Me! The stress of covering Trump may have sent some of my cells into overdrive and now there’s a tumor. A rare tumor! A malignant tumor!
It’s still small, and it’s still early. I have a lot of things to do before surgery next month and I’m not going to (pardon the expression) kill myself to keep up the same blogging pace (which, to readers, probably looks more like a leisurely stroll, but whatever).
In the meantime, I’ve asked a couple of friends to pitch in. I’ll still post, just not as much.
I may not even need will most likely need radiation. My future also involves some medications that are a pain in the ass, but I expect to be around for a while. (Thank you, baby Jesus, for Medicare!)
If you want to chip in to help cover all the extra gas, tolls, and miscellaneous expenses this enterprise is costing me, why, that would be just swell. Because my anxiety levels are through the roof — it all adds up. Thanks!
Hoping for the best possible outcome, with the least possible discomfort. I’ll be thinking of you. Please keep us posted, if through surrogates.
Aww shit. The really good news in the bad, though, is that you found it early, so there’s that. I really admire your dedication to documenting the atrocities for us. It’s a toxic job most sentient people couldn’t or wouldn’t do. We so appreciate and thank you for keeping-on in the all-pervasive sludge. Now, keep on taking care of yourself! We’ll be here for you.
Solidarity Sister!
Two cancer scares and 3 biopsies since September.
Breast tumor benign, arm growth confirmed but not melanoma – and gouged out on Monday hoping for clear margins!
I’m chalking it up to stress taking it’s toll too.
Sending cash your way.
Crap! All my best wishes. Stay determined.
Oh, geeze. Let me know how your Trump tumor is doing!
Hang in there Susie. Glad to know you found it early.
May you be feeling much better very soon.
That’s my version of an Irish blessing. Sometimes they work, sometimes not.
Anyway, I hope you have good doctors, that seems to lead to the best outcomes.
Thanks, Doug. I’m actually not sick at all and probably won’t be unless I need radiation. I am, however, exhausted from the mental work involved.
Thanks, Allie!
Thanks, Ron. Hope you’re doing well…
Thanks, Lea!
Oh, I’ll be around. Just not as much, I have physical therapy.
Get a second opinion. “Cancer” is an industry – people make money off of it, off of you.
If wishes were horses beggars would ride but … I wish I had. There’s no way to know now, fifteen years after, but I was teaching, had a solid side-gig in tech-support, all a PERS based income/insurance, and there was a brand new “world-class” cancer treatment facility ‘cross-town. I’ll never know, but deep down I suspect we were scammed. We were rushed into something that may or may not have been necessary.
Not to detract from the gravity of the circumstance but, please, get a second opinion. At the end I lost everything – marriage, home, career … ended up in my truck and camper. As our correspondence approaches twenty years now, please, get a second opinion. I don’t want to see you go through that unless you absolutely have to.
Already arranged to have test results sent to another place. Thanks for the concern! :>
If it is breast cancer, the best source on the internet is breastcancer.org, particularly the discussion boards. If it isn’t BC you will probably still find helpful info on dealing with radiation skin care and side effects there.
Please remember that medical science is making progress all the time. Whatever stats you see while researching are already outdated.
Sign me, NED and occasional lurker
That’s what’s driving me nuts. I need more current information!
Second and even third opinions are almost always worth pursuing, and I would also think about looking for NCI designated cancer center (where the doctors are also researchers).
But you don’t need to know everything to start treatment. You mainly need an oncology team you have a good rapport with and trust as much as it is possible to trust any medical professionals (that is, never completely).
You will learn as you go. I am still learning about my type of cancer six and a half years later.
Last year, we sent a sliver of my tumor (hospitals keep excised tumors, encased in wax, for years and years) for a newer genetic test, and that told us I needed to stay on my hormone blocker for at least another five years. This test was not available when I was first diagnosed.
Try to find an online support group. Admittedly that is harder to do with less common conditions.
Finally, don’t let anxiety get the best of you, ask for a med, lots of newbies do this. You will find your groove and you will move forward.
Excellent advice. Thank you! I am already at an NCI center, and I’m planning to get a second opinion at Johns Hopkins.