Cancer Free!!! (?)

Julie had her post-chemo CAT scan on Tuesday Dec. 8, and Friday the 11th saw her surgeon for an exam and to find out the results of the scan. Julie qualified to be pronounced officially “cancer free,” with one little tiny temporary question mark. The surgeon said there is a small unidentified something or other that shows on the scan; she is confident it is not cancerous, it is probably a leaking fluid-filled sac related to a lymph node removal that was done during surgery and it could go away on its own, but she wants Julie to have a follow up scan in three months in order to go from 99.99% sure to 100% sure. Julie also finally got her PICC line out today – Joe was curious and asked to see it after the removal, which is when Julie saw for the first time that the line resembled a short, skinny garden hose; it had snaked up her arm to her shoulder and down almost to her heart, much longer than the few inches she had been picturing. Just as well that she didn’t know that when it was inside her. She is very glad the PICC line is gone as now she can stop wrapping her arm up in plastic wrap every time she takes a shower – one of life’s little luxuries.

Julie is now accepting congratulations on her cancer-free status. But expect to see the hats or wig for a few more months; it takes that long to achieve noticeable hair growth, and anyway it would be a shame to waste such an extensive hat and scarf collection. It also takes a minimum of six months for the body to recovery from the ordeal of chimiothérapie and regain strength and functioning, so Julie will continue to be more tired and have less stamina for awhile longer. In order to both regain strength and avoid a recurrence of cancer, it’s essential that Julie (and all post chemo patients) eat in a very specific way, exercise consistently, avoid stress and get enough rest, not just for the next six months but permanently.