One Year and Four months No sign of Disease

We went to Mayo/Rochester on Thursday to do the blood tests, Ct and MRI scans for one year and 4 months post surgery (Feb 38, 2014). The testing went on all day long…ending finally with the MRI series that didn’t get us done until about 6:30 p.m. Unlike other visits in the past, where we got all the results in one day, we had to wait until this morning (Friday) to see the oncologist to hear the verdict. Our appt was an hour after our desk “check in” time. The nurse does the usual weight and height measurements…and BP, temp, and review of meds. Then, wait again for the Dr. to come into the exam room. For that…we only waited a few minutes and he quickly came in, shook our hands, and at the same time, said, “Everything looks fine”. Those few seconds before you hear what the oncologist is going to say…whether the scans are clean or not….feels like being in another world and the words don’t really sink in immediately. I grabbed for my husband’s hand….and I knew without looking that there were tears in his eyes.

I don’t have all the blood lab numbers to see where things are at….we actually didn’t go over them…which I didn’t realize until we left, but I will be getting them on line through my patient portal account at Mayo and looking for myself. However, he said that everything looks good. He did mention the creatinine…which is at 1.2, above the normal range, which he says isn’t too bad and seems to be my new normal…..as it seems to have settled around that number now for quite a few blood labs.

I will see the oncologist again at Mayo in NOvember for scans again…..his plan being for me to have scans about every 3-4 months and then somewhere between 2-3 years, stretch the time out to 6 months between scans. For now, he wants to watch me to be watched very carefully.

After the November scans, I will have to get hooked up with another oncologist because my current one is a fellow in oncology and may or may not stay at Mayo after that. And, if he does stay, he will be in another area and won’t be able to be my oncologist any longer. I knew this could be coming, but I am very disappointed, because I really like this guy a lot (Dr Domingo) .

I may see if I can get assigned to Dr. Gregory Gores, who is the big honcho with cholangiocarcinoma at Rochester/Mayo. But, that is down the road.

Just as we came out of the oncologist’s office, I got a phone call from Matt Reidy, who is doing radiation treatments at Mayo for CC . It was so good to meet another person dealing with this. You don’t wish for ANYone else to have it, but meeting Matt was so good…I hope for both of us. I have a feeling that we could have talked for a long time ….esp my husband would have enjoyed more time as they talk somewhat the same “work” language….that “computer” talk. ))) Matt…it was great to meet you….to hug you…..and if I could do anything to help make things better for you, I would in a heart beat. The offer still stands for a few days here in my guest room before you drive on home.

Right now, I’m trying to still process the news that so far, this cancer has not returned. It seems so very surreal. But, my oncologist was happy…and relaxed…no sign of worry or concern. He’s thrilled from what i can tell.

Onward to more living.

Julie t.