6!

My last visit to the oncologist yielded great results- my CA125 was 6!  I had a feeling things were going to be good when I pulled up to the Cancer Center and got a prime parking spot and there was a bright rainbow as I walked to my appointment.  The doctor showed me a graph of my CA125 results.  It begins at the top of the page, started dipping down, plummeted down and now is a straight line heading across the bottom of the page.

Life goes on...

I missed my 1 year anniversary of being chemo free- December 3rd. I was at a cancer support group that day and mentioned that it had been about a year, but didn't think about it again until a few days later when I realized I had missed it. I attribute this to a couple of things- I have been doing a lot, and I have started to feel back to normal again. I no longer think about cancer 24/7. I don't feel the need to tell everyone I come in contact with about the hell I've experienced. I can make plans for the future again.

And I have been doing a lot! Since I last posted 2 months ago, I went to Central Europe. Ethan's band played in Prague, Wrocław (Poland) and Vienna, then we went to Budapest for a few days to recover from the tour in the thermal baths. Ethan flew home from there and I went on to Ljubljana and Piran (Slovenia), Venice for one night and finally to Switzerland to visit family near Zürich. I was gone for a month. When I returned I jumped right into the holiday season with a fabulous couple of days celebrating Thanksgiving with Ethan's cousins. And this morning we're starting a remodel! Carport demolition first, hearing the hammering makes it real. Even though I'm not thinking that much about cancer anymore, I do constantly think about how lucky I am.

"Terminally Well"

This week I went to a poetry reading at the Beat Museum in San Francisco's North Beach with my friend Rene, who was included in their latest anthology. Another poet used the phrase, "terminally well", and it has stuck with me all week long. This really describes the in-between place where I'm finding myself lately.

Under 6

I went to my oncologist for a checkup today and my tumor marker number (CA125) has dropped from 7 to "under 6". Apparently when it goes below 6, it's no longer a specific number. But it went down, so whatever it is, I'll take it! I'm especially happy because I've been having these bothersome little abdominal pains and a tad bit of nausea here and there. It's really no big deal, except that every time I feel something I get super worried and I was convinced my CA125 was going to be higher this time. I guess I need to work on my positive attitude.

Also, I've been remiss in pointing out that September is National Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month, as well as Gynecologic Cancer Awareness Month. And if I was on top of things I would have posted yesterday that September 22 was Take a Loved One for a Check-up Day...

Fun!

I have been feeling great and having fun! Two notable things from the past few months- I got a new tattoo, and just got back from Burning Man!

The tattoo is by Jeff Rassier at Black Heart in S.F., he did a great job of pulling together all the ideas I threw at him during our first meeting. Lots of personal symbols, but the most important part is the image in the center- insect ovaries. They are my ovary replacements! For some reason I am finding this very comforting. The photo was taken during the first week, the redness has subsided and it looks great!

And Burning Man... What an inspiring, whirlwind, crazy, tiring week! I went a few days early to help build Bat Country, an example of a third-generation Sierpinski tetrahedron. I also helped a group called Feed the Artists, who put together 4 course meals for the people working on Burning Man funded art installations. The rest of the week was spent having coincidences, synchronicity, serendipity and tons of fun!

Phospho-Soda Recall

I saw one of those dumb lawyer commercials the other day, and it was for people who want to file lawsuits against Fleet, the manufacturers of Phospho-Soda, which I had complained about in an earlier post. I had to take it to prep my bowels for surgery, but it took all my willpower to get it down and keep it down. Apparently it has been causing serious kidney damage in some people and as of last December has been recalled. I just knew this stuff was evil!!

You can read more about it on the US Recall News website: http://www.usrecallnews.com/2009/04/fleet-recall-recalled-fleet-phospho-soda-info.html

7 again!

Did a month and 1/2 already go by??! My onco visit today went well- my CA125 is still 7, and he didn't find any lumps or bumps in the pelvic exam. Next appt. in 3 months. The doctor says it's as good as it gets! YaY!

We are off for the long weekend camping at an event called Priceless. I'm glad my appt. was before and not after. Now I can celebrate!