Life is a journey, with some smooth roads and some bumpy.
I went to the oncologist yesterday for my six month check-up, this one just involved donating a little blood and getting my lymph nodes felt. All went well except the onc wants another blood draw, he wants me to fast for 10 hours then have the blood taken. If everything looks ok, then that will be the end of it. If not, then he wants pictures.
I don’t mean to be so vague but he wouldn’t tell me a lot more than that. My CEA (colon cancer marker) levels were all fine. They always are. Even when the cancer was raging my blood did not show it. While I was going through chemo my Alk Phos was high, I guess that’s normal, the Alk Phos is one of the liver enzyme. Well, now 5 of my liver enzymes are high, although two of them only at the low end of high. So the onc, feels checking things out are definitely warranted, especially with my CEA history.
I asked him what these higher levels could indicate and he preferred to wait to discuss it if this fasting blood test comes back high. All he would say is that it indicates the liver is inflamed.
But, hey, I feel good, so I’m sure we’ll have good news when it’s all done. I did tell him all about my diet and he told me, “Way to go!”. I know Dennis was concerned that he would tell me to stop that. Especially when the nurse told me that the reason the oncologists like their patients “fluffy” is because then we have some extra to fall back on if the cancer does come back. But the onc was happy for me and agreed with how I’m going about it.
Through all this, I did figure out why I lacked the motivation to get back in shape. Cancer strikes you in ways you don’t always think of. And even when you’re in remission and think you have went back to a normal, well as normal as possible, life, you find remnants of cancer‘s effects. For me, being told I had a 50% shot at being alive in 5 years, didn’t really motivate me to do anything to get my body in better shape. So, stepping up and exercising and watching what I eat is a way I am taking control of my life back away from the cancer.
I have been worried about it coming back - cancer doesn’t fit into my life’s goals (does it anyone’s?). But I really am trying to stop letting the fear of its reappearance keep me from living life to the fullest.
So, while I’m trying really hard to think positively about the results of the next test, and trying to keep my family on this positive side too, you can bet there are worry niggles until we get answers. I’ll keep you guys in the loop.
PS> While I’m horrible about getting on plurk and twitter, I have been trying to be better about facebook, so if you’re there come on over and friend me.
