Tuesday, August 9, 2011

A call from Nurse Kim

I had a follow-up CT scan on Saturday to look at my lungs. I had a scan three months ago and a spot was found on one lung that was attributed to bronchitis. At the last scan, I was suffering from a cold or flu and coughing. The scan on Saturday was intended to make sure that the spot went away with the bronchitis. Dr. Hema ordered a scan of my body from neck to groin. He said that as long as I was filled with contrast dye and lying on the table, why not look at everything, not just my lungs.

Nurse Kim and I just spoke and she said the scan shows no sign of any spot on either lung and no sign of lymphoma. Now, having said that, I don't believe that means that there is absolutely, positively no lymphoma in my body. I believe it means that the resolution of a CT scan is too coarse to show the very tiny amounts of lymphoma I have in my body. I believe I still have some small amount because I have the indicators in my blood test numbers. As small as they may be, they are still not zero.

This is great news and I am still very happy with my progress. I shall continue to follow Dr. Hema's prescription to go forth and enjoy my life to the fullest.

Today's weight: a svelte 179.5. Notice that I don't post it if it's embarrassing!

Wednesday, August 3, 2011

A visit to Dr. Hema

Today we traveled to Big City for a regularly scheduled visit to Dr. Hema. As I suspected, he said I am doing very well. He confirmed my estimation of the meaning of my recent blood tests. He said I looked excellent when he considered where I had come from 2 1/2 years ago. At that time, I felt and looked terrible and was fighting Rituxan. Now, I feel great and am fighting...well, nothing aside from an appetite for fattening foods!

At my last CT scan, part of the result was colored by the effects of then ongoing bronchitis. Dr. Hema is to schedule another test soon to be sure those effects are gone and not something more serious. I will have my next follow-up visit with Dr. Hema in six months.

All-in-all, this was a great visit. Everyone with a very serious illness hopes he or she can go to the doctor and hear he is in great shape and no follow-up visits are needed for six months. My adorable wife and I never miss an opportunity to celebrate. We enjoyed a leisurely lunch and I raised a glass of wine to toast good health and long life!