Hi,
I am just back from my 'test day' at UPenn Hospital and I am officially off their radar. I will know for absolute certain positive 100% sure sometime next week if they found anything unusual in me... but I am ready to blow the party horn right now. "toot, toot"!
My oncologist was very pleased to see me in such great health. She thinks I look fabulous. I guess compared to what she normally sees all day, I suppose I do. My scar tissue amazes her. I akin it to a lot of Yoga and regular massage therapy. Both have helped reduce the amount of scar tissue and 'ropiness' in my neck area. Beautiful I ain't but I don't shatter mirrors or frighten little children any more unless I want to.... and I can!
This takes me off the melanoma radar down at UPenn. No more regular check ups or serious scans every few months. It's been four years and that has been enough of a ride for me, than you very much. Dr. Schuchter, my oncologist, shook hands with me and said 'goodbye', hopefully for the last time. I love her, she was awesome but if I never have to see her, or UPenn again, it will all be for the better.
xox
m
Day Lily!
Friday, September 28, 2012
Last time
Hi,
this morning I am off to UPenn (University of Pennsylvania Hospital in Philadelphia for those of you not local). I have my last round of medical check ups today.
My cancer journey has lasted four years and I am getting off the band wagon after today. I have had enough of being a patient and a guinea pig. I know the doctors have really sick people to spend their time and energy on, and I am not one of them. Go poke and prod someone who really needs the attention. I don't. I have better things to do, I'm sure of it.
I will go through the tests (MRI, PET, CAT scans and blood work) one last time. For the last three years I have passed the barrage of exams with flying colours. Testament to the success of the medical team who cut and pasted me back to good health. I have been vigilant about keeping myself in that good health, doing my part and playing nice with others in the sandbox. Doctors love to pat themselves on the back and laud in their successes so I am a favorite visitor. "See, we can conquer cancer and it doesn't hurt a bit". No, but it costs a ton of money and I saw the bills to prove it. My day of tests at UPenn costs about $18,000 (before the insurance company negotiates the real rate and we see a bill... but that's a whole other story). I do not think I need to be spending that much money only to find out I have nothing else for the medical professionals to ooh & aah over any more. I am such a party poop.
The doctors like to tell me that they need to keep an eye on me for ten years. Ten? Are they nuts? I can't keep doing this routine. I don't see the point. If the cancer comes back all they have to offer me is surgery, more cutting and pasting, and I can't do it. Not again. It has taken me two years to get my life back to a sort of normal state and that was starting at a younger, healthier level. I'm now four years older and further behind the eight-ball. No way are they getting me on a table for surgery or radiation or anything else again. One shot, they took their best one, it's worked, I'm out of here. Bye-bye.
I will continue to see a dermatologist. The exterior spots and crap that I seem to produce are easy to handle. I just had a few new 'chunks' removed the other day. A little Valium, a few jokes about the fat cells on my backside, and a promise of a Cinderella Band-Aide and I am good to go. See you in six months. I even had an audience... a resident, a visiting surgeon from Cleveland, a plastic surgeon, the dermatologist, the nurse and Marshall. Standing room only. I could do a whole comedy routine about this event, with video too.... oh never mind. You don't need to see the details but you get the gist.
It's time to head out. It is the last time.
xox
m
this morning I am off to UPenn (University of Pennsylvania Hospital in Philadelphia for those of you not local). I have my last round of medical check ups today.
My cancer journey has lasted four years and I am getting off the band wagon after today. I have had enough of being a patient and a guinea pig. I know the doctors have really sick people to spend their time and energy on, and I am not one of them. Go poke and prod someone who really needs the attention. I don't. I have better things to do, I'm sure of it.
I will go through the tests (MRI, PET, CAT scans and blood work) one last time. For the last three years I have passed the barrage of exams with flying colours. Testament to the success of the medical team who cut and pasted me back to good health. I have been vigilant about keeping myself in that good health, doing my part and playing nice with others in the sandbox. Doctors love to pat themselves on the back and laud in their successes so I am a favorite visitor. "See, we can conquer cancer and it doesn't hurt a bit". No, but it costs a ton of money and I saw the bills to prove it. My day of tests at UPenn costs about $18,000 (before the insurance company negotiates the real rate and we see a bill... but that's a whole other story). I do not think I need to be spending that much money only to find out I have nothing else for the medical professionals to ooh & aah over any more. I am such a party poop.
The doctors like to tell me that they need to keep an eye on me for ten years. Ten? Are they nuts? I can't keep doing this routine. I don't see the point. If the cancer comes back all they have to offer me is surgery, more cutting and pasting, and I can't do it. Not again. It has taken me two years to get my life back to a sort of normal state and that was starting at a younger, healthier level. I'm now four years older and further behind the eight-ball. No way are they getting me on a table for surgery or radiation or anything else again. One shot, they took their best one, it's worked, I'm out of here. Bye-bye.
I will continue to see a dermatologist. The exterior spots and crap that I seem to produce are easy to handle. I just had a few new 'chunks' removed the other day. A little Valium, a few jokes about the fat cells on my backside, and a promise of a Cinderella Band-Aide and I am good to go. See you in six months. I even had an audience... a resident, a visiting surgeon from Cleveland, a plastic surgeon, the dermatologist, the nurse and Marshall. Standing room only. I could do a whole comedy routine about this event, with video too.... oh never mind. You don't need to see the details but you get the gist.
It's time to head out. It is the last time.
xox
m
does it matter?
Hi,
Thought provoking questions abound. The presidential campaign is in full swing and the questions are flying fast and furious... But do we like the answers?
I get to play devils advocate in the USA. I'm just a legal resident with no voting privileges so I like to rattle the cage and see what people think and which way they are inclined to vote. It is an interesting seat to be sitting in. I get to hear a lot of opinions and since the people answering know that I am not a voter they are less inclined to try and sway me into agreeing with them and more likely to engage in an actual discussion of policies.
In general I get the feeling that no one is really happy with the state of the union or the power of unions or the union of same sex marriages.... Maybe it's the word 'union' they have issue with? We certainly don't seem 'united' about much right now. There is a huge cavern between the 'right' and the 'left' leaving a wasteland in the middle ground. The only thing sitting in that tundra is the economic debt load carried around like the elephant in the room that no one wants to address, and he is eating us out of house and home, literally.
Health care, insurance, education, morality, gun laws, welfare, national security.... Issues that desperately need attention and all I seem to hear is the 'he said' out of context quotes added to the mud slinging, and innuendo of impropriety from both sides. Is this really what elections have lowered themselves to? How sad for us all.
Prepared, canned responses to set up questions pretending to pose as viable answers just don't do it for me. I am not impressed. I need more and I'm betting so does everyone else. Why is it so difficult to state your case and stick to it? Waffling drives me crazy and these boys are hitting new highs and lows on promising the moon, the sun and the stars. Maybe that's why movies stars feel the need to get into the election-act so they are not eclipsed.
I am excited to see and hear the end of this race to the White House. One more political ad on TV is going to make me sick. November isn't coming fast enough.
xox
M
Thought provoking questions abound. The presidential campaign is in full swing and the questions are flying fast and furious... But do we like the answers?
I get to play devils advocate in the USA. I'm just a legal resident with no voting privileges so I like to rattle the cage and see what people think and which way they are inclined to vote. It is an interesting seat to be sitting in. I get to hear a lot of opinions and since the people answering know that I am not a voter they are less inclined to try and sway me into agreeing with them and more likely to engage in an actual discussion of policies.
In general I get the feeling that no one is really happy with the state of the union or the power of unions or the union of same sex marriages.... Maybe it's the word 'union' they have issue with? We certainly don't seem 'united' about much right now. There is a huge cavern between the 'right' and the 'left' leaving a wasteland in the middle ground. The only thing sitting in that tundra is the economic debt load carried around like the elephant in the room that no one wants to address, and he is eating us out of house and home, literally.
Health care, insurance, education, morality, gun laws, welfare, national security.... Issues that desperately need attention and all I seem to hear is the 'he said' out of context quotes added to the mud slinging, and innuendo of impropriety from both sides. Is this really what elections have lowered themselves to? How sad for us all.
Prepared, canned responses to set up questions pretending to pose as viable answers just don't do it for me. I am not impressed. I need more and I'm betting so does everyone else. Why is it so difficult to state your case and stick to it? Waffling drives me crazy and these boys are hitting new highs and lows on promising the moon, the sun and the stars. Maybe that's why movies stars feel the need to get into the election-act so they are not eclipsed.
I am excited to see and hear the end of this race to the White House. One more political ad on TV is going to make me sick. November isn't coming fast enough.
xox
M
Tuesday, September 18, 2012
50 before 4
Hi,
I teach swimming and all my swimmers are special. Learning to swim is never easy no matter how old or young you are. My challenge is to make the impossibility of swimming, possible. Some people 'get it' easier than others, and then there is Nicholas. He's a natural.
From the moment Nicholas hit the water six months ago, he was home. At three years old, he was ready to rock and roll in the pool. Ride a Styrofoam noodle? Giddy up partner! Blow bubbles? No sweat! Jump in and touch the bottom? Yippee, bring it on! He is a fearless warrior in the water. He also is the cutest thing in his cap and goggles, a true heart throb in a swim suit. Look out Michael Phelps, Nicholas is on the rise. Did I mention he's just three?
Today was a great lesson, Nicholas was in the zone. He has figured out going under water, blowing his famous bubbles and then coming up for air, then back under he goes, paddling and kicking his heart out. Flip him on his back and he Zen's out with his little feet motoring him along.
Have I mentioned that he is three?
To top off his day in the water Nicholas blew me away. We started off at the far end of the 25 meter pool and he tadpoled his way the whole length of the pool. We did a few big 'jump-ins' and then he rolled onto his back and kicked his way back down another 25 meters. Fifty meters of swimming and he is three years old! Totally amazing! To put it all in perspective, I pointed out to his mom, five and six year olds in other lessons, barely dealing with being in the pool, going no where and needing floatie-belts. Her little man did a marathon compared to the other kids. Way to go Nicholas. Fifty meters of swimming and he won't be four years old for another two weeks.
50 before 4..... I just had to write about it.
xox
M
I teach swimming and all my swimmers are special. Learning to swim is never easy no matter how old or young you are. My challenge is to make the impossibility of swimming, possible. Some people 'get it' easier than others, and then there is Nicholas. He's a natural.
From the moment Nicholas hit the water six months ago, he was home. At three years old, he was ready to rock and roll in the pool. Ride a Styrofoam noodle? Giddy up partner! Blow bubbles? No sweat! Jump in and touch the bottom? Yippee, bring it on! He is a fearless warrior in the water. He also is the cutest thing in his cap and goggles, a true heart throb in a swim suit. Look out Michael Phelps, Nicholas is on the rise. Did I mention he's just three?
Today was a great lesson, Nicholas was in the zone. He has figured out going under water, blowing his famous bubbles and then coming up for air, then back under he goes, paddling and kicking his heart out. Flip him on his back and he Zen's out with his little feet motoring him along.
Have I mentioned that he is three?
To top off his day in the water Nicholas blew me away. We started off at the far end of the 25 meter pool and he tadpoled his way the whole length of the pool. We did a few big 'jump-ins' and then he rolled onto his back and kicked his way back down another 25 meters. Fifty meters of swimming and he is three years old! Totally amazing! To put it all in perspective, I pointed out to his mom, five and six year olds in other lessons, barely dealing with being in the pool, going no where and needing floatie-belts. Her little man did a marathon compared to the other kids. Way to go Nicholas. Fifty meters of swimming and he won't be four years old for another two weeks.
50 before 4..... I just had to write about it.
xox
M
Saturday, September 1, 2012
Direct Line
Hi,
What do you do when you want to talk to someone who is not within yelling distance? You phone.
Originally we kept our telephones in the main hall of the house, on a pedestal. Why? Because we were used to grreating guests at the front door, so we treated phone calls like guests walking in the front door. Sounds silly, but that is where everyone had their phones installed... It also was easier to just run the phone wire into the front of the house. Walls were lathe & plaster, no drywall, so running the phone line through the wall wasn't possible and you had to secure them along the top or bottom of the walls. Hiding phone lines was a major decorating issue for the wealthy, and no one but the rich could afford the luxury of the telephone.
Fast forward to 2012 where we carry our phone in our pocket and it connects us to the whole world at the tough of a finger and a series of 10 numbers gets us to anyone we want to talk to. The only thing we have to remember is what time zone the person we want to speak with is in versus the one we are in so that we're not waking up a poor soul. Phones will even keep track of that info for you if you want. It's fool proof.
What if the person we want to reach has no phone? Yes, there are still people on this planet without a phone, but very few of them and soon we will all be connected, every human with a heart beat, all 7 billion of us, give or take a few infants and some of the more senile geriatric set.
The one person I wanted to talk to today doesn't have a phone or a direct line, she's died. It's an odd feeling not to be able to pick up the phone and talk to her now. Not that I did it that often, but I always knew I could if I wanted to. Now that I can't call my mom, I feel the need to pick up the phone and hear her voice. Weird.
The telephone had evolved enormously in the last 100 years. Maybe in the next century we will even be able to reach the departed. Harry Houdini would have loved that!
xox
M
What do you do when you want to talk to someone who is not within yelling distance? You phone.
Originally we kept our telephones in the main hall of the house, on a pedestal. Why? Because we were used to grreating guests at the front door, so we treated phone calls like guests walking in the front door. Sounds silly, but that is where everyone had their phones installed... It also was easier to just run the phone wire into the front of the house. Walls were lathe & plaster, no drywall, so running the phone line through the wall wasn't possible and you had to secure them along the top or bottom of the walls. Hiding phone lines was a major decorating issue for the wealthy, and no one but the rich could afford the luxury of the telephone.
Fast forward to 2012 where we carry our phone in our pocket and it connects us to the whole world at the tough of a finger and a series of 10 numbers gets us to anyone we want to talk to. The only thing we have to remember is what time zone the person we want to speak with is in versus the one we are in so that we're not waking up a poor soul. Phones will even keep track of that info for you if you want. It's fool proof.
What if the person we want to reach has no phone? Yes, there are still people on this planet without a phone, but very few of them and soon we will all be connected, every human with a heart beat, all 7 billion of us, give or take a few infants and some of the more senile geriatric set.
The one person I wanted to talk to today doesn't have a phone or a direct line, she's died. It's an odd feeling not to be able to pick up the phone and talk to her now. Not that I did it that often, but I always knew I could if I wanted to. Now that I can't call my mom, I feel the need to pick up the phone and hear her voice. Weird.
The telephone had evolved enormously in the last 100 years. Maybe in the next century we will even be able to reach the departed. Harry Houdini would have loved that!
xox
M
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