Update! I got the biopsy scheduled!!!

So as it works out, posting about hoping I’d get the call had to be the reason they called and I got on the schedule! And instead of being weeks out, I am scheduled for next Thursday. The wonderful human I was playing phone tag let me know that the hospital had JUST opened up their schedule and so she wanted to get me in quickly before all the appointments were gone. This is it. The next step on my cancer journey. It’s apparently going to be a whole day affair. I have to show up 2 hours before my scheduled time, the procedure is approximately 90 minutes, and then I need to recover for about 2 hours afterwards. I’m going to go under general I believe, and I cannot drive myself to the appointment. As well, since they are going in through my throat, apparently, I’ll be sore for up to a day after. Also, no COVID allowed so I have to test on Monday and then self-isolate until the procedure. So next week will be a nice quiet week.

In the meantime, I went to see my doc to follow up about possibly taking family leave and getting some guaranteed income while dealing with this whole fun bag of cancer. He wrote a letter which will allow me to take leave and I got to ask him some of my pressing questions. He’s such a good doctor. He asked if I saw the PET scan images and if I wanted to see. Heck yes! He spun my 3D body around and pointed to where the cancer and the extra cancer was on my body. Showed me the places where the radioactive sugar was being processed through my body (my big old happy bladder). I asked about all the small nodules/tumors that showed up on the regular CT and asked that because they’re so small and don’t really show up on the PET scan, that means the only real treatment we’re looking at is chemo. And yep, he let me know that looking at the locations and spots and spread, that chemo is the standard treatment that we’ll be looking at, whether alone or with additional treatment therapies.

I also asked the really important questions that have been weighing on my mind with the cancer dx. Can I get a tattoo? Like, if I want to somehow memorialize anything, cancer should be it, right? So yes, I went straight from the doctor’s office, stopped by a local shop I’ve followed for years and asked if they could take a quick walk in. And that is the story behind my Friday the 13^th ass tattoo. Yep. Cancer can kiss my ass and ya’ll are welcome to kick cancer in the rear.

And this weekend I’m escaping to New Melones Lake – Glory Hole campground and hiking in Yosemite. Glad to have the friends around me to facilitate such awesome weekends where I can escape the thoughts of cancer and the reality of chores, projects, and regular life. Besides, nature is healing.

PS, I have gotten some of the best cancer gifts. One immediately went on and will never come off unless necessary. A dainty sterling silver bracelet that has “Fuck cancer” in morse code. Thank you for everyone who has sent gifts, flowers, texts, calls, prayers and good thoughts my way. They do not go unnoticed and are very appreciated.