.... I am once AGAIN CANCER FREE. I saw the head of oncology at USC yesterday after my last CyberKnife treatment and he says the cancer is GONE. He said because the cancer that came back was NOT systemic and isolated only to the brain, in and easily ope-ratable area, the complete tumor was encapsulated and resected, no fragments or tendrils, etc were left behind. They radiated the entire area around where the tumor was with 3 days of 45 minute CyberKnife treatments and those treatments are 1,000 times better than Chemo and I won't need Chemo at all. I see my regular oncologist in Los Alamitos (the great Mario Curti) and he will confirm or deny that info, but from what I've read and been told I am done. I have a follow up MRI in 6 months at USC and that's it. The scans, x-rays, lab work, etc. all came back clean.
The worst part of all of this (well, there are 3 actually) are:
1. Decadron: A steroid used to stop the the swelling in the brain. It was vital that I take it because many nerves were being pressed upon. The side effects are awful! Just ask my family. Mainly, moodiness, insomnia, irritability - big time, and swollen eyes, neck, face and acne. I am down to 1mg per day for 3 days, then 1/2 mg for 3 days then done. It doesn't seem like much, but trust me ... it sucks.
2. Fear: I went from not feeling well, but being cancer free, to a neurologist, to an MRI, to a brain tumor, to brain surgery, to waiting on the pathology, to brain cancer, to radiation, to cancer free all in a matter of about 16 days. All good, but one hell of a roller coaster ride.
3. The wound itself isn't doing so well. Ryan and Carl have been monitoring it for me. I have been picking at the bottom, I think in my sleep. If it gets infected they have to go in and replace the plate. I have to keep it clean and dry and clip my hair up so it is exposed when I am not in public.
So as it turns out, all I needed was a "wire jiggle" after all. This one came with a six inch incision, 19 sutures and a titanium plate, but heck, I'll take it. Just another war wound.
I thank everyone for their prayers! I believe God gave me yet another chance at life through all of you. I don't know how you all prayed, it seems that you must have been yelling from your rooftops, but The Man heard you! I am grateful beyond words. Me and my family thank you and love you all!
Heather
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