A visit with Dr. L

Yesterday I saw Dr. L, my regular Oncologist.  I had not seen him since June when I was in the middle of radiation.  Boy he is a busy guy.  Today took the record for amount of time to wait...1 hour 20 minutes after I was taken to a room.  But I got to catch up on the "Us" magazine which is one of my guilty pleasures.

My eyebrow lump is much smaller but still there...still beady.  He felt around and really didn't say much except he doesn't feel anything concerning which is what I wanted to hear.  He said my labs looked good and encouraged me to get back to my gym workouts as soon as I could to help my strength.  He would like to have a CT Scan before I see him again in October.  He felt the PET Scan didn't show anything last time and a CT Scan would do the trick better.  He ordered one from my chin down.  He felt if anything is happening in my face, we can easily find it.  So I will have that mid - October.

Then he scrounged around in his papers and gave me an Advanced Directives packet.  He explained that all patients with active cancer should consider filling one out.  I teased him that he was giving up on me for which he was adamant that he doesn't feel cancer will be what does me in and it wasn't something on the horizon...but it was recommended and prudent to fill out the Advanced Directives packet just in case. You know...I agree.  Everyone should have one.  If anything, to help their loved ones make those difficult decisions should that terrible time come.  Mom has been trying to get me to take care of this for many years and I have resisted but at Dr. L's urging, I'm going to do it....for you guys...my family.  In fact, I'm going to urge everyone to complete one.  We aren't spring chickens anymore.  And who wants to leave a loved one with the difficult decision on those tough choices should that time come unexpectedly.  So think about it and see if you can join me in the adventure.  Here is an online resource to help.  http://intermountainhealthcare.org/health-resources/health-topics/healthwise/content/aa114595/writing-an-advance-directive.aspx

Then Dr. L and I talked about our vacations (he was just in Oregon) and how we are close to the same age and certainly not old.  That we will never be old because we don't want to be old.  I like that Dr. L takes the time to not only talk cancer but other things too.  I like that we can laugh together and hopefully I brighten his dreary day....or at least not make it more dreary.  I'm very glad my cancer beast is back in the cage.  It makes it easier to not take it so seriously.  I'll be honest.  This last one kind of scared me.  I love that my body will accept the treatments and respond accordingly.  Can't ask for more than that.

So onward and upward until October when I have to think about it again.  Hopefully by then, the eyebrow will be back to normal.