OFF OUR SKATES

What do I have in common with Sidney Crosby this week? Not much except that we both received some news that neither of us wanted to hear. In Sid’s case, it’s concussion-like symptoms and he’ll be off his skates indefinitely and, certainly, hockey fans are the biggest losers here. In my case, a phone call from my doctor last night will keep me blogging into the New Year about my cancer battle. Evening calls from an oncologist are never a good thing and Dr. Goldman’s news about my PET scan two weeks ago was a bit disheartening.

The good news is that all the original lymphoma tumors in my body have disappeared thanks to the chemo. The bad news is that a different tumor has emerged in my lower abdomen near the bowel. It’s a small one, 8 mm by 12 mm, with a surface area equal to that of a fingernail. The doctor hopes that it’s a rogue lymphoma tumor that was missed in the original scan last June.

It’s deep within the abdominal cavity and not accessible to biopsy procedures therefore its actual nature may never be known. However, it must be completely eradicated soon as the best chance at success in these matters is the first chance. Getting rid of cancer a second time is as difficult as getting rid of the raccoons that were part of the Occupy Thornhill movement in my backyard this past summer. As a result, Dr. Goldman has referred me to Sunnybrook Hospital for some radiation treatments. The duration and timing of such treatments is unknown at present.

Not a great way to start the Christmas holiday season but know that I’m ready for a new challenge. If my current blogging is to be helpful to others, then my experience with radiation will certainly further my cancer education.

I must confess that I thought that I would be back to ‘normal’ by Christmas. At least that’s what I told my mother months ago. My fondest hope was to be skating at City Hall with my Xena in January like we did on our first date over forty years ago

And so, like Sid, I’ll put my skates away for a few more weeks. But know that it takes a lot more than a bump and a lump to keep us out of the lineup for long.