Call Me Ezekiel

If you’ve been following my story from the beginning (the beginning of the leg part of my story, that is) then you may recall that the necessity of my having a PET scan has been kind of on again and off again. At my first visit to the oncologist I was told that I would have both a PET scan and a CT scan at some point in this whole adventure. A later visit with the surgeon indicated I would only have a CT scan, and that a PET scan would not be necessary.

Well, this last week I had a PET scan. It was an interesting experience. Quite relaxing, actually, because for much of the time I had to lie very still. So after the smiling and efficient nurse put an IV into me and injected some sort of radioactive liquid into my blood stream, I had to lie down quietly for about an hour so as to allow the whatever-it-was (the layman’s term for it) to flow throughout my body.

Golfing This Summer

The good news is that the only thing that’s going to get buried this summer is my golf ball. Right in that nice little white cup. Many times. With much enthusiasm and joy!

Well, maybe we’ll bury that piece of my leg they removed too. Why not? It deserves a dignified disposal don’t you think? (What do they do with that stuff?) After all, it served me well for over 63 years. Got a little lumpy towards the end, but then which one of us wouldn’t after being walked on for that long?

Seriously though (must I be?), my appointment this morning with Dr. Bahl, the radiation oncologist at the BC Cancer Agency, produced some very encouraging news. The CAT scan (or CT scan if you’re boring) that I had last week revealed that there are indeed no cats in my body. That’s a relief.

Is Bigger Better?

Nope. Yes. Well, maybe. Sometimes it is and sometimes it isn’t. It all depends. You know how that goes. We’ve all wrestled with silly questions. If we’re talking about chocolate, or a slice of pumpkin pie with whipped cream on top, well then the answer is a resounding “Yes! Of course it is!”

But if we’re talking about the thickness (i.e. when measured from top to bottom) of a melanoma that’s been removed from your leg, then maybe not so much. You see, it all comes back to one’s perspective doesn’t it?

Well, that’s the scene that we’ve faced this past week. (I say “we” because Sharyn is walking—or hobbling—through this journey with me. As too are many other people.) We had two appointments with folks in our marvelous health care system on Wednesday—one with the plastic surgeon and the other for a CT scan at the Eagle Ridge Hospital.

Some Things I Know for Sure

[Originally written on January 26, 2015]

We were at my appointment with the surgeon, Dr. Granger, this afternoon and I know that many of you have been praying for me, and asking the Lord for good news—for a good report. Thanks for your prayers. I’m not entirely sure how to evaluate all the news that he gave us, but I’ve been reflecting on it over the past few hours. So these thoughts are current, if nothing else, and perhaps reflect something of the mood I’m now in.

In a world filled with uncertainty these days, there are several things that I know for sure. Some of these I have already known for a long time and have been reaffirmed now, and some are completely new. So here’s a list, in no particular order.

Good News, Bad News, No News

[Originally written on January 22, 2015]

Okay, you’ve heard all the “Good News, Bad News” jokes before. Many times. Ad nauseum. Like the poor patient in the hospital whose doctor came in to see him before surgery. “I’ve got good news and bad news,” he said. “The bad news is that we’re going to have to amputate both your legs. And, well, the good news is that the guy across the hall wants to buy your slippers.”

You see, so much of it is about perspective. And recognizing the silver cloud behind every lining. My Crazy Aunt was right! (Remember her from the last time I wrote?) So, as much as is possible in this puny mind of mine, I’m going to look for that silver cloud. Or lining. Or whatever it is.

Smile!

[Originally written on January 10, 2015]

One of the problems of being confined to a chair all day with my leg elevated, and not being under the influence of narcotic based painkillers (I’m restricted to nothing stronger than extra strength Tylenol since I left the hospital because they were interfering with my oxygen processing capacity) is that my brain is in better condition than my body. (At least it’s far more active right now.) Only those unfortunate souls who know me well enough to have observed the poor functioning capacity of my brain, even at its best, will be able to more fully appreciate the now helpless condition of this old body.

Update After Surgery January 5, 2015

[Originally written on January 5, 2015]

Well, the good news is that I’m home from the hospital already, at 8 pm on Monday. Not exactly in one piece mind you, because I left some behind and some has been sent to the pathologist for further assessment. But the rest of me is doing quite well, thank you very much.

The bad news… Well, you know, there isn’t really any bad news. Just some lingering questions and unknowns that will all come to light sometime soon. That’s all. We hope to hear the results from the pathologist’s report within a few days, which will give us some indication of whether or not the cancer has spread at all.

Making Progress

[Originally written on December 20, 2014]

Well, things are moving ahead quickly. I received a call yesterday to go in for a consultation with the surgeon in New Westminster this morning. It seems it must have been urgent because they told me I was double booked but the doctor would see me when he could. We were in and out of there in less than an hour. Wonderful!

BCCA and Me

[Originally written on December 26, 2014]

Here’s a little update and background to some recent developments in my life…

In the late spring of 2014 I noticed a small lump developing on my lower left leg (I mean the lower part of my left leg—both my legs are already set as low as they can go), just above the ankle. I didn’t think much of it because I had had three similar looking objects removed from my scalp over a period of a few years, at least ten years ago. They all turned out to contain nothing but harmless bits of gristle (similar to the nearby contents, I’m sure).