Tuesday, 1/25 -- I'm a heat miser, and other news.

I'm back from the doctor's appointment with varied news.

First off, my blood levels were not effected as severely as I thought they would have been. The levels are fairly contestant ad show no cause for alarm. My weakness may be caused by a general reaction to the drugs themselves.

My weight is at 188, I lost 3 pounds.

I've been having a pain in my chest consistent with a side effect that I've had before. It's a reaction to a bone marrow stimulator called Neupogen. It's a daily shot that Lyn administers at home when needed. I had three of them last week, and pain in the chest and bones since. No more shots for now.

After much discussion and option weighting, I received the same dosage and drug cycle as last week. It may make me weaker than I was last week. It may not. No one knows yet. We'll very soon find out.

I may be couch bound for this next week. Frustrating in light of all the progress I've made getting into a "normal" life routine. But if it helps cure me, then I'll sit on the couch for a week.

We have a more clearly defined understanding of what my current diagnosis is.
*I still have cancer in my lung, chest lymph nodes and along my spine.
*The nodes in my chest are larger than before, indicating that there is something going on there, possibly bad.
*The "nodules" in my lung are also the same are larger. Maybe more numerous... I forget.
*The cancer along my spine has remained consistent. It has been the root cause of the pain and hardships of my back. But there is no sign of it spreading or getting worse. Also no sign of it improving. It's too hard to tell if is healing or not. The next PET scan will help determine that.
*My liver and my pelvis look CLEAN!!!!!! The disease that was there in July is no longer there. (As far as anyone can tell). The hip pain I experience could very well be the slow process of healing bone.

All the original diagnosis areas from July are accounted for. There are no new areas of cancer. The cancer has not spread to new organs or areas since July. Any current activity is merely a change to the existing stuff.

All in all, I still found this to be upsetting news. It's not as rosy as I had wanted it to be. But anything less than "You're cured" is going to be disappointing. I just don't want to hear about any enlarged lymph nodes or lung activity. I'm supposed to be winning this fight.

It's all so freaking unreal.
Wish me luck.

Oh, by the way, our heater is working again. We have heat. Sweet, sweet heat.

I'm looking forward to the day when my biggest worry is wondering how to keep the goldfish tank water from turning green. I miss those days. That's not too much to ask.