Everyone knows the stories that involve three doors.
The hero of the story is faced with three doors. He gets whatever is behind one of the doors. Two of the doors have something awful behind them, the third something wonderful.
Today I lived the story.
Earlier this week I went in for my one year post surgery CAT scan. The possible results constituted the three doors.
Door Number One: Treatment didn’t work, the cancer had spread, I am going to die.
Door Number Two: They found something in the results that is very concerning, but aren’t certain what it means. They want to monitor it with frequent CAT scans, which means we will be nervous wrecks until it gets figure out.
Door Number Three: There is no sign of cancer and everything is fine.
We just got the results of the CAT scan.
And the door that was opened was … DOOR NUMBER THREE!!!
The CAT scan showed no signs of cancer. If this type of cancer returns it’s usually fairly soon, so this is really good news.
Though it is a tremendous relief to get these results, they were not entirely surprising. Though I’m still experiencing some rocky moments, I have felt unusually good these past few weeks.
My energy level is up, I have more endurance, and I have a greater enthusiasm for life.
On some level that I can not explain, I just knew I didn’t have cancer. I just sensed that it was not sucking the life out of me.
And it felt good.
Wonderful news!!! Do you feel good enough to celebrate with a steak? Maybe a Hawaiian pizza would be a healthier choice? Anyway, thanks for posting a progress report. Since you mentioned that 3 years without a recurrence of cancer cells was considered a cure, I was wondering when they started counting, and now I know. With all the great care and support you have at home, we assume the next two years will be even better than the last two weeks! I hope Anne can relax a bit now, too!
Hi Gary,
What great news; I couldn’t be happier for you–and all of us! You’ve done everything right, so the odds on your side.
Hugo
I had a wonderful steak the last time we were in La Grande. I was celebrating my 63rd birthday. I think five years from the date of surgery is the cutoff for being considered cured, but it’s a really good sign if you make it through the first few years cancer free. I think being cancer free after the first year is a really big deal. I am really excited about it.
The odds are on my side. Even more so since I passed this milestone. Things continue to look good.
Anne may have told you that I literally jumped up and down when I heard the message on our recorder.
We were pretty excited too. With us it was more sighing with relief.
Geez, they didn’t even call and tell you in person?!
Sorry. I thought my reply was to Gary; I have to read more carefully!
Hugo
Ooops! Does Ooops have three o’s or two? Hmmm.
Gary and Anne,
I am so glad to hear you are finally feeling better each day. That was a long hard haul.
I like buffets..aside from using common serving utinsils. Each trip to La Grande, I eat once at Bear Mountain and once at the #1 China Buffet.
Best wishes for continued good health.
PLT
I love Bear Mountain Pizza, I don’t think we’ve tried #1 China Buffet.