Health note (6)

I have been in vacation mode the last few weeks, taking full advantage of my return to normal health. I feel great, and have almost no remaining side-effects from the cancer or the treatment.

My toes still feel a bit sleepy -my big toe nail is actually in the process of falling off as a result of jamming it back in May (I'd post a picture but it really only looks silly, and not at all cool like Brian's thumb).

The other lingering side effect I was dealing with was with the lungs, which are basically back to normal. I can run and play and exercise without any trouble. If I take a deep, deep breath, there is still a slight burn, but I feel confident that will go away in time. And even if it doesn't it is something I can easily live with.

I think I'll post my daily photo video soon, since I have forgotten to take picture for the last 2 weeks. I'm happy to report that I look like myself again (no chemo curls, but a lot of grey).

The radiation burn on my chest has faded and is almost gone. My chest hair is thinner where I had radiation.

In August, I'll have a PET scan (we get the results August 28th), which will tell us whether the cancer is in remission or not. I fully expect that it is (as do the doctors, who have said as much). But I have to admit I have moments of fear as we get closer to the PET scan.

I read a while ago that one of the toughest moments for some cancer patients can be when the treatment stops. I don't fell this way, but I can imagine why some people do. Even though the treatment sucks, it is very comforting to be doing something, to be fighting the cancer. When the treatment is over, you just kind of wait, and hope, and worry that it might be sneaking up on you again now that you've held your fire.

But it's not. 99% of the time, I am not worrying, I feel great, and I feel totally confident that I am cancer free.