A recap of the past two weeks and the current state of my guts as far as we can tell:
I went for a colonoscopy two weeks ago thinking that the doctor would see some polyps and maybe tell me I have IBS or something that would explain the digestive issues I was experiencing this spring. Instead I came out of sedation to learn there’s a 3-4cm mass in my sigmoid colon and a CT scan was already scheduled for the next day.
That CT scan was a real bummer to say the least. In addition to the little goblin camped out in my colon, my liver looks like a dalmation puppy. Spots all over.
The next 10 days have been filled with more scans and tests and consults with surgeons and oncologists and second opinions. It’s quite bracing to be unexpectedly thrown into a fight for your life, but I am surrounded by hundreds of amazing people who are loving the hell out of me and I cannot describe how energizing that is.
Today I had a little spa day where I got a liver biopsy and a port-cath installed at the same time in preparation for chemotherapy to start next week. It’s the first physical step in this process that has slowed me down a tiny bit. I am preparing myself to meet more challenges very soon, and to be thoughtful and focused on the goal of beating this disease, and I am learning to accept help.
The plan at the moment is chemo to beat up the lesions on my liver, and then see if some very smart people can cut the rotten bits out of me. It’s going to be a really rocky autumn/winter. I am so lucky to have Ellie and my family and all my friends supporting me and I fully intend to form a series of deeply positive grudges that will become evident when I get on the other side of this and start returning this love.
People who love me set this site up so folks can help. We don’t even really know what we need yet, because it’s all so new and moving fast, but things will start popping up in short order. If nothing else I will keep updates coming for those who are interested.
Happy Wednesday.