1 year out: A CLEAN report!

Had my CT scan last week (I think this makes 9 scans in two years) and got the results two days ago: No signs of lymphoma...still!

Passing this one year-mark is not just a convenient anniversary, but it also carries some clinical significance in that most people who end up relapsing do so in the first two years, and so I am more than halfway through that zone.

Even better, my labs look good! I am at the low end of 'normal' for all the areas that were damaged during chemo (namely white blood cells, hematocrit, hemoglobin, platelets). Not only am I feeling more normal, I'm also starting to ressemble one on paper.

What does this mean? Well I am planning to get my chest port out at the end of the summer and will need CTs once every 4 months, as opposed to 3. A small, but meaningful, improvement in hospital visits and incremental radiation.

I met a few weeks back with the neurosurgeon who installed my brain reservoir and he said there is more risk in pulling it out than leaving it in. He said I can get brain hemorrhaging or menengitis... so why risk it. For now, and as long as I have hair-- I'm indifferent. I don't mind a permanent reminder here and there.

It's all good on this end... thank you, thank you.