All I Want For Christmas...

Christmas is a time of year where all you want is your loved ones to be happy. It is also a time of year when it makes you feel so great to spread a little cheer to someone in need of it. The Cancer Center in late December is an interesting mix of happiness, merriment and hope with a overpowering feeling of sadness for those who are struggling with a horrible disease. The staff does all they can to bring smiles to the faces of those in pain and they should all be admired for their efforts. Truly for those who work at the Cancer Center, it is more than a job to them. They are the hands and feet of God.

I was at the Cancer Center twice the week before Christmas. After all, doesn't everyone want a PET Scan for Christmas? NOT!!!!!!!!!!!!!

12/20/10 - I had my PET Scan today. This is one of those tests that take a while. It is not that the scan takes long. It is that you are first injected with some kind of fluid that needs time to run through your system before the scan. After the injection I waited about 90 minutes in recliner watching TV. The scan itself takes about 20 minutes.

12/23/10 - I get the results of my PET Scan and blood tests today. I will meet with Dr. Mateo again being DR. Goy is in France visiting his father for Christmas.The good news was that my IG levels are actually high. This means I did not need another IVIG at this time. As far as the results of the PET Scan it is not good news, but not bad news either. It is more of a wait an see news. The scan did confirm the existence of an enlarged lymph node and it did show as being a little hot (which means there is a higher level of cell activity). In all honesty if I was just a normal healthy person with no history of lymphoma it would be seen as nothing to worry about. But I am not that normal person and they want to be extra special careful. I have been scheduled for another CT Scan and PET Scan at the end of February. My IG levels will also be rechecked at this time. I look at it this way... I could be a nervous wreck for the next two months and worry about this or I could be positive and not worry about anything unless my doctors say there is a reason to. I chose not to worry. Life is way too short the spent time worrying about things that "could" be a problem. If it becomes a problem, I will deal with it. Until then I will simply live my life and make the very best of each day.

If after reading this you are concerned for me, please don't be. It is very likely that most of us are walking around with enlarged and inflamed lymph nodes this time of year. I must admit the one thing that makes me crazy about being a cancer survivor is that I can't get a sniffle without someone thinking I am sick again.

My CT and PET Scans are scheduled for 2/23/11

My follow up appointment with Dr. Goy is scheduled for 2/28/11

I plan have a new post after I get my scan results in the end of February.
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As we approach the New Year, we often spend much time thinking about the future. Here are some thoughts to ponder when planning the future:


This is from Rick Warren's Daily Devotional on how to face an uncertain future:
The Bible offers three timeless principles for facing an uncertain future:

1. Let God set your goals. It’s foolish to make any plans without first consulting God. He’s the only one who does know the future, and he’s eager to guide you through it. The Bible says “We may make our plans, but God has the last word” (Proverbs 16:1 GNT). In other words, planning without praying is presumption. Start by praying, “God, what do you want me to do?”

2. Live one day at a time. While you can plan for tomorrow, you can’t live tomorrow until it arrives. Most people spend so much time regretting the past and worrying about the future, they have no time for today! Commit to making the most of each moment of each day. Jesus said, “Don’t be anxious about tomorrow. God will take care of your tomorrow too. Live one day at a time” (Matthew 6:34 LB).

3. Don’t procrastinate. Procrastinating is a subtle trap. It wastes today by postponing things until tomorrow. You promise yourself that you’ll do it “one of these days,” but then “one of these days” turns into “none of these days.” The Bible says, “Do not boast about [what you’re going to do] tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring forth” (Proverbs 27:1 NIV). What have you planned to do that you haven’t done yet? When do you intend to start working on it?

And here is a wonderful scripture on how God gives us strength to deal with whatever the future has in store for us:
The Lord will guide you continually,
giving you water when you are dry
and restoring your strength.
You will be like a well-watered garden,
like an ever-flowing spring.
Isaiah 58:11

I truly hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas and I wish you all a blessed New Year.


more to come...

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