And the saga continues.

Thursday - June 25, 2026.  Today is our monthly "siblings lunch" when we choose a 'meet in the middle' eatery in either Sandy or Draper to sup and catch up on events, plan events, or tell cat stories, or last month reveal a cancer diagnosis.  During the meal I got a call from office of my NHL cancer (2013) doc, a Hematology Oncologist (HO), who I still see annually every December, and he wants to see me this Monday.  Not much of a surprise as he'd been notified, as a courtesy, by my GO about the return of that cancer and then by my RO regarding planned radiation treatment and then by Dr Gastro on the confirmation of the pancreas cancer.  Whew. When I spoke to Dr Gastro on Tuesday he'd mentioned chemotherapy may be needed and said he'd call my HO to update and if I wanted to use him: YES! 

Just as we're about to leave I get another phone call, this one from the RO who tells me that, in coordination with my GO, the radiation treatments have now taken a back seat until the pancreas issue is resolved and then radiation will follow. He says we'll just have to consider the 'simulation scan' and mapping that happened earlier to be a 'dry run' as they'll need to be done again. As for the pancreas, the cancerous area is "resectable" (I had to look it up) meaning it is localized and situated in a way that allows it to be completely removed by surgery. I hope nothing changes that. The tumor is located in the 'body' of the pancreas which he says is good because it's an area easy to remove whereas cancers in the 'head' of the pancreas are fatal. Okay, I'll finally take some good news! RO has two Surgical Oncologists (SO) in mind and I should hear from them today or tomorrow. In the meantime he's ordered another CT scan of the pancreas and a two other specific blood tests that, because of my multiple cancers (lucky me), look for genetic 'markers' in the bloodstream. I'm gonna bet there will be plenty of 'markers' found.  I'll find out in a few weeks.

I have a love/hate relationship with cellphones. Like a ball & chain, I was tied to one 24/7/365 for over 5 or 6 years (and a pager for 5 years before that) with my job which is why keeping one constantly within reach, like many people do, has not been my preference. I had kept a landline/house phone, and extra handsets scattered around the house, as a safety/security measure specifically for power outages, but when Century Link converted to VOIP that reason was no longer valid. Earlier this year I dropped CL, saving a $100/month in the process, and switched to Xfinity's home phone which came with a "save money" deal I'd been paying for but never activated.  It has all the same features as CL did, one of those being call forwarding which allows me to forward the house phone to my cellphone. That feature has come in very handy the last six weeks so when I'm out of the house I can forward that phone to my cellphone because I never know which of my two phone #'s a medical entity will call.  That's the 'love' part of having a mobile phone, so I don't miss important calls.  

So, more waiting...

Friday - June 26, 2026.  An early morning call from IHC to schedule my initial appt with the SO for next Wednesday. Through IHC's patient portal comes a HUGE questionnaire to fill out regarding my medical and social histories.  Crazy.  Now, waiting again.

Monday - June 29, 2026.  1:30pm call from  RO, but for the life of me can't remember what we talked about.  .>sigh<

2:50pm - appointment with HO today.  And it starts with all that vitals stuff, done by the same gal since my NHL treatments in 2013, so we're well acquainted. Normally my blood gets drawn first, but today it'll be after my visit with HO.  

3:15 pm call from SO nurse w/questions, then HO comes in and I ask her to call me at 4:30 when I'm done with this appointment.  HO asks me "what's going on" so I give him a review of all that's happened in the last six weeks.  I know he's spoken with my GO and RO so I'm guessing he's looking for my version and seems content I've got the gist of everything correctly.  He then tells me about the two chemotherapy options pertaining to Pancreatic Cancer; one is quite harsh and he say's  "I'd never use that on any 76-year-old patient of mine" and hearing that I'm grateful for his thoughtfulness it takes me off-guard realizing I'm no young chicken anymore!  The other option is still a good one and is his what he'd recommend for me, however he can't say if surgery should be done first or the chemotherapy; that will be up to the surgeon who I see in two days. He gives me a handout he's prepared "Understanding Your Pancreatic Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment Plan" and tells me everything will be okay.  I get a hug (he's become a friend) and ends with "You can handle this."  Yes, I can!

Now, it's a 2-day waiting game to meet surgeon...

C'mon. Again?!

 Whelp!  Here we go again.  For the third time in 13 years I heard the words "You have cancer."  Believe me, it doesn't get any easier to accept the more you hear it.  Does that make me The Cancer Queen?  

THIS blog is your single source of information on my latest and unwanted 'excitement'; please don't speculate, play doctor, suggest alternatives, etc.  I've got a superior medical team working in my best interests.

This post is the super-summarized, Cliff Notes version thru Wednesday, June 24.  Later I'll post, for those who may be interested, a mind-numbing much longer TMI version that is in-the-works, but not yet published.

Thursday - May 14, 2026.  Five years ago this week I had a complete hysterectomy, due to cancer, and since then have had annual appointments with my Gynecological Oncologist (GO).  Today, if everything goes well, it's expected to be the last annual visit after 5 years of 'clean' exams. Well, as it turned out I flunked this exam as suspicious tissue was biopsied and sent for pathology.  Which leads to...

Monday - May May 18, 2026.  A call from my GO who regretfully tells me the pathology report is positive for a rare return of the cancer. Radiation therapy will be done.  He orders a CT/PET scan (standard procedure for most cancer diagnosis') and has consulted with my new Radiation Oncologist (RO) who also orders an MRI.  Which leads to...

Tuesday - May 19, 2026.  An early morning call from RO office to schedule initial visit for Friday, June 2nd, the soonest they can get me in.  And then...  

A few hours later a call from Imaging, and the CT/PET scan and MRI at IMC in Murray are scheduled.  And then... 

Tuesday - June 2, 2026.  CT/PET scan this afternoon.  Day before scan instructions (activity limitations, high protein/low carb diet, and water timing) are sent to prepare for the PET scan.  My first and second PET's were 13 years ago so the prep is no surprise.  Which leads to...

Wednesday, June 3, 2026.  A morning call from the PA-C who reviewed the PET results and verified there is cancerous activity as expected from GO finding; something vague at thyroid, and she is also ordering another MRI due to anomaly in the pancreas area that a MRI may define better. Yes, I had a mini melt-down, then reminded myself staying positive is best.  Which leads to...

Friday - June 5, 2026.  A call from Imaging, just before I need to leave for RO appointment, and the soonest they can get me in for the rush-MRI is June 12th at McKay-Dee Hospital.  Then...

Initial appointment with my new RO and his team.  He has seen the PET scan and says he's not too concerned about the thyroid (an ultrasound can wait), pancreas issue could be multiple causes.  He will be doing the mapping for radiation treatments, fills me in on radiation options (I choose the safer path and he agrees) with the first treatment to start Monday, June 15th, for 5 weeks, 5 days a week. After an exam he introduces me to his radiation team and we go through a 'simulation' scan to map exactly where the radiation needs to go. Leave with paperwork instructions for daily prep and calendared appointments.  Later...

GO calls at 6:55pm; we chat about todays RO appt and what treatment plan decision was made.  Then it's wait until...

Wednesday - June 10, 2026.  MRI (pelvis/abdomen) done at IMC in Murray.  Fortunately I'm not claustrophobic as that tube is small, and NOISY; the provided headphones helped muffle sound but not by much.  Then it's a waiting game again... 

Thursday - June 11, 2026.  Call this afternoon from my GO.  After review of yesterdays MRI results he has spoken with my RO and they have a new plan: radiation treatments that were to start on Monday are being cancelled, for now, pending results of tomorrows MRI.  And so...

Friday - June 12, 2026.  McKay-Dee Hospital in Ogden is site today of MRI (chest/abdomen) which is ordered with a 'pancreas protocol' and yes, that is unsettling. The 'tube' is same but the headphones today come with my choice of music to drown out, somewhat better, the noise of MRI. More waiting for results...

Monday - June 15, 2026.  RO called this morning (from Montana) and after reviewing Friday MRI and a 'tumor-like' area in the pancreas, he wants to follow up with an Endoscopic Ultrasound that will also get a biopsy of "the area" causing concern to determine what exactly it is. The Dr who did my two previous endoscopy's (2013 & 2019) is no longer associated with IHC so he'll check for best Dr. who can get me scheduled quickly. >sigh<...

RO calls back with name of Gastroenterologist who can see me; and to expect a call from their office this afternoon to schedule the endoscopy. No call this afternoon; the waiting game continues...

Tuesday - June 16, 2026.  8:09am call from Dr Gastro office with notice the endoscopy will be done Monday, June 22nd; I'll get call on Friday about when to be at LDS Hospital for the procedure.   Then, pre-admission questionnaire since I won't be meeting Dr Gastro before, and prep instructions sent for the endoscopy. Anesthesia involved so I need a driver/chaperone. Okay...

Friday - June 19, 2026.  Dr Gastro office calls with admission time to hospital of 1:30pm. Best news I've heard in a while because it's not an early, early morning check-in! Weekend spent trying to distract my stressed brain until...

Monday - June 22, 2026.  My driver (Christine) and I snag the absolute best handicapped parking spot and make our way into the hospital.  Funny story: when I check in at registration desk the gal directs me to Radiology which catches me off guard for a moment then tell her that appt was cancelled and I'm here for endoscopy. Christine waits in endoscopy waiting room while I'm escorted, prepped and taken to the procedure room where the deed is done. Dr Gastro says he'll call me with results. We're out of hospital by 4:30pm, perfect timing for rush hour traffic. Waiting again...

Tuesday - June 23, 2026.  Around noon-ish is a call from nurse at Dr Gastro office checking to see how I'm doing. Other than sore throat from the camera (those pics were interesting!) I'm good. Later... 

7:42pm - call from Dr Gastro who confirms my worst fears regarding the pathology results from pancreas tissue biopsy's. And now, for the 4th time, I've heard: "You have cancer." He will be contacting the next Dr's he'll refer me to after going over my case with them so has no confirmed treatment plan right now. He thinks there may be some radiation, probably chemotherapy, and surgery but can't say in what order as that'll be up to the new (to me) Dr's.  I did ask if these are early, mid, or late stage and he said 'mid' (ya, I wanted to hear 'early') but assured me they're very treatable and then added "Marilynn, you've been through worse." Hooookay.  I'm to expect calls from these Dr's tomorrow for next steps. More waiting...

Wednesday - June 24, 2026. Stick around the house all day but no calls.  So, more waiting...

I ask again, to those so inclined, for your prayers on my behalf.  I'm a person who prefers my glass half-full and reminding myself to stay positive.

Love ya all.

Flag Day - a 10-year Anniversary

 

While I love the United States of America flag that is honored on June 14th, there is another reason the date means something to me.

It was June 14, 2013 that a phone call would change my life.  It was a Saturday and I was in my bedroom, sorting through a stack of papers deciding which would be 86'd into the circular bin, when the phone rang.  On the other end was the ENT who'd performed the surgery that removed the swollen lymph node from my neck telling me he had the results of the biopsy on that lymph node.  Frankly, I don't know how these medical folks deliver bad news over and over and over again.  When he told me the biopsy results were not what we had hoped for, my world was forever changed. He proceeded to tell me what the next steps would be, but most of all I remember him saying: "If this was twenty years ago I'd be telling you to get your affairs in order [I may have stopped breathing] but the prognosis and outcomes of this cancer have greatly improved now. We had a good conversation and he filled me in on as much as he knew and answered a lot of my questions and other could be answered to the oncologist he was referring me to.  Hard to concentrate on anything else the rest of the day. Duh!