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Had what was hopefully my last PET scan this week
Just wanted to let you all know. Had the scan yesterday, and my oncologist emailed me a few hours later to tell me that everything still looks fine.
I am now 3 years (plus a little) out from my last episode of cancer, and I'll be cutting back to blood tests only after this. The type of tumor I had is not a slow growing or lurking kind of cancer. Most people who reach the metastatic phase, as I did, die within two years, even with treatment. So my doctor feels that I have been cured. Not a word I would have expected to hear just a few years ago, when this crap had reduced me to a shadow of my former self in a matter of months.
I would never say that I "beat" this stuff. I got lucky, that's all. There are no winners or losers in dealing with cancer. We all do the best we can with the cards we're dealt.
I'm trying to celebrate the news. I am really happy, especially for my kids. My youngest was going into kindergarten when all of this started, now he's in his last year of grade school. Whatever the future holds, he'll remember me now. And my girls have gotten through some very tough teen years, and are moving slowly but surely into the adult world. They needed me here during those hard years of growing up, and I'm so grateful I was able to be here for them.
I just wish that I could spread some of my luck around to others. It hurts my heart to see how much pain this wretched disease brings to good people. The news about Craig has made me very sad.
Anyway, we are going out for dinner tonight to celebrate...and meet my oldest daughter's new boyfriend. He's 7 years older than she is, previously married, with two little kids he has half of the time. And it looks like they're getting very serious! Yikes...
life goes on.
Lots o' love~AA
Comments
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Great News!
AA, SOOOOOO happy for your news today. PLEASE go celebrate, make a toast to all of us and especially yourself!! You deserve to be happy and enjoy this. As my husband always said after his diagnosis "Somebody has to be in that 10, 5 or 1%" in the odds they give, right? Enjoy being a low percenter, I'm so happy for you.
Linda
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Very funny, Jen!jen2012 said:AA - so very happy for you!
AA - so very happy for you! Celebrate and enjoy your family, as you should! And good luck with the possible future son-in-law and grandchildren
Can we start calling you Granny Ann??I'll have you know I got a pimple today, so I'm basically still a teenager.
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Don't worry,Easyflip said:Don't leave
the board! I need my Ann! Seriously congratulations! You beat the odds and now you're around for your little ones. I love hearing people use the other 'c' word- cure!!
Easyflip/Richard
I'll be sticking around. I care too much about the folks here to go riding off into the sunset!
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curejanderson1964 said:That is awesome Anna. Your
That is awesome Anna. Your story really inspires me and tells me anything is possiable.
Oh that we all get told "you are cured"!!!
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Hugs mate
I hope it is your last one for all the right reasons. You have struggled hard and I can think of many i wish to be cured and you are up there as one of the leading contenders. From one who has heard those words "you are cured" I really wish you well for both your sake and your families. What a wonderful new year present it would be for them Hugs again ... ROn.
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Yep, moving from PETs to petstanstaafl said:congrats
Congratulations, Ann. Now your pet is just a cat, dog, etc
Which blood tests/markers, quarterly?? Diet and supplements?is pretty awesome!
My tumor type is an oddball for the colon, normally seen in the uterus, so I get the CA-125 test done (same one used for ovarian/uterine cancers).
As for the rest, the only thing I've added is 2000 IUs of Vitamin D3 daily. And I took cimetidine for my last surgery.
Unless you count gin as a supplement?
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YAY!! Congrats to you!!! Wow!
YAY!! Congrats to you!!! Wow! Cured is really wicked awesome! I sure hope you celebrate everyday, not just now! You have scaled the mountain and then some, you deserve to relax and just celebrate each and every day for your accomplishments and gift! I wish you so many many more years of NED ... YOU GO GIRL!
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fan-TAS-ticmarbleotis said:Great
I am sooooooooo happy to read this.
And you are right life does go on and that is a very good thing. Time to embrace all the good stuff!
wonderful news. I hope you can get on with your life and not be chained to cancer anymore. Oh to be NED for a long time!!
so happy for you, all the best
Karin
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