Oh Happy Day

This is my Caringbridge Post so if it seems long and involved it's because this is for my family. It's been a great day for me and wanted to thank you all for your prayers and thoughts. Your support for me has been amazing and I pray for you all everyday - whether you want me to or not Thats just me.

Thursday, October 13, 2011: Went to go see Dr. Donthireddy today (oncologist). I’m always standing when she walks in the door. When I first started seeing her, having the radiation was so hard on my bottom that I couldn’t sit. There were times when I stood all day until going to bed at night because I was in so much pain. This scan would be a year since my last one (before it was every six months) and it would have been the two year mark since the cancer was removed (not diagnosed since that was in December, 2008), so this was a big scan. Also, if you didn’t remember the last visit to her in April she questioned still why my red and white count was still below normal and then ran AIDS, lupus, hepatitis, etc, etc, etc. tests to see why they were still so low so my blood test results were another thing that I was concerned about. Today was a tell all day. Today going into the room I was so nervous that there is no way I could sit even though now I’m more than able to sit for lengths of time, just nerves wouldn’t let me. When she saw me standing she said “one of these days, I’m going to see you sitting when I come in the door.” My answer, “I’m so nervous and so scared I can’t sit.” Right away she said “oh your scan was fine and very good.” Immediately I sat down. In the last couple days I’ve actually gotten sick to my stomach because of nerves. After going through the CT scan results with me she then went to the blood tests. Everything was great except for the below normal red/white counts and this time she said, "I think that because of the radiation damage this will be where you will end up but my immune system is not compromised. I still have to stay away from sick people, but I’m ok to not have to worry about going in public.

Dr. Donthireddy told me that I only needed to come back to see her next year, no six month visit, no six month blood tests. When she said that I was stunned. She said it had been three years so no need to come back for a year. The next statement she made was shocking - she said “you can have another scan next year or not - it’s up to you.” Wow. She said if I decide to have a scan next year then that would be the last one and the next would be in four years. If nothing has shown up by next year then I’m good to go, she said “think about whether you want a scan or not and just let me know and I’ll order one, if not just get your blood test and then come see me.” I went from seeing her once a month, to every three months, to every six months and now once a year - yippee. Also, went from once a week blood tests for six months to one blood test a month to three months to every six months and now once a year. Oh I’m just so excited.

Next June I will have another colonoscopy by Dr. Lee.

Have two hernias though. Just have to keep a check on those.

Thank you family and friends for your prayers, encouraging words and support. Without you, this struggle would be much lonelier and longer.

Hugs! Kim