Last week, I went in for my bi-yearly imaging, as prescribed by my oncologist.
By now, these scans have become quite routine. It is always the follow up doctor
appointment which puts the smallest of knots in my stomach. I am
happy to report, though, that all is clear (still), and that my next set of imaging
is scheduled for May of 2020. If you've read this far and don't mind reading
a little further, the following is the background. I've only shared this with
Michael and a few others from TBH, and honestly, I don't know why I've been
so secretive about it.
In May of 2016, I had noticed a new mole had appeared on my upper right
shoulder, just above my scapula. It was not in an area I could see, though
I could feel it by reaching over with my left hand. It was a little concerning
at the time, so much so that I had my wife take a picture of it, which I will
not share here. Sometimes it would bleed a little, though at the time I had
no idea of the severity of the situation. I had meant to make an appointment
with a dermatologist, but never got around to it. I have lived most of my
life with several moles scattered about my torso, and to me, this was just
another. By July of 2016, it had disappeared completely.
As the summer waned, school began, and I started my 3rd season of coaching
baseball in the Little League arena. We got through September and the first
couple of weeks of October quite short of the .500 mark. Dove season was
pretty much a bust as the landowner had cleared the entire 30 acre patch
of vegetation in August, even filling in the pond! On the bright side, my
daughter had just started with a new dance studio and my son had joined
a new select baseball team, playing in conjunction with the fall Little League.
Life was busy, but at least we were able to get away to the lease every
once in a while.
By mid October, I began noticing an enlarged lymph node in my right arm pit.
Again, I was concerned, not overly, though, as I attributed it to allergies. I
made an appointment with my primary care physician, who also was very
conservative in his diagnosis. He told me to come back in 10 days or so if
it had not resolved itself. Two weeks later, I was back in his office. He
referred me to a breast cancer office where they would do an ultrasound and
biopsy the lymph node. Still, I was not worried, thinking at this point that
due to an allergic reaction, my lymph node ducts must have clogged.
On November 18, 2016, I donned the pink patient smock and waited for the
technician to begin the ultrasound. She found several nodes under my arm
had swollen, and the doctor handled the needle for the biopsy. I was in good
spirits when I left the office, even telling my wife that everything had gone
pretty smooth. Besides, it was Friday, and Thanksgiving was just around
the corner.
By now, these scans have become quite routine. It is always the follow up doctor
appointment which puts the smallest of knots in my stomach. I am
happy to report, though, that all is clear (still), and that my next set of imaging
is scheduled for May of 2020. If you've read this far and don't mind reading
a little further, the following is the background. I've only shared this with
Michael and a few others from TBH, and honestly, I don't know why I've been
so secretive about it.
In May of 2016, I had noticed a new mole had appeared on my upper right
shoulder, just above my scapula. It was not in an area I could see, though
I could feel it by reaching over with my left hand. It was a little concerning
at the time, so much so that I had my wife take a picture of it, which I will
not share here. Sometimes it would bleed a little, though at the time I had
no idea of the severity of the situation. I had meant to make an appointment
with a dermatologist, but never got around to it. I have lived most of my
life with several moles scattered about my torso, and to me, this was just
another. By July of 2016, it had disappeared completely.
As the summer waned, school began, and I started my 3rd season of coaching
baseball in the Little League arena. We got through September and the first
couple of weeks of October quite short of the .500 mark. Dove season was
pretty much a bust as the landowner had cleared the entire 30 acre patch
of vegetation in August, even filling in the pond! On the bright side, my
daughter had just started with a new dance studio and my son had joined
a new select baseball team, playing in conjunction with the fall Little League.
Life was busy, but at least we were able to get away to the lease every
once in a while.
By mid October, I began noticing an enlarged lymph node in my right arm pit.
Again, I was concerned, not overly, though, as I attributed it to allergies. I
made an appointment with my primary care physician, who also was very
conservative in his diagnosis. He told me to come back in 10 days or so if
it had not resolved itself. Two weeks later, I was back in his office. He
referred me to a breast cancer office where they would do an ultrasound and
biopsy the lymph node. Still, I was not worried, thinking at this point that
due to an allergic reaction, my lymph node ducts must have clogged.
On November 18, 2016, I donned the pink patient smock and waited for the
technician to begin the ultrasound. She found several nodes under my arm
had swollen, and the doctor handled the needle for the biopsy. I was in good
spirits when I left the office, even telling my wife that everything had gone
pretty smooth. Besides, it was Friday, and Thanksgiving was just around
the corner.
(more to follow)
(I need to eat lunch!)
(I need to eat lunch!)
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