N-E-D
I just want to say, I’m thinking all good thoughts for Al today. Going in for scans after being free of the beast for a while is nothing short of scary time. I can remember back to those days and they were not fun. I think the waiting is the worst part of the process.
When any cancer patient goes in for scans, there should be a special radiologist assigned to read and report as quickly as possible. You know the old saying in cancer world, “It’s not what we see, it’s what we don’t see that worries us.” So, going in after being NED, you can only hope there is nothing new to see!! I’ve always asked the question, where does cancer go when it drops off the scans? Why can’t they see it? Why can’t they find it? Why can’t they attack it before it invades another part of the body?
Cut it off at the pass…ambush it.
So, Al…I hope hear the letters N-E-D again…real soon.
June 2, 2011 @ 9:37 am
My guardian angel just sent me an email….ALL CLEAR!!!!! NED is still here!! I am grateful for your thoughts and prayers.. Recently our house has been under a black cloud…..wife had emergency triple by pass (no symptoms, normal cholesterol failed a stress test and angiogram could not be done due to blockages); about a month ago she had viral vertigo (couldn’t get out of bed or walk without my help…she would fall down) and lastly about two weeks ago, I had a mini-stroke (TIA)…couldn’t talk..knew the words but couldn’t speak them…no residual effects so far.
This good news must mean that the black cloud has moved along. I am grateful. Thx again.
June 2, 2011 @ 12:04 pm
-Just took a moment @ lunch to see if your test results were back-great news!
June 2, 2011 @ 2:36 pm
Thank you , Ned.
June 2, 2011 @ 8:36 pm
so glad to hear the excellent news about your scan results Ned. At least that is one less thing to worry about. What a shock it must have been to you both when you learned your wife had to have triple by-pass surgery…especially when she exhibited no symptoms. I am so glad that she came through the surgery all right. I do hope that it has corrected the problems.
I had an experience with vertigo this past year when I was at the physical therapist’s. Luckily he was aware of an “exercise” that can be done by laying the patient flat on his back, lifting the head and turning it slowly from one side to the other. I don’t think it was viral vertigo because it quickly responded to repeated exercise sessions. He gave me a simpler one to do at home twice and day and within a week it was gone. He says sometimes the crystals in the ear get “loose” and the head moving and tilting helps them to go back where they belong. When he did it, the whole room spun…quickly!!! Very scary and I couldn’t stand or walk either. I hope that your wife is over this by now.
My husband has had three TIAs over the past 5 years. Always very short, but very frightening. No other problems other than that though, thank God.
I do hope that black cloud has finally lifted for you and your family and you can now rejoice in the good news!! I know it must have lifted your spirits immensely.
June 7, 2011 @ 12:09 am
Wonderful, wonderful news, Al. Send those black clouds packin’ … NEDs taking up residence at your house.
June 1, 2011 @ 9:46 pm
Al…sending you prayers and good thoughts for continued NED. You really do have a special radiologist. Cancer is tough enough without being cared for like you are a number not a person. Jim had an oncologist like that and we were so grateful…I don’t care what people say, doctors can have “teacher’s pets” also.
June 1, 2011 @ 7:40 pm
What a heart warming story Al…. you’re radiologist is certainly a wonderful and caring person. I am so glad that she has your back and am wishing you well with your upcoming scans.
June 1, 2011 @ 6:13 pm
My prayers and thoughts have been with Al all weekend. His courage and dignity is inspirational. I hope “K” reads through Al’s entries. It never ends-my old high school friend thought he was in the clear, but new test results indicate cancer has spread. He has been placed on disability, but will not be eligible for medical benefits for quite some time. This man has worked his entire life. We met “on the job” when we were in school.
June 1, 2011 @ 4:01 pm
Even though my husband has been NED for eight years, I find myself questioning the least little change in him. Even though his oncologist says that he has the same chance of developing cancer as anyone in the general population, I always wonder if the radiation and chemo have their own risks. So I just continue to try to stay in the day.
June 1, 2011 @ 3:51 pm
Many Thanks to you all….Laurie and Mo. For some of us who have been blessed to have NED come for a prolonged visit (almost 2 years), we still remember the times when the scans showed that the beast was back. I remember the look on my oncologist’s face as he delivered the news. He and I are old (I’m a lot older than he) warriors going back to 2001. His demeanor belies his feelings but I guess in his business it is OK but I know he suffers along with his patients. I’m glad he is in my corner.
I have a special radiologist, believe it or not. Back in 2008 after reading my scans, she “thought” she saw a change in some nodules in my upper left lobe of my lung. She said later that she wasn’t convinced. So she went back through the previous 3 years worth of scans (12) and re-read and measured the nodules again. Still not convinced, she asked one of her partners to do the same without telling him her conclusion. They compared notes and both agreed that the nodules had changed. After the needle biopsy, I was diagnosed with adenocarcinoma. I had surgery and removal of the lobe. I sent her an email to Thank her profusely for her diligence and declared in the same email that I wanted her to read (or at least review the findings of her partners) before rendering an “ALL CLEAR” or “Houston, we’ve got a problem”. She is special to me no matter if she must give me bad news and I’ve made that clear to her. At a point in time in 2008, her diligence probably saved my life. We talk on email when my scans are approaching just as we did over the weekend. I’m in good hands with her and she’ll give me the news….good or bad. I am truly grateful to her and consider her one of my guardian angels.
June 1, 2011 @ 2:12 pm
I join you, Laurie. Many and all good thoughts for Al, who is a bedrock for all of us.
And may good thoughts go to to our family friend K.; only in her early ’50s she was diagnosed a few weeks ago with Stage 4 colon cancer. Out of the blue. Her husband has lost all his family to this disease. It’s devastating. And we all need hope.