STABLE!

The scans came back showing NO CHANGE after 6 months without chemotherapy!

My doctor has declared PARTIAL REMISSION.

There are two levels of remission, partial and complete.

Partial is when whatever has been being monitored has shrunk, and stayed stable, but not gone completely away.

The spot in the liver is still there, but is unchanged.  We are back to wondering what it actually is.

Therefore, my level of remission is partial at this point.

If the spot remains stable through a couple more scans (a year, maybe), then I will be considered to be in complete remission, and the spot will be declared benign.

I suppose it's possible that when there was cancer seen there, it was around a spot of scar tissue, or some other anomaly.  That the spot is indeed benign....but we can't say for certain yet.

Anyway, the news was THE BEST NEWS IN ALMOST FOUR YEARS OF TREATMENT!

I am adapting to the idea of being cancer free.

Though I say mantras to myself every day about that, the reality of it is different.

Oddly, I have thoughts about finally starting a garden now.... and going to Wales became a much more real possibility.. and maybe visiting Santa Fe, or New Orleans, and going to Colorado again.

I've BEEN trying to just live my life, but there was always a shadow there. Especially since my friend Laura died last month.

Laura was diagnosed 4 or 5 years before me.  She was the friend who became homeless because of her medical costs.

Well....The shadow is lifting.

I have a referral to a podiatrist.  I will go when we are off work at my office for Veterans' Day.

Since my employer is stingy about people taking time off for themselves, I delayed my visit in order to use the office holiday.

I could have gone tomorrow, but that wasn't enough notice to take off to go to a doctor.

Effing stupid policies.

Anyway, we are going out for brunch today, so I had better get into the shower.  Then we will go thrift shopping, then come home and do a little yard work and cooking.

Happy Sunday!