A Pain in the Neck

I’m still a little groggy, but I wanted to give an update about yesterday’s procedure, though most of you probably saw my boyfriend’s social media update. I’m wary of good news, so I’m almost reluctant to share it, but yesterday I had the best possible outcome. There was only one tumor, so the interventional radiologist was able to ablate it, using heat to get rid of the cancer cells. She showed me before-and-after pics of the tumor and of the area now that it is burned out. I can’t believe it still. So…that’s it for now. I’m going to be closely monitored, of course, to make sure that they got it all and that it doesn’t come back.

The other scenario was that if they found multiple tumors, they would do an embolization and cut off blood supply to the cancer cells. Again, I would have been closely monitored, but there seemed to be more likelihood that I would have to come in every now and then for a touch-up. Originally, the plan was to do both if there was only one tumor, but there was concern that it would put me at higher risk for infection. I’m already at risk for an abscess because I don’t have the natural bacteria barriers after my digestive system was rerouted during last year’s Whipple procedure.

I go home today. In the meantime, we’re going to keep an eye on my for risk of infection, and if that happens, I get a surgical drain. My boyfriend and I are really squeamish, so we’re hoping this doesn’t happen. These past four years have really tested and strained the boundaries of our collective squeamishness. I also have to see how I’m doing as far as recovery. Even though I don’t have an incision, the doctor explained yesterday that it’s an internal surgery so it’s more involved than biopsy recovery.

I am a little bummed I can’t attend the March for Science for Earth Day today. Science is important not only for the planet but for individuals as well. Science saved my life yesterday and repeatedly has saved my life. Accessible and affordable healthcare is important as well, and that is also in danger.

Last night, I ate without feeling weird and nauseated immediately after. I feel as if something that was trying to kill me has been removed. My potassium and blood pressure are low, but I feel better. I hope it’s not just the effects of the anesthesia. I would like to get my weight back into the nineties soon. I thought our scale was broken when 87 or 89 would show up. I had been progressively feeling more terrible, and I’m ready to feel better.

And then what? If I don’t sound excited, I think it’s because I’m in shock. I realized when I was presented with the possibility of having a longer reprieve from this cancer than I expected that I had been mentally preparing to die. Now I can tentatively look to the future.

Pre-procedure: I had just been complaining about the off-the-shoulder and “cold shoulder” cut outs in all the tops this spring, and I see that even these hospital gowns have the cold shoulder look. Also, I got this nifty hat. You can see from my smile that I was really ready to have this tumor taken care of!