Perspective

This week was overall a very good week. Aside from several health-related appointments, I did some babysitting (Davis and Jack are pretty hilarious now) and had a wonderful dinner with my sister-in-law Dana. I caught up with some friends, spoke to potential marathon runners about my leukemia experience, and helped my brother out with some of his latest real estate ventures. In a few minutes, I’ll board a plane to Vancouver, to visit Colleen, Allan, Grady and Joelle as well as my grandma Gunn, who is finally getting a private room at the nursing home she is in. I was feeling a bit of “plane” withdrawal, with my last flight over a month ago!

Last Thursday I met Tasha and Ryan at the hospital as she met with her doctor to discuss the results of her recent tests and treatment plans. My role in these visits is really to act as an extra set of ears in the room, taking in all the information the doctor provides and ensuring Tasha’s list of questions gets covered while she’s there. I (as were Tasha and Ryan!) was EXTREMELY pleased to learn that the various scans and tests did NOT indicate the cancer had spread beyond the area it was discovered in. WHEW. However, as those scans cannot give 100% assurance that the cancer is limited to the local area in which it was found, the doctors recommended further surgery around the area, as well as radiation treatment and hormone therapy following that. Chemotherapy was also discussed, as another tool to reduce the risk of recurrence should any sneaky cancer cells manage to escape the additional surgery and radiation. It didn’t take Tasha more than a second to reply “yes” to that option, wanting to hit the cancer with everything possible. I quietly cheered that choice from my chair in the corner of the room.

Following Tasha’s appointment, I whipped over to the bone marrow transplant unit (just down the hall conveniently) to stop in there to let them know of a few funny symptoms I had – after Dr. Brown checked me out, he let me know that he expected my application for the clinical trial to go to Ottawa in about a week. I’ll check back with him to see when it actually goes and let you know as soon as it does!

So, a week from tomorrow Tasha will have yet another surgery, and depending on the pathology report, she will start chemo a couple of weeks later, radiation treatment after than, and finally hormone therapy after that. Tasha was full of energy and drive leaving the hospital, armed with a plan and knowledge that she is now fighting the cancer with everything possible. It’s kind of amazing how positive we all felt that day, given the significant and lengthy treatment path ahead. Perspective sure is powerful.