Walk on the Wild Side
Between our arrival home from Charleston and meeting with our oncologist last week, a new symptom introduced itself. I don’t know what to call it so I’ll describe what happened.
Part of my regimen is exercise. Typically I’ll walk for a half hour: 15 minutes out and 15 minutes back at a comfortable brisk pace. Until recently, I walked alone, but lately Michael has joined me for companionship, conversation and his own exercise. Three weeks ago, Michael was not available, so I set out by myself and completed three quarters of our regular walking route in cheerful sunshine and a mild balmy breeze.
As was my habit, I walked in the middle of the road, atop the crown of the roadbed to avoid the graded slopes to either side of the yellow line. Then, involuntarily, my pace slowed, little by little, like the Energizer bunny finally running out of battery power, and I collapsed slowly to the pavement. I could no longer support my body weight.
I had fallen to my hands and knees. Wanting to get out of the roadway as rapidly as possible for obvious reasons, I crawled to the edge of the road to a driveway entrance marked by two brick pillars. Thinking a crumpled body by the side of the road might be cause for alarm for some unsuspecting passing motorist, I pulled myself to an upright position using a brick pillar for support. For 10 minutes I twiddled my thumbs, gathering strength. Finally I felt strong enough to complete the journey home at a much reduced pace. Fortunately the road is very lightly traveled, runs arrow straight between the corn fields with visibility of a half mile left and right of our lane.
The medical professionals are still scratching their heads about this. In the meantime, we are treating it as an episode of dehydration. And for now and the near future, I won’t be walking alone!
Copyright 2008
http://lindalater.blogspot.com
Posted: February 26, 2008
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
Thursday, February 14, 2008
Up and Down Test Results
Most recent blood test results are “mixed” showing changes within a narrow range in both directions as follows:
CEA on 2-4-08 is a 15% drop compared with 12-22-07 to 5567 from 6569 respectively. The Calcitonin levels are up slightly from 7313 to 8105. The objective is to lower the numbers as far as possible. Zero would be just fine, thank you very much. We are definitely headed in the right direction. And, like political candidates, we hope to keep the momentum going!
More results will be out to you as they arrive. In the meantime, look for various reflections on life with (and sometimes without) cancer.
Our steadfast gratitude for your reassurances and shared joy.
With heartfelt feelings on this Valentine’s Day!
Copyright 2008
www.lindalater.blogspot.com
Posted: February 14, 2008
CEA on 2-4-08 is a 15% drop compared with 12-22-07 to 5567 from 6569 respectively. The Calcitonin levels are up slightly from 7313 to 8105. The objective is to lower the numbers as far as possible. Zero would be just fine, thank you very much. We are definitely headed in the right direction. And, like political candidates, we hope to keep the momentum going!
More results will be out to you as they arrive. In the meantime, look for various reflections on life with (and sometimes without) cancer.
Our steadfast gratitude for your reassurances and shared joy.
With heartfelt feelings on this Valentine’s Day!
Copyright 2008
www.lindalater.blogspot.com
Posted: February 14, 2008
Wednesday, February 6, 2008
Steady As She Goes
We met with our MUSC (Charleston SC) Head/Neck oncologist on Monday afternoon (2-4-08). The CT scan of my chest and abdomen revealed essentially no change in size of the tumors in my liver and thyroid. The results are within a “margin of error” that could be accounted for by the slight differences in the number of millimeters between comparable November and February image slices. This is good news in that it signals a stable status of the illness. Now that we have two measurements to compare, the February results confirm the hopeful figures from November. This warrants optimism!
As yet, I don’t have the results of the lab analysis on the blood draw also taken Monday. All the numbers will be in by next week at which time I will pass them along, comparing these results with the previous analysis taken at MUSC in November.
Two subjective small improvements in the way my body works have appeared during the past two months that I consider significant to returning health. During this time I have gained 8 pounds. Never in my life have I rejoiced about GAINING weight!
The other is that my skin is no longer as fragile as it was as recently as December. Back then small cuts, scrapes, skin tears or abrasions required up to three weeks to completely heal. Now similar cuts heal in one quarter of that time. I imagine my immune system flexing its figurative muscles as it grows stronger!
We thank you for your prayers and an almost palpable flow of positive energy.
Copyright 2008
www.lindalater.blogspot.com
Posted February 6, 2008
As yet, I don’t have the results of the lab analysis on the blood draw also taken Monday. All the numbers will be in by next week at which time I will pass them along, comparing these results with the previous analysis taken at MUSC in November.
Two subjective small improvements in the way my body works have appeared during the past two months that I consider significant to returning health. During this time I have gained 8 pounds. Never in my life have I rejoiced about GAINING weight!
The other is that my skin is no longer as fragile as it was as recently as December. Back then small cuts, scrapes, skin tears or abrasions required up to three weeks to completely heal. Now similar cuts heal in one quarter of that time. I imagine my immune system flexing its figurative muscles as it grows stronger!
We thank you for your prayers and an almost palpable flow of positive energy.
Copyright 2008
www.lindalater.blogspot.com
Posted February 6, 2008
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