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About Me Premium Member Deviously Deviant Scoop51Female/United States Recent Activity Deviant for 3 Years
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Dispatch from the cancer front

Wed Jun 17, 2009, 10:03 PM
The moon will be in the seventh house - someday. :peace:

I spent the week visiting different doctors.

Monday: My internist to be treated for a bladder infection probably caused by the catheter in the hospital. Over the weekend, before I could get antibiotics, I drank a lot of cranberry juice. Note: compulsive consumption of prodigious amounts of cranberry juice can cause diarrhea.

Tuesday: A follow-up with my surgeon where I learned I won’t be having anymore surgery. In the hospital, he talked as if I needed to have another surgery as soon as possible to remove the rest of the lung. So, I only have to recover from one, this procedure. Hooray!

Wednesday: A follow-up with my oncologist who gave me the wonderful news that he did not think I should have chemo. Chemo, he said, is to prevent the spread of the cancer to other parts of the body. He said the tumor is a “localized recurrence”, meaning it is probably a remnant left from the original, especially since it occurred along the edge of the removed lobe. There is no sign of metastasis, or spreading beyond the original tumor, as evidenced by my pre-surgery PET scan.

The news lifted a huge weight from my shoulders. I knew I could handle surgery, but the thought of more chemo was hugely depressing. My biggest fear was that I would have more chemo and that it would have to be even stronger than before. He is, however, recommending further targeted radiation to “mop up” any possible remaining cancer cells from the immediate area. Apparently, great strides have been made in accurately targeting the therapy so that there is as little splash onto other, healthy areas as possible. NumbersGuy can explain the physics – I can’t so I will take his word for it.

I am thrilled. Although there will be side effects to radiation, apparently they won’t be as traumatic as those I encountered during chemo. We have to wait for the surgery to have time to heal, usually four to six weeks. As far as I know, the usual protocol is to get radiation therapy once a day for four to six weeks. I should be glowing like a neon sign by the end. I wonder if I will set off Geiger counters.

Other developments: Spastic Nipple is back. I noticed this phenomenon after my first surgery when I described it to Kokeshikitten who then named it. As all of the lingering anesthetic effects wear off, the pain spreads around my chest like a band from the middle of my back around to my sternum, only on the side where the surgery was. This includes weird tingling, stabbing pains in my nipple! It’s very annoying.

Today, NumbersGuy bought me a vintage rocking chair. I plan to spend lots of time there with my Kindle.


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  • Mood: Optimism
  • Reading: Drood
  • Watching: The Mummy Returns
  • Eating: ice cream
  • Drinking: caffeine-free Diet Coke

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Devious Info

  • Current Residence: Southern California
  • Interests: Jewelry, martial arts, conspiracy theories, ufos, Area 51, politics, bellydance, body art
  • Favourite movie: Dogma
  • Favourite band or musician: Green Day, Medieval Babes, Vas, ACSS, VAST, Dead Can Dance, Rage Against the Machine, Steve Earle
  • Favourite genre of music: Punk, Alternative, World, Fusion
  • Favourite artist: Pre-Raphaelites
  • Favourite poet or writer: Edgar Allen Poe, Dave Barry, Shakespeare, Christopher Moore
  • Favourite photographer: Myself
  • Favourite style of art: Pre-Raphaelite, Art Nouveau, Art Deco
  • Operating System: MS XP
  • MP3 player of choice: iPod
  • Favourite game: Madden Football
  • Personal Quote: I love humanity. It's the people I can't stand.
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Comments


U NEED MUCH MORE FEEDBACK!
i didn't comment all your pieces because there are too many of them! i love all your bracelets. i'm at school now so i don't have time to see all (finished on 5 page) i will finish it today at home.
u are just fantastic! keep on good work, you gave me so much inspiration!

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Visit `hellobaby - the most lovely deviant i know :heart:
My goodness, thank you so much. You really made my day!

:blowkiss:

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Sapere Aude
:* upload somethin' :)

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Spread the love! :hug: World is in need of it!
Visit `hellobaby - the most lovely deviant i know :heart:
Nice Jewelry! Thanks so much for the +fav for [link]

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See my new Etsy shop: [link]
You're welcome!

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You have been featured in my journal: [link]

I hope you continue to be blessed with creativity and inspiration. :-)

-Carrie

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~pagantribalart
Thanks!

:peace:

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Sapere Aude
thankyou for watching :granny:

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Thanks for the :+fav: on Cure for Shyness Fringe Necklace [link] !

:butterflytwo:

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website [link]
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I love to rite it is col. Fun it is. It's vere vere col. I love to rite becus I just love rite. --Faith, age 6

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thanks for the :+fav:

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Azhure
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