A Visit with Leuchter - What Now??

So, with only one treatment left, what's next? That's what was discussed with Dr. Leuchter yesterday at our between treatment appointment. After all, next week starts round 6 and then Nanc's last chemo treatment is scheduled for October 16. Cheryl calls it "Graduation Day." (I keep forgetting to get her picture. I have found that if I really need to get something done - Cheryl is the one to call. And she always does it with a smile...)

Okay - so here's the deal as laid out by Dr. Leuchter yesterday. They will monitor Nanc after the chemo is done with scans, blood tests, etc. First at 2 or 3 months and then periodically for 3 years.

Here is where the oncologists are so sneaky - they tell you just enough to get you through each phase of the disease. When she was first told she had a growth they said, "Oh it's probably nothing. We'll go in, take a look, it's more than likely benign." Then when they confirm it's cancer, they admit they had a suspicion, probably even knew it was cancer, but again, they tell you just enough so you can survive each phase.

So then they told her that she has an excellent prognosis for a complete cure based on the surgery and the chemo protocol. No problem - that hope certainly got her through the last 4 months of hell. What they didn't tell her is that there is also a 30% chance that it will come back. Of course they wait until the end to tell you this stuff and I get why they do it that way. There is just no way she would have put up with half the crap she put up with these past months if she had an inkling that there is a 30% chance it'll come back.

So, will the glass be half empty or half full? Last night it was half empty for minute or two. I know it's weighing heavy on her mind right now. It still hasn't fully sunk in for me yet. So I'm still in the full recovery mode and hoping I don't hear echoes of that other shoe coming my way...

One would think - just think positive, right? It's not that simple or easy to do all the time. Those uncertainties are going to creep in and take over sometimes. The good news is that this course of treatment is almost done and she is doing very well all things considered. Once again it comes down to staying in the moment - all is good right here, right now and we have much for which we can be grateful...

xoxo