it's working for you.

    That and you're just too darn ornery :)

    Be good (HA)
    April

    Ha!
    Thank you April. I suspect you are correct in both the observation about orneriness and the cynicism about being good.

    Take care, my friend,

    Joe
  • soccerfreaks
    soccerfreaks Member Posts: 2,788 Member
    ratface said:

    Did you really leave after 30 min?
    Hi Joe, thats great news. Sounds like you have a pretty good relationship with your ENT, the kind that takes time to build. I think he is saying you don't need him as much anymore?

    30 min
    Yes, RF, on more than one occasion with more than one doc, especially with ENT Man, since he was most likely to be really busy, (as I should have been more sympathetic about in hindsight), yes, they had a 30 minute timer, which, of course, was to my detriment in the leaving, but I can be hard-headed.

    We have indeed had a great relationship, he and I, and yes, I am saying that I will not need him anymore, hopefully.

    Take care, my friend,

    Joe
  • soccerfreaks
    soccerfreaks Member Posts: 2,788 Member
    mixleader said:

    Hey, Joe
    Thanks for the entertaining and informative post. I love reading about people who have beaten the odds. It sounds like you have been through a lot on your road to recovery and I am happy to hear that you are doing well. Hopefully, this monster is out of you for good now.

    Roger

    :)
    Thank you, Roger. When I first came onto this site, I was sort of reluctant to pass on good news as it seemed like boasting or some such, but came to realize, that we NEED good news to counter all of the bad we read. Plus, it is part of my history now, so I am trying to keep the blog up to date as well.

    In any event, I have a couple of more years with the lung cancer issue, although my status with that is also all-clear at the moment, before I can lose the last of my cancer docs, OncoMan.

    Thank you for the kind words. They are greatly appreciated. I look forward to reading such a post from you down the road.

    Take care,

    Joe
  • soccerfreaks
    soccerfreaks Member Posts: 2,788 Member

    "So let us not talk falsely now, the hour is getting late."
    Awesome tune, done by Jimi Hendrix, it's magic.

    I always love your posts, Joe, they make my day. So did your news. Five years. Love it.

    "Two riders were approaching and the wind began to howl"
    Jimi's is good, but since I heard Bob first, I still like his original best, a personal thing.

    In any event, I'll bet you don't love my posts as much as I love your pic :).

    I am looking forward to the day when I read a similar post from you sweet!

    Take care and thanks for the kind words,

    Joe
  • mswijiknyc
    mswijiknyc Member Posts: 421

    Ha!
    Thank you April. I suspect you are correct in both the observation about orneriness and the cynicism about being good.

    Take care, my friend,

    Joe

    hee hee hee
    suspect my foot. I AM right and you know it.

    If you need reassurance, just ask your lady love ;)

    Be good (HA)
    April
  • Glenna M
    Glenna M Member Posts: 1,576
    Patience?????????
    Don't tell me you have finally learned to be more patient when you finally go to your appointment.

    So happy to hear the good news and I anxiously await the day that you can say you are through with Oncoman also.

    Stay well,
    Glenna
  • Clearblue
    Clearblue Member Posts: 186
    Glenna M said:

    Patience?????????
    Don't tell me you have finally learned to be more patient when you finally go to your appointment.

    So happy to hear the good news and I anxiously await the day that you can say you are through with Oncoman also.

    Stay well,
    Glenna

    Good news-music to anyones ears!
    The reason i wrote to you is because what flows from your your wicked pen is a resillient attitude and keen mind. Havent communicated with you on these boards , so just wanted to tell you that.
    Clear
  • soccerfreaks
    soccerfreaks Member Posts: 2,788 Member
    Glenna M said:

    Patience?????????
    Don't tell me you have finally learned to be more patient when you finally go to your appointment.

    So happy to hear the good news and I anxiously await the day that you can say you are through with Oncoman also.

    Stay well,
    Glenna

    "People stay just a little bit longer"
    (Jackson Browne reference)

    Patience? Glenna, you know me better than that! I stayed because I had a really good feeling that it was last time with ENT Man. AND I was standing in front of the CNN news screen shouting and screaming with the protesters and got lost in the moment :).

    Thank you for the kind words, my friend. Stick around, kiddo, and YOU'LL be telling ME that you are through with one or another of these characters!

    Take care,

    Joe
  • soccerfreaks
    soccerfreaks Member Posts: 2,788 Member
    Clearblue said:

    Good news-music to anyones ears!
    The reason i wrote to you is because what flows from your your wicked pen is a resillient attitude and keen mind. Havent communicated with you on these boards , so just wanted to tell you that.
    Clear

    Thank you
    "Wicked pen" is quite an honor! I thank you for that! It shows that you have great taste and a remarkable mind of your own :).

    I do appreciate the generous words, Clear, and hope that you are doing well, yourself.

    Take care,

    Joe