This is the first installment of many having to do with my ongoing treatment of a dose of cancer discovered this past summer. It is a work in progress – and it is as of this date, nowhere near complete.
Prelude
Cancer is a disease no one wants, but people end up getting it anyway.
Not everyone gets it. But at the same time, the disease seems to make its rounds. When someone gets it, usually he or she will find out about others who either have it or had it. Like going out and buying a car. My wife, Carol and I went last year and purchased a used Chevrolet Spark – a car I have dubbed “The Roller Skate.” Until we made the purchase, I hadn’t noted the things. Now, they’re popping up everywhere.
Is it all psychological, or is that psychiatric?
Back in May of 2021, I learned by way of a colonoscopy that I had rectal cancer. There wasn’t much there. The person doing the colonoscopy removed the mass and referred me to a very good surgeon who made sure that I was clean as a whistle by doing a relatively simple resection of the offending part of my rectum.
My concern at the time centered on what might happen to me. I was sent to Physical Therapy to pump me up with what I needed in the way of strength so that I might withstand what might actually happen when the surgeon cut into me with her scalpel. Words like “Radiation” and “Chemotherapy” were paraded around me with possible timelines that would mean a year taken away from whatever I thought I might be doing in that time.
News of how well the surgery on my rectum went – despite part of it being conducted by a robotic surgeon nicknamed “Karen” by the surgical staff – came from Dr. Palanisamy, an Asian woman who was quite thorough with her evaluation of me. I appreciate her being forthright about what was or would be happening to me. I also very much appreciate her cheery disposition.
It was after the surgery that I started to note the number of people I knew who had been affected by cancer. My parents and both of my aunts had it. Several classmates had lost the battle or were still battling the disease. My stepdaughter’s ex underwent treatment. The same stepdaughter’s new fiancé was diagnosed and was gone within a month.
I came to understand and appreciate that the battle I fought in the summer of 2021 was short, sweet, and successful. As a precaution, Dr. Palanisamy insisted that I have regular check-ups with her and/or her Nurse Practitioner over the next five years. For the first year and a half, those check-ups were quarterly. In October 2022, the check-ups were moved to every six months. Dr. Novosad, the surgeon who worked with “Karen” did regular exams as well, involving KY Jelly and a rubber glove.[1]
All in all, my little bout with “The Big C” was short, sweet, and without incident.
That is, until July 2023.
From July 5 through July 19 I had a series of “Labs”, CAT scans, and MRIs followed by consultations with Dr. Sarver (my Primary Care Physician) and Dr. Palanisamy. By this time, I had been spared the regular exam from Dr. Novosad, although she had ordered the MRI just to keep track of her work.
I met with Dr. Sarver on the 12th, followed by the CAT scan for Dr. Palanisamy later the same day. The MRI came about the next day.
Dr. Sarver was impressed with my attitude and my bloodwork. He sent me on my merry way.
Since Dr. Novosad said nothing after the MRI, I presumed that everything was peachy-keen with her, too.
My appointment with Dr. Palanisamy was on the 19th. I was all ready to declare a Trifecta of good health and had all but lined-up a weekend with Carol to celebrate my good fortune.
“It looks as if there is a small growth on the edge of your liver. About 3cm. Not big, really, but we need to find out what it is. The sooner the better.”
So much for the Trifecta.
On to round two.
[1] I could have said something about the exam being degrading, but in the grand scheme of things, it really wasn’t, as most women would testify after having visited a Gynecologist. I had an exam of my testicles done by a young woman many moons ago. I thought that I might have been embarrassed but found that I wasn’t.
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