My post-cancer protocol calls for two visits a year to my Oncologist for general check-ups. My first was without incident and my second would require a CT exam. The exam occurred in September, and here in October, the day after Canadian Thanksgiving finds me at the Cancer Centre once more.
Even though it's six months between visits, I still remember the procedure to follow: stop at the main reception, get paperwork. Next, go to a registration kiosk and perform the ESAS survey (No Pain, Yes I was tired cuz I work all day, yes I'm anxious cuz I'm in a Cancer Clinic...). Print survey results, hand paperwork bundle to another receptionist. Wait......
Soon I was called in by the nurse, and the preliminary weigh-in (187 pounds) and some general questions about my health were recorded. I was led to another exam room and asked if there were any specific issues I would like to discuss -not this time. My nurse said that the doctor would be in soon. Which meant I could open up my Android Tablet and do web surfing to occupy my time.
The Oncologist arrived just as I was able to log on to the Hospital's public internet. With my Chemo Chronicles Blog page on the screen (what else would I want to read at the Cancer Centre?!) I offered my doctor a chance to see what a patient writes about the Cancer experience. She accepted and spent a few minutes reading my last entry, detailing the CT I had the month before.
I learned something that Oncologists who read that they 'Poke and Prod' a patient are actually performing a Clinical Examination. But then she called me a WIMP.....
It seemed that she was (mildly) amused at my description that the Worst Pain of a CT is the bandage removal (hey it left a red mark and everything! ) So my thoughtful, caring medical professional used one of her numerous medical definitions to classify me as a "Wimp". She's not wrong however.
The Good News is that the CT of the liver showed no problems. Nothing in the CT to be concerned about in general. Although she did not have the CEA results from my blood work it is unlikely that the numbers, which haven't changed in several years would spike up in the past few months. I was extremely relieved at this news, and I could probably amend that ESAS report for 'Anxiety = 0'.
Some discussion that in the next year I would have my three year Colonoscopy follow-up. But that's routine by now (Been there, done that, got the Johnny Shirt). She mentioned that rather than a CT there might be an Ultrasound (I've had a few CT's now, more than I ever wanted). However the big takeaway from this session is that the Cancer likely won't reoccur.
I left feeling satisfied, with more confidence that 'The Big C' and I are done with our dance. One more year remains according to the protocol I'm following. One more year of quarterly blood tests and maybe one or two visits with my Oncologist. Should all the result be good, there's every reason to believe that the Cancer Centre and I can go our separate ways.
