GOOD NEWS, BUT WE REGRET TO INFORM YOU...

Greetings loyal readers - well, once again I am in the waiting limbo on the track to who knows where. The good news is that from the CAT scan, there seems to be only the one little monster bundle on my neck, but the doc now wants a PET scan (Frankie scans me every night - sniffing for snacks...) So they inject a small amount of radioactive sugar into my vein - then slide me through the "detector donut" to see what lights up. According to the doc, if an area lights up, it may mean active cancer, as cancers reach for sugars (nasty sweet tooth, I guess). I also will have more blood tests, and possibly some other pokes and prods. So once they look at results they will decide on treatment - but my Doc is on vacation for 3 weeks, so the news won't be available until a month from now. (Dr. D. is traveling to his homeland Guam with two kids in tow - may the goddesses bless him on a 16 hour flight!!) Otherwise, the weather seems finally to be summer (do I jinx it by mentioning...), my garden is popping with color, and Beth and I are both busy at work. I plan to support an upcoming "relay for life" in support of cancer funding in Somerset/ Fall River MA - will write more as I find out details - on June 24. Your wonderful supportive comments keep me going!! Til laterxx

THE GARDEN GROWS, FOLLOWING THE PATH ONWARD

So I've neglected you, dear loyal readers, and hope to reconnect. After news of 'remission' I returned to work, and immersed myself in the everyday. It's been fabulous to be working again with students, to reconnect with friends at Bristol Community College, to have a coupe of Cancer Free months. We've had a cool raining no spring, but this week summer has arrived in full bloom, and my garden is thriving. The purple iris have been spectacular, the peonies fabulous, the scotch broom delicious. Now the ruby honeysuckle is in full bloom, and the hummingbirds are back. I have tomato plants in flower, basic sprouting, show peas climbing and lettuce thriving. I'll be putting cucumber sprouts in tomorrow, and maybe a hill of squash (as opposed to a hill of beans...)

So as I wander down this year's garden path, apparently my journey with the Big C is not destined to be complete.

I learned yesterday that there is still in all likelihood some of the little monster left in my system. With my female innards gone, cancer cells have reappeared in my lymphatic system - the sites on my neck that exploded last year. I don't know for absolute certain how extensive the regrowth is - CAT scan tomorrow - but Dr. D. seemed certain that there is a returning malignancy and will probably recommend radiation. This is not my favorite choice of new adventures, but I will move forward with whatever has the best chance of discouraging the monster.

So I'm sending out messages via e mail and facebook to alert you, my friends, and hope to re establish dialogue. If you get this, thanks for returning, and joining the trek once again.!! I do like to journey with family, friends and loved ones! xx