swollen node, exercise

I saw the radiologist yesterday (for an appointment that was scheduled on my last day of radiation). He checked out my still-swollen lymph node, measured it, said he wants to see me back in 4 weeks, and if it gets any bigger, they'll have to biopsy it. I knew that already. So on March 24, I'm seeing both docs: one before school and one after school. *sigh*



I recently joined 24 Hour Fitness. It has been fabulous getting back to the gym, lifting weights, not running alongside traffic, etc. My membership package came with four training sessions. I'm looking forward to them :)

If you ever want to get me a gift, they sell gift cards :)

I still need to pick a 5K to run in March. We'll see about that...



Hair picture in a few days!

I'm 3 for 3, baby!

I had a doctor's appointment this afternoon (that I managed not to miss...), at which I got the results of Monday's PET scan.

It's negative!!

I'm not terribly surprised, but with this little swollen node thing going on in my neck, there was a larger-than-average possibility that it would have not turned out so well...

Speaking of that node ... the doc asked if I'm OK with it, which I am (for now). He said that if it's really a problem for me, that he would be OK with taking it out, but that if I'm not freaking out, that a wait-and-see approach would be fine.

I see the radiologist on Monday. The oncologist said to be sure to get his opinion about it.

That's all the health news on this front. Another hair picture in a week or so - it's getting long!

ONE TRY!!!!!

I had a PET scan this morning. They take a while (total time at the office without waiting = 2 hours), but they don't hurt or have side effects or anything.

But they do require an IV :(

This is the third PET scan I've had. The other two, just like the chemo, always required three attempts before the IV was in and working.

I told the guy this morning that if he got it in one try, he'd be my best friend.

He did :) It is the first IV I've gotten since the ER that went in without lots of poking and digging.

Results on Thursday.

cold...

OK, not so happy to have a cold now. Yes yes, it's still better than cancer (my goodness!), but I'm ready to be healthy again...

quick update

I woke up significantly congested this morning - I've never been happier to have a cold.

The lymph node is still swollen but less so.

Good news :)

thoughts from the doc

I called this morning for an appointment. They had a 1:00 appointment with the nurse available. I took it.

The nurse agreed that my left neck lymph node was swollen and inquired about sore throats, nasal drainage and the like. I've had some of each every morning when I woke up, but it clears up during the day. (I've been chugging Emergen-C, gargling with salt water, and using the NetiPot in an effort to stave this thing off ... getting enough sleep might help, too...) She said that was likely the reason for the swelling and she'd get me an antibiotic. OK. She left, and I waited ... and waited ... and waited ...

When she finally came back, she said the doc was going to squeeze me in, if I didn't mind waiting. No problem with waiting. I was grateful.

He came in, checked out my neck and armpits, asked the same questions that the nurse had asked. He said that his recommendation would be to come back in two weeks. He said it's probably from the cold I'm fighting off, but that we need to be cautious given my history. He said he could do a biopsy right then, but he wouldn't recommend it. If it *is* cancer again, two weeks isn't going to make a difference. If it's not cancer again, in two weeks, it'll be gone. So I have an appointment for two weeks from yesterday. If it gets any bigger, I should call right away.

I also will be having a PET scan (which was in the works anyway) and should have the results of that at the same appointment.

So that's where it's at. Here's to it all being just a cold .....

shit...

I had a doc's appointment today. I missed it because I was way late because there was a crazy amount of traffic.

Normally, this wouldn't bother me too much, 'cause it's just a follow-up appointment. They tend to be really short and not very interesting.

However, I noticed earlier today that on the left side of my neck, the lymph node is swollen.

Originally, my make-up appointment was scheduled for Wednesday next week, but I'm going to see about going in tomorrow.

I'm scared...

the hair project 2-1-08

Here's what my hair is lookin' like today, February 1. I have that weird little tail thing going on, and around my ears feels unkept, but otherwise, it's doing well :)



I'm not noticing any lingering side effects of radiation, and the side effects of chemo feel like they are mostly gone. Funny, here we are, 2.5 months after chemo ended, and there are still bits of lingering side effects.

I suppose that as long as there are no cancer cells, I can deal with minor lingering side effects :)