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As most of you know, on Friday the 13th I was re-diagnosed as having cancer. Back in 2004, they thought my tumour was a GIST (Gastro-Intestinal Stromal Tumour), which if not treated by surgery can be treated by a drug known as Gleevac/Imatnib in most cases.
After my re-diagnosis, they took my tumour out of storage (The BC Cancer Agency keeps samples from all tumours going back to the 80’s apparently) and re-ran some tests (and some new tests) on it.
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Back when I had my cancer scare in 2004, it hadn’t felt like I “had” cancer. I didn’t go through that whole “you have cancer” followed by surgery, chemo and endless dread. I was told “you had cancer”, and then put into “watch and shoot” mode.
For nearly six and a half years, I was waiting for the other shoe to drop. Last summer I was 5+ years cancer free. Another year goes by and the other shoe finally dropped.
On August 14th, 2009, I got great news. I cancer free! This appointment marked 5 years without cancer, a significant milestone.
I’m now dropping back to one scan a year.
Had my latest CT scan on February 6th, got the results on Friday the 13th. “No Signs of Disease”. Cancer free for another 6 months!
I did get a copy of the images from the CT scan and chest Xray. Very cool! Going to try and post some pictures from it.
Well, it certainly has been a while! Lots to say!
So I had cancer, and my Mom died of complications from Colon Cancer (adenocarcinoma?). Well, after my genetic screening for a cancer Gene (P53 gene I think… oh and it’s not defective), they recommended I get a Colonoscopy at an age that would be 10 years prior to when my Mom was diagnosed.
Yeah, this is going to be fun.
My latest CT Scan was a few days back. Today, the results are in! I’m cancer free for another 6 months!
Another encouraging bit of news was that Glivec (imatinib) is now a treatment option for my type of GIST! Previously, C-kit negative GISTers were not eligible to use Glivec as a treatment option, however, further studies have been done, and it’s now approved for use with the handful of us that are C-kit Negative! The press release is dated today (so new in fact, that the press release isn’t even uploaded at the time of this posting)!
As for Linnae, she’s getting sneaky Read the rest of this entry »
On Monday I went in for my most recent CT Scan. Puked as usual, in spite of anti-nausea medicine consumed this time. They’re going to try a different contrast dye next time. Scan results next week.
My wife dug out some of the notes from my stay in hospital. Appropriately titled “Amusing Things You Said and Did in the Hospital“. Probably should have been “The Ravings of Drug Addled Cancer Patient”.
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Last week I had a CT Scan. This week the results are in. I’m cancer free for another 6 months!
On January 31st I went in for a 6 month follow up CT scan. Results came back this last monday. All Clear!
I’ve also recently joined the GIST Support International Mailing List. Great bunch of GIST survivors there. Check them out here.
In completely unrelated news, I’ve always thought for years that it was illegal to drive without your shoes on. Apparently, that’s a total urban legend. Shoeless driving (in the summer, when I’m not going to work) it is!