To all of you who have emailed me since I started this journey, I thought I would bring you "up to date" on where I am as we approach the one year anniversary on me finding out that the growth that was in my gut was cancer plus celebrating these past 12 months!
Three months ago I had a PET scan and at that time the docs could not see any cancer. Surprised my chemo doc but he did say congrats but let's do this again in a coupla months.
Two weeks ago, another PET. This time, the doc was not surprised because we found some "marbling" of cancer is some of my lynph nodes. Bah, Humbug! Well, that means Round 2 coming up. I should be getting with the chemo doc next week to plan our attack. The doc told me, after reading the results of the scan, "Hey, cancer does kill, but what I'm seeing right now is sure not gonna keep you from going to New Mexico in July and seeing your granddaughter married in DC in August. I'll check with my colleuges and we will get on with this deal of getting you well."
Now, I just hope he feels the same way after he reads the disc that he had not seen yet.
As for how I feel, good some days, better the next. Still having trouble eating. I kinda think that some of my current situation comes from not looking forward to the PET scan and then losing my buddy, Tommy T, to prostate cancer. Kinda takes the wind outa your sails. But, with all the people I have praying for me all over the world, let me tell you, I ain't giving up, no way Jose!
Last year, June 27, 2009, I ran my first race for that year, after breaking my leg on Jan. 3. I got up yesterday, went to the track and ran an "anniversary mile." Not as quick as last year but it's a place to start. This eating deal has me all messed up. I not a bit hungry but I know that if I wish to train to "go faster" I've got to take in some energy producing foods! You know, when you train, you condition your body to think that what you are doing is "normal" and it must step up to the challenge and get stronger. For example, if you lift weights daily your muscles "think" that's normal and correspondently the muscles get bigger. (Now, that's when your 60 and under.) But, along with that, your body asks for more fuel to accomplish the task, and that's where my challenge comes. Sure, I want to train to go faster --- BUT --- if you don't (or can't) eat you dang sure can't do it! Duh! Me, Lynda, my girls and the docs will figure this deal out!
Hmmm, I did leave out the Lord, but it was only out of that sentence! He has a plan and our job is to make it happen!
Hope this finds you all well and I'll keep you in the loop.
Love you all,
Your pal,
Leighton