So, this chapter of My Life With Cancer is coming to a close. Tom and I made the trek back up to Baltimore yesterday for my blood tests and the official visit with the doctor at Johns Hopkins. My doc had emailed me last week that the preliminary results of my scans looked good, but we’ve seen discrepancies from the preliminary to the final results in the past, so we were still a bit cautious.
This time however, there was no discrepancy — my disease has not progressed at all. My doctor asked how I’m feeling as it has been a year since I’ve taken any kind of medicine for my cancer, and I said I feel better than ever. He laughed and said that the best thing he can prescribe is that I stay away from doctors and medications as much as possible. I seem to do better without any help. I don’t have to return for scans for another nine months — my longest time between scans yet!
After we wrapped things up, the doctor smiled bright, shook my hand, and said “Congratulations, Tracy.” So I kind of feel like I’m in remission. The tumors are still in my body, but since they haven’t grown in years, and I’m getting healthier and stronger by the day, I guess we can call this my own kind of remission. I have cancer. And I’ve never felt better!
We’ll officially close this chapter on Sunday when we cross the finish line at the Philadelphia Livestrong Challenge. 70 miles over 5,400 feet of elevation. With cancer.
How do you like them apples! (That’s a little nod to our boy Lance Armstrong if anyone was paying attention.)
