An Anniversary of Sorts

Posted in Treatment

So December 15th is the one-year anniversary of my tripping while walking the dog which gave me cancer.

That’s my joke at least….sort of LOL. As you may recall I DID trip while walking the dog and landed on my ribs. When I went to the ER, they did an x-ray and said “your ribs are fine but you have a tumour in your lung.” And of course, after going back the next day for more scans, the cancer was in more than just my lung.

Out of curiosity, a few weeks ago, I asked my oncologist if he could estimate how long I had cancer before being diagnosed. I didn’t expect much from him – and that’s about what I got hahaha. He said there were too many variables and so much they still didn’t know about melanoma. It could have been a few months, but equally, it might have been in my body for a few years – essentially dormant – until something triggered it to grow and spread. I mean it really doesn’t matter at this point but I hoped to understand a bit more about what I was dealing with and I suppose I did.

On another note, I had my second haircut since my hair has grown back -for whatever that’s worth 😛

Medical Update

I don’t think I could be more vaccinated right now – my pneumonia vaccine, my fifth COVID vaccine, and my flu shot (and yes I had the shingles vaccine a few years ago) – so I’m feeling more confident in socializing a bit more than I have been. That said I’m spending Christmas with my parents in Brighton (just celebrated my Dad’s 90th birthday!!) so I’ll probably hold off on all the partying until the new year just to be on the safe side.

The results of an MRI and a couple of CT scans came back this week and again the results were pretty positive. Several tumours shrunk again, some no longer showed up, and I think one was no change. Two had slight increases (like 0.2 cm) but the doctors said that happens and weren’t concerned at this point.  My immunotherapy treatments have been reduced from every two weeks to every four which I’m quite happy with as long as the results are still positive 🙂  The next treatment is tomorrow and then I’m good til the new year.

And speaking of next year, I’m wishing you all very happy holidays, a happy new year, and my thanks for all your support over the past 12 months!

John

13 thoughts on “An Anniversary of Sorts”

  3. Lovely to hear your encouraging news. Have a wonderful Christmas with your parents. Let’s celebrate in the new year and be my guest for lunch at the B&R club. Maybe Barbara could join us. All the best, Tamara

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  4. John So happy to hear that your treatments are working and you are feeling pretty well with all your vaccinations, etc. Have a lovely Christmas with your family in Brighton. By chance we will be celebrating our family Christmas in Port Hope at my sister Susan’s so will be enjoying the same weather. Snow? My greetings to all your family and let’s hope all these viruses fade away and we get back to normal in the New Year. Stay safe and enjoy your time together. Love, Aunt Jan

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  5. Happy Holidays and a very good new year for you! Retirement usually coincides with improved health! LOL
    I shall give a salute as I pass through Brighton on my way to Cobourg next week.
    Say well and Happy Holidays again, to you and yours.
    Cheers🥂

    Deborah Hossack
    [cid:image001.jpg@01D91143.25308C80]

    Heritage Advisor, Heritage Planning Unit
    Ministry of Citizenship and Multiculturalism
    5th fl., 400 University Ave.,
    Toronto ON M7A 2R9
    289 251 2774

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  6. This is wonderful news! Now retired, you can devote your enthusiasm to the QOR Museum and dog walks. Have a great time in Brighton.

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  7. Wonderful news!!! Merry Christmas to you and your family! Please give your Mom and Dad a hug and a kiss from me and wish them well and a very Merry Christmas. I bet they are over the moon that you are spending the holidays with them. Love you and take care Suzy

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  8. Loved hearing the good news about your health, John! So glad to see that you haven’t lost your sense of humour. Have a wonderful Christmas with your parents. Best wishes, Jackie

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  11. I am seeing this after Christmas, so I hope you got to Brighton before the weather closed in, and took your time getting back. This is one year when there was no question that it was a white Christmas.

    All the best of the season

    Tom

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  12. Thanks Tom! I did get to Brighton just before the storm hit so that was great and very much took my time getting home on Tuesday but the roads were all pretty good by then.

    Hope you had a good Christmas too and wishing you a happy new year!

    John

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