My CAT scan is clean, my bloodwork is free of tumor markers, and I can schedule the removal of my port-a-cath immediately. The surgeon's office is going to call me back but says they can do it next week.
Of course, I'm not free and clear - I will still see my oncologist for follow-ups and have to schedule a colonoscopy in October - one year after my surgery - so I'll still be monitored closely by physicians but for now, we're done. My oncologist said "Go to school, do well, enjoy yourself."
I plan to.
[ August 22, 2006, 07:31 PM: Message edited by: Belle ]
Posted by BlackBlade (Member # 8376) on :
My warmest congratulations!
Posted by dkw (Member # 3264) on :
Hurray!
Posted by ketchupqueen (Member # 6877) on :
Posted by Uprooted (Member # 8353) on :
Woo--hoo!!!! Time for a big ole' party!! Posted by Dasa (Member # 8968) on :
I'm just a lurker here, but I can't tell you how glad I am.
May you have extra doses of luck and health to make up for the lost time.
Posted by Noemon (Member # 1115) on :
Belle, that's fantastic!
Posted by Paul Goldner (Member # 1910) on :
Thats awesome Belle. Now just stay healthy
Edited because I can't type.
Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :
That's so great! Posted by Dan_raven (Member # 3383) on :
As a "Cancer" is should be upset by the news that you are happy to be "Cancer" free, but I'm thrilled.
Posted by twinky (Member # 693) on :
Posted by Belle (Member # 2314) on :
I was so excited I forgot to mention the only negative news we got today, though it's very minor. My blood counts are still low, she mentioned my platelets in particular. I told the doctor I didn't feel like I was bouncing back from the chemo as fast as I wanted to and she said I had to remember to give myself a good six months. Of course, that's hard, because you want to feel better immediately but it just doesn't happen that way.
Like I said, it's not a big deal, my platelets will come back to normal slowly, but it's just a reminder of how traumatic chemo really is. Anyway, I wish I felt better, but I'm not going to dwell on that - I'm trying to focus only on the positive.
Now, only one more major hurdle - the removal of the port-a-cath. It will be done in the surgeon's office, under local anesthetic. I'm a bit nervous, but my surgeon is a wonderful doctor so I'm sure things will go fine.
Posted by Miro (Member # 1178) on :
Woohoo!
Congrats on making it through everything.
Posted by Dagonee (Member # 5818) on :
Posted by Stray (Member # 4056) on :
Awesome! I'm so happy for you! Posted by The Pixiest (Member # 1863) on :
Yay Belle!! I'm so happy you're ok!!!
Posted by Farmgirl (Member # 5567) on :
Super Fantastic!
We are SO glad this is mostly all behind you and you are still with us, Belle, bright and cheerful and upbeat as always. Thanks for inspiring us!
FG
Posted by lem (Member # 6914) on :
Congratulations! I am so happy for you. That just made my day! I love good news. Posted by The Rabbit (Member # 671) on :
This is the Best news we had here in quite some time!!!
Posted by KarlEd (Member # 571) on :
Yay! Belle, that's great news. I'm so glad for you and your family.
Karl
(((Belle)))
Posted by Dr Strangelove (Member # 8331) on :
Woohoo! That's awesome Belle! . Gives me a warm fuzzy feeling.
Posted by FlyingCow (Member # 2150) on :
Awesome! Posted by Derrell (Member # 6062) on :
Congratulations.
Posted by El JT de Spang (Member # 7742) on :
Belle, that's great news.
Posted by Jay (Member # 5786) on :
Excellent!
Posted by Flaming Toad on a Stick (Member # 9302) on :
Congratulations and best of luck Belle.
Posted by Swampjedi (Member # 7374) on :
Thank God!
Posted by mr_porteiro_head (Member # 4644) on :
I am happy for you.
Posted by Zotto! (Member # 4689) on :
Awesome news, Belle. Posted by Zalmoxis (Member # 2327) on :
Yay!
Posted by T_Smith (Member # 3734) on :
Hey, thats great news, Belle! Posted by MightyCow (Member # 9253) on :
Congrats! That's fantastic news.
Posted by Evie3217 (Member # 5426) on :
Belle, that's great news. I'm so happy for you! YAY!
Posted by human_2.0 (Member # 6006) on :
Yeay!
Posted by MyrddinFyre (Member # 2576) on :
Posted by Ela (Member # 1365) on :
Posted by Tante Shvester (Member # 8202) on :
Thanks for sharing the excellent news, Belle. You put a smile on my day.
Posted by Chris Bridges (Member # 1138) on :
That's fantastic! It couldn't happen to a nicer person.
Posted by Narnia (Member # 1071) on :
Woohoo!!! Wonderful news! This reminds me of Mrs. M's little Aerin being born. We were all so invested in your journey and the outcome is so wonderful! Posted by Mathematician (Member # 9586) on :
Congratulations!
Posted by peterh (Member # 5208) on :
Nice job kicking cancer's butt!!!!
Posted by cmc (Member # 9549) on :
Hey Belle... I didn't know that you were going through what you were/are - but I'm glad that your body's on the right path and that you're getting healthy!!! Congrats on the awesome news and keep getting better!
~cmc
edit because i used the wrong 'your' and that's one of my pet-peeves!!!
Posted by Goody Scrivener (Member # 6742) on :
Completely and totally AWESOME news, Belle!!! Congrats!!! Posted by Nell Gwyn (Member # 8291) on :
YAAAAY!!!
That's awesome, Belle! Congrats!!
Posted by Earendil18 (Member # 3180) on :
Alright! Way to go!
Posted by larisse (Member # 2221) on :
Congrats, Belle! Congrats to your family. Good luck with the removal. I hope things go smoothly. This is just awesome news, even with the negative of a low blood count. Woohoo!!!
Posted by Kasie H (Member # 2120) on :
Yay
This really did brighten my day; I'm so happy for you and your family.
Posted by sarcasticmuppet (Member # 5035) on :
Woo-hoo!!! Posted by docmagik (Member # 1131) on :
That truly is wonderful. I'm delighted!
Posted by Lupus (Member # 6516) on :
Congrats, that is awesome! Posted by pooka (Member # 5003) on :
Posted by Morbo (Member # 5309) on :
I'm very happy for you Belle! Posted by imogen (Member # 5485) on :
Yay Belle!
Good luck with the removal of the port.
Posted by Icarus (Member # 3162) on :
Awesome!
(((((Belle)))))
<---- verklempt
Posted by Tatiana (Member # 6776) on :
Congratulations! That's wonderful news! Posted by Soara (Member # 6729) on :
Thanks for making me smile and giving me hope. And, to you.
Posted by katdog42 (Member # 4773) on :
Congrats, Belle!
I am so happy for you. Know of continued prayers from my end. I hope all continues to go well.
Kat
Posted by Synesthesia (Member # 4774) on :
*happy for you*
Posted by Palliard (Member # 8109) on :
That's got bad news beat a mile! ^_^
Posted by Shan (Member # 4550) on :
That's absolutely fabulous! Congratulations!
*big smiles and hugs*
Posted by Amanecer (Member # 4068) on :
Congratulations! That's wonderful!!! Posted by quidscribis (Member # 5124) on :
Great news, Belle. Posted by Bob_Scopatz (Member # 1227) on :
Posted by Eduardo St. Elmo (Member # 9566) on :
Congratulations! I hope you'll be feeling up to par soon. Posted by Shigosei (Member # 3831) on :
Hooray! Good luck getting all better, Belle. I'm so glad the chemo worked!
Posted by accio (Member # 3040) on :
Congratulations! That’s great news! (((Bell)))
Posted by Megan (Member # 5290) on :
Hooray! Congratulations! Posted by aspectre (Member # 2222) on :
THANKS!!! Everytime I glance at the page and see "The Best News!", I get a grin so big my face gets tired.
Posted by Storm Saxon (Member # 3101) on :
That's so wonderful, Belle. Posted by Dragon (Member # 3670) on :
yay!
congrats Belle, this really is the best news.
Posted by Artemisia Tridentata (Member # 8746) on :
Now. Don't play in the street, and wear a helmet when you ride your byke. Yeah!
Posted by romanylass (Member # 6306) on :
Wooo-hoo! I am so happy to hear this, Belle!
Posted by Jenny Gardener (Member # 903) on :
Happy Dance! Happy Dance!! Happy Dance!!!!
Posted by Anna (Member # 2582) on :
Yay, yay, YAY! Posted by IndigoKnight1 (Member # 9526) on :
Rock On, Belle
Posted by Dead_Horse (Member # 3027) on :
I'm so happy! Posted by Belle (Member # 2314) on :
Just talked to my surgeon's office and they are going to remove my port on Tuesday, the 22nd. At noon, for those that want to pray that I'll be calm.
Posted by cmc (Member # 9549) on :
I'll be thinking of you...
Posted by ssasse (Member # 9516) on :
Fantastic news to share, Belle. Thank you.
I'll be thinking of you on Tuesday.
Posted by plaid (Member # 2393) on :
Posted by Lalo (Member # 3772) on :
No WAY! YES! Congratulations, Belle!
Wow, I'm relieved. I can't imagine how happy your family is. This is GREAT news!
Posted by Lime (Member # 1707) on :
!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Congratulations, Belle! That is so unbelievably awesome!
Posted by Bella Bee (Member # 7027) on :
That's so wonderful, Belle. Posted by Irami Osei-Frimpong (Member # 2229) on :
Posted by Brinestone (Member # 5755) on :
Oh, I'm so glad.
Posted by Squish (Member # 9191) on :
That's wonderful news. Best wishes to you.
Posted by Astaril (Member # 7440) on :
That's awesome, Belle! I'm so happy for you!!!
Posted by signal (Member # 6828) on :
(((belle)))
Posted by Coccinelle (Member # 5832) on :
Fantastic news! *cheers*
Posted by Karmen (Member # 9666) on :
Good Luck with the port Belle! I'm so proud of you for beating that slinky disease. Good for you!
Posted by cmc (Member # 9549) on :
Hope everything worked out well today - I was thinking of you...
Posted by Belle (Member # 2314) on :
Well....
that was not fun. No fun at all.
I love my husband, but I'm not so sure having him with me was such a good idea. The doctor didn't mind him being there for the procedure, but when I want someone telling me I'm okay and reassuring me, it didn't help for him to say things like "Wow, I didn't think you'd have to make that big of an incision." And then he and the nurse chatted about what size IV catheters they preferred to use (no I didn't need an IV, they just got on the subject.)
The local hurt, more than I thought it would. The doctor said that's because he was injecting right into the scar tissue from the insertion procedure. It was not good. Then, he had to stop and numb me up even more because I could still feel a good bit of pain during the incision.
And of course, my port didn't want to come out. When they told me to expect "tugging" I didn't know it really meant "yanking."
I will have to say, it was an entirely unpleasant experience. Painful, uncomfortable, and scary. My doctor is a wonderful man with great bedside manner, though and did his best to make me feel better. When I apologized for whimpering, he told me not to worry, I was entitled to some whimpers, I was the one getting her chest cut open, after all.
The local lasted about an hour after we left, then when it wore off I had a lot of pain. Fortunately, I did have something I could take. It's helped, but I'm still hurting. I know it will get better, he said I should feel fine for my first day of school tomorrow.
Well, I just wanted to update you guys and thank you for thinking of me and for all your well wishes. I have to say today was awful, but it was brief and now it's all over.
Tomorrow I go to school and start getting my life back. Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :
Ouch.
Hurray for tomorrow! Posted by B34N (Member # 9597) on :
Aewsome, good luck and best wishes for a speedy recovery.
Posted by imogen (Member # 5485) on :
Ouch but I'm glad it's out. Posted by Miro (Member # 1178) on :
quote:Originally posted by Belle: When I apologized for whimpering, he told me not to worry, I was entitled to some whimpers, I was the one getting her chest cut open, after all.
I would have to agree with him on that one. Ouch. At least it's over.
Posted by MandyM (Member # 8375) on :
Good luck at school today Belle. I am saying a little prayer for you! Hope things go well. Posted by Belle (Member # 2314) on :
Well...the doctor said don't remove the steri-strips. Don't pull them off, until they loosen up and begin to peel off on their own, which will probably take about a week, or at least several days.
Someone must have been asleep at the steri-strip adhesive assembly line. All but two of them were hanging loose this morning, already coming off.
And, I forgot to consider the wearing of a backpack and carrying of heavy books, so naturally my incision opened up and bled again. Not badly, just oozed. Don't worry, it's not showing any signs of infection. I'm going to remove the steri-strips that are hanging loose, and re-bandage with some sterile gauze. Unfortunately I have to wait until I have some help, because it's in such an awkward spot it's hard to do myself. My husband is at the station, but it's church night so I'm going to take my stuff to church and get one of my friends there to help - she's a registered nurse.
On the bright side, I think I'm going to enjoy all my classes and a kid I know from church is in two of my four classes with me. I told him that since we were classmates, he was prohibited from calling me "Ma'am" or "Mrs. Ward." He said he couldn't do that.
I feel so old!
Posted by cmc (Member # 9549) on :
; ) Old is relative... It's all about how you feel at heart... : )
I had to have some melanoma's removed from my back... That was fun with the steri-strips and then the whole keeping it clean thing! But - my friend's a London paramedic and she took care of it for me. I'm sure your friend from Church will take good care of you. : )
Glad to hear you made it through day 1!! Wonder if you could leave the books at home until it's healed a bit? I realize it may not be a possibility, but...
edit: to take the colorful smiley faces out - cause i like the sideways ones better...
[ August 23, 2006, 10:20 PM: Message edited by: cmc ]
Posted by Amka (Member # 690) on :
I'm so very glad it has all turned out well. Sorry about how hard getting the cath out was. But congratulations on all the good news!
Posted by Mrs.M (Member # 2943) on :
Entitled to whimpering?!? You're entitled to scream like a banshee! You are a stupendous person, Belle. You're a lady to your fingertips and I am overjoyed that your treatment is over at last. I'm in awe that you're back in school, but I wouldn't expect any less from you.
Posted by Samprimary (Member # 8561) on :
Belle, I haven't commented yet in this, but ..
I'm relly happy for ya. I want to send a card. Posted by Tammy (Member # 4119) on :
Posted by Sterling (Member # 8096) on :
All the good emoticons have been used to death, but let me add my own congratulations and good wishes, Belle.
The steri-strips and blood count difficulties will fade. Don't let them shadow your triumph. You've gotten through something really tough, and you deserve to celebrate.
Ah, heck, one emoticon. Posted by ClaudiaTherese (Member # 923) on :
I'm so glad you can put this behind you and concentrate on your scholarly work. You've been dealing with far too much for far to long, Belle, and you surely deserve to be able to decide what to worry about (tests, papers, whether it's feasible to wear pajama pants to class, etc. ) -- and on stuff that matters to you, too.
Posted by Papa Janitor (Member # 7795) on :
This hasn't become any less wonderful, Belle, but I'm going to unsticky it now. Thank you again for allowing us to share in your joyful news.
![[Party]](graemlins/party.gif)
![[Smile]](smile.gif)
![[The Wave]](graemlins/thewave.gif)
![[Big Grin]](biggrin.gif)
![[Cool]](cool.gif)
![[Frown]](frown.gif)
No fun at all.