A bit of personal detail. Many of you know that I got my every-three-month Pet CT Scan on Tuesday July 1. Today at chemo my nurse interpreted the results for me - very good news.
Feel free to skip the following if my cancer test results are TMI. Many of my relatives and friends read Dove's Eye View and it's easier for me to post the info here.
Everything is extremely stable; the bony metastases show signs of healing; the tumor on the lung that was a half inch (13 mm) in October has disappeared completely - no sign of it. The liver metastases are not showing any "uptake", i.e. they aren't dividing rapidly and are not increasing. The diffuse lesions are just sitting there. Also the bloodwork shows that the CEA tumor markers have again dropped, now to 4.4 which is in the range of normal. The liver continues to "feel" good when she examines it manually.
I still get chemo, and started the ninth cycle (month) today. She offered me a break next month, but upon discussion we decided to plan the one month break for October when I hope to be traveling insha'allah.
Interestingly enough, the young man who does Reiki healing for me has been saying that he doesn't "sense" cancer in me - I don't have that static or buzz or sparkle that he feels in his other cancer patients. I wonder if he's perceiving the slowdown of the tumor cells. It's a subjective, "non-scientific" response - it seems to coincide with what I understand of the test results. Who knows.
I began responding to chemo very strongly after beginning regular Qi energy and acupuncture treatments in late March. You don't have to believe that these treatments help me - I do. And your prayers are helping me. Thank you all.
Because I had a five hour break between the nurse visit and the infusion appointment, I got to work on my novel a bit in the local library branch - a sunny courtyard with roses, Japanese maples and an olive tree. Public libraries are great luxuries and pleasures of our society and I am so grateful for them.
My friend who drives me home from the hospital took me to Irving Street where we ate Indian food, then to Golden Gate park where we lay on the grass until time for infusion.
I'm very tired now. I'm just really happy to be alive and able to bop around San Francisco, play with my children, vacation with my husband.
This makes me so happy -- it's hard to even express!! WONDERFUL. I'm so grateful for this good, good news. XOXO
Posted by: Ericka | July 03, 2008 at 11:39 PM
Wonderful news. What a blessing everyday life can be, when put in perspective. Best of luck with the writing!
Posted by: wu ming | July 04, 2008 at 02:20 AM
I wish you well Leila. I found your blog via rec.food.cooking.
Today I am going to spend time with a friend who will be having chemo. She is in her second year of chemo every 2 weeks (with a few breaks for 'holidays' and ill health) for stage iv colon cancer.
Your writing tells me you have the same strength and optimism that my friend has. I have learned a lot from her over these past years, and I'm sure your loved ones have learned a lot from you.
Take care.
Brenda
Posted by: Brenda | July 04, 2008 at 08:34 AM
How serendipitous that you posted today! I reposted your Tabouli recipe a couple of weeks ago on rfc. Made it for a friends' wedding feast on the Solstice. Everyone loved it, of course.
I'm sorry to hear that you are still battling cancer. I'm happy to know, tho, that the battle can go on so long.
One of my coworkers just found out that she will be on monthly [chemo, I think] after they got rid of the breast cancer but it showed up in a couple of other spots.
I will send her to your blog, that it may give her hope and a more positive outlook. At the moment, the whole family is devastated.
Hugs,
maxine in ri
Posted by: maxine in ri | July 04, 2008 at 09:11 PM
Wonderful, wonderful, wonderful! Wishing you refuah shleyma (a "full recovery"). Have a happy, healthy & fun summer!
Posted by: Richard Silverstein | July 05, 2008 at 12:25 AM
This is fantastic news, Leila! Much love from all the Bainbridge Island MacLeods.
Posted by: Debbie | July 05, 2008 at 03:18 PM
Wonderful news, Leila. Your attitude is an inspiration. I wish you could bottle it and pass it around.
Posted by: gloria p | July 05, 2008 at 08:02 PM
Oh, oh, oh, I am so relieved and overjoyed about your good news! Yay! Good for you. And good for all of us, too!
It is amazing to consider that successful treatment consists of modalities from both the reductionist and the holistic traditions.
Posted by: BobPixel | July 06, 2008 at 11:05 AM
Oh, oh, oh, I am so relieved and overjoyed about your good news! Yay! Good for you. And good for all of us, too!
It is amazing to consider that successful treatment consists of modalities from both the reductionist and the holistic traditions.
Posted by: BobPixel | July 06, 2008 at 11:06 AM
That's such great news! I am very happy for you.
Posted by: arduous | July 07, 2008 at 08:42 PM
Beautiful! So pleased to read of your good news.
Posted by: Verde | July 07, 2008 at 08:59 PM
Verde, Arduous, Bob 2x, Gloria, Debbie dear SIL, Richard old friend, Maxine, wu ming and Ericka (did I miss anybody?)
thank you all so very much. Glad to see you dropping by Dove's Eye View. Today I feel so good... So very happy with my life. And I'm grateful for my readers!
Posted by: Leila Abu-Saba | July 07, 2008 at 09:21 PM
Brenda - I missed Brenda! Sorry, and thanks for your kind note, Brenda...
Posted by: Leila Abu-Saba | July 07, 2008 at 09:21 PM