The most important directive when you have a rare cancer is to find a specialist who sees many patients with your type of cancer. I have such a doctor in Portland. I've been seeing him every 6 months for a checkup which includes blood work and an ultrasound. In May when I made my next appointment, I had no idea that I would be living in Eagle, Idaho in December, so rather than a quick drive to OHSU, this appointment meant a flight to Portland for the day.
My 6:00 a.m. flight was on time and I got on the TriMet train at the airport. Cheap, efficient and very easy! It's extra cheap for 'honored citizens' like me....that is a nicer term than senior citizens although it still just means OLD!
My 6:00 a.m. flight was on time and I got on the TriMet train at the airport. Cheap, efficient and very easy! It's extra cheap for 'honored citizens' like me....that is a nicer term than senior citizens although it still just means OLD!
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| The train whisked me to downtown Portland where a city bus took me to the lower campus of OHSU. |
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| From there it was an easy trip on the tram to the main hospital where my doctor's office is located. Yes it was raining! |
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| I had plenty of time for a hot chocolate before my ultrasound and office visit with Dr. Madison. And it was, drum roll please.... |
My calcitonin, which is the marker they use to see if there is spread of the disease, has actually gone down a little bit and my ultrasound showed nothing unusual. I still have cancer but for now it is behaving itself. Yeah!!!!
I'll have more blood work in Boise in six months . He suggested that my next appointment should be in a year but I talked him into letting me come in September instead. Flights are cheaper. Calendars aren't as full. I have the option of driving since there won't be snow on the mountain passes. And September in Portland is beautiful.
On this visit I got to enjoy lunch with a few of my good friends. One of them even took time out of her busy schedule to take me back to the airport. Next visit we already have a lunch scheduled at Skamania Lodge with our friends the Helmandollars...I'm envisioning other dinners with friends and a visit to Lakeridge Ward on Sunday.
Now all I have to do is ENJOY CHRISTMAS! That is going to be easy and fun!
I am very happy to hear your good medical update. Keep up the good work!
ReplyDeleteThe above is from Karen.
ReplyDeleteFor some reason it publishes me as Unknown even though they know my email.