Here we got again!!

Once again, I apologize for not updating you more often, either thru this blog or Facebook. Facebook, by the way, is simply beyond me. I don't particularly like everyone knowing all of my business all of the time! Hence, I'm rarely on FB.  Out-of-step, that's me! Yup, it is official: I have turned into my mother!

It has been six months without chemo and the side effects have been taking their sweet time backing off. My energy level continues to be a crap shoot each day. I can tell when I get out of bed in the morning whether it's going to be a "good" energy day or not. Then I gauge my day accordingly, but I'm usually worn out by late afternoon. O-o-o-o-o! My focus and attention span have improved over the past few months so that I can READ again. I am eating up & spitting out books like crazy! Hurrah!

I'd hoped to drive back to Geneva this fall - out on the open road, stopping when I want to, independent (as ever) - but it's finally dawning on me this is highly unlikely to happen. Gordy & I went for a short Fall drive (I drove); when we got home a couple hours later, I was completely whipped. Apparently everyone around me has known I really couldn't do a long Road-trip except me. I'm bummed out, but not entirely giving up on the idea. Then again, I could have broken legs & arms and not give up on that Road-trip idea – too stubborn - HA!!

OK, back to my latest late Sept CT scan results. I'm really pretty pleased -- I'd expected the tumors to have doubled in size since late June, but they didn't!! There are four. (Get out your Metric ruler!) The largest (previously 2 cm) is now just under 3 cm. The next largest (previously about 1.5 cm) is now 1.8 cm. The next was about 1.3 cm and is now 1.5 cm and the smallest is about 1 cm. The enlarged lung lymph node is stable; the lumps in my neck have grown slightly. ALL of that is, in my book, good news. I am SO incredibly blessed!

My Oncologist recommended another 3 months without chemo and I'm on board with that. In early January, right after the holidays, I will have another CT and a brain MRI and will go back on chemo therapy again (O Joy!).

There is a “wrinkle”. I have a benign nodule on the ball of my right foot, as well as a bunion. It's become progressively worse since I was first diagnosed with lung cancer, to the point where I'm finding it increasingly difficult to walk without pain. SO, I'm going to torture myself (!!!!) by having surgery done on Oct 29^th to fix my foot. The recuperation period is 2 – 3 months. I know it will be difficult, but my quality of life is suffering and this is my “window” of time to get it done, while I'm off chemo. Honestly, guys, do I know how to have fun or what??!!

I'm a little bit nervous of having surgery because it's possible that it could lead to a spiral downward. But, I refuse to live being afraid of “maybe” or “might”. Nope, not my style – never was and never will be! I promise to update you after I have foot surgery – this time I mean it!! With love - me