My Second Chance

I realized today that I never updated my blog with the final results of my battle with cancer. When I walked out of the cancer center on June 11, 2020 my prayer was simple. Let this be the last time I come here as a cancer patient. I plan to go back to visit and to pray with people that battle cancer, once the COVID-19 restrictions have been lifted. 

The hardest part for me was waiting until July 21, for the scans to determine if I was cured or not. Well those results would come on July 23, but I was anxious to get the news. Something odd happened before my scan date though. I won't go into great detail, but it became impossible for me to lay on my back. My breathing had become labored and I felt immense pressure on my stomach.

The day of the scans came and I drank the barium like it was chocolate milk! I was ready to get them done, but then something happened. They told me I would need to lay on my back for the imaging to be completed. As I went to lay on my back I felt the pressure, my breathing became labored like I was having a panic attack and my mouth became dry. The term we use in the south is cotton mouth dry. So I jump up, started breathing normal and asked for water.

Down again, then right back up again. Then again. One nurse was getting frustrated, but one was as sweet as she could be. I finally said maybe if I had an oxygen mask I could finish the imaging. The extra sweet nurse went to get one, she also got a fan and down I went. Great news, it worked! I finished the imaging.

Finally, the 23rd arrived. I made my way to the cancer center and I was both nervous and excited. The doctor walks in and tells me I AM IN REMISSION! After we talked for a bit I showed him my ankles and how swollen they were. He decided to send me for an echocardiogram on my heart the next week, but for now told me I was good. As I was walking out I asked the admin assistant for a copy of my bloodwork. She went to get it, then I heard someone say, "Dr. Beck needs to see this." She talks with him and then advises me to go back to the room.

The doctor comes in to let me know that my iron was low and I would need two iron infusions. One immediately and the other one a few days later. I received the iron infusion then went home after making sure there were no adverse reactions to the infusion. I had the echocardiogram on my heart and the results were good. In fact, I have a 10% above average heart. I always knew I had a lot of love to give. However, my ankles were still swelling and he wanted to rule out the three big causes. Heart, kidneys, and bloodclots in the legs. So he sent me immediately to get an ultrasound on my legs. 
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All three look great. Time to live, make up for lost time with the kids and tell everyone about how God moved in my life through this journey with cancer. Next up annual colonoscopy!