Cancer Free!

Yesterday I had my first checkup since leaving the hospital. It is hard to believe that it has been only slightly more than a week since I returned home! All is well, my only challenge is a continuing and not unexpected loss of weight. I definitely need to get some new clothes!

Pathology on my esophagus and ten lymph nodes that were removed uncovered absolutely no signs of cancer. Dr. Bouvet said that it appeared that we caught this cancer unusually early. A very good thing, since he said that once it starts to spread it is very difficult to completely eradicate. In my case, I can be considered cancer free.

One friend asked if I regretted such a radical procedure in light of the knowledge that the actual cancerous area was so small and didn't show signs of spreading. The quick answer is, no: this cancer is poorly understood, especially in the early stages, and is so bad that you don't want to second guess it. Some lesser and experimental procedure would have left us wondering (and I'm sure testing) for years. However, the question opens an old wound: it is common when first diagnosed to try and "bargain" for something less invasive. I remember when I went to my oncologist, Dr. Just (a wonderful physician), with my list of alternatives. He gently shot each down. No, we wanted to go the path of the tried-and-true.

It's not entirely without feelings of regret. I am occasionally hit with the realization that I have had an often-used (if overlooked) organ simply removed and replaced by another organ (my stomach), which has been essentially mutilated to do double-duty. Consider the alternative: a likely early and rather ugly death. Whatever regrets I may feel quickly disappear. I'm sure I'll feel even more so once I can get into Shilo's saddle and ride off into the sunset with Aletha.