Jan Curran Events

And then I wrote...

This typepad is so screwed up!  I wrote this long, and of course fascinating, post, hit SAVE and it was deleted.  The tools for writing aren't working.  I got a group email from some hotshot at typepad saying they were having problems. No kidding!  He apologized for any problems. 

So now I will try once again...

Let's start with the dentist. I went to make sure that what ever it said in the pet about a possible tumor really wasn't that  - and it wasn't.  I have a lot of bone loss in the jaw.. so having a tooth pulled on Monday, a crown done, a partial made.  I could buy a used Ford Focus for what it is going to cost.  Not happy about it, but on the other hand, the dental work is much better diagnosis then it could have been.

Went out to dinner , a charity event in Ventura...

This was fun cus three of my four kids had donated books to the silent auction.. and then I also donated a signed first edition of my old book .. it was all in a cute basket, bidding was hot... all proceeds went to a variety of good organizations and services in this country including the shelter for abused women and children.

Here is the basket...

 

Afraid to do anything more on here with this goofy way typepad is behaving, so will see if this will publish or just disapear!

 

Overall, okay... some areas uncertain..

Okay , went for the PET results today.  As luck would have it not one of my four kids was in town or able to go with me, so I put on my brave hat, my calm manner and headed over to the oncologist for the news.  She told me I was very calm and I said it was just deep breathing but she begged to differ and said it was my years of experience with scans and results that keep me so calm all the time. If today was calm, good heavens, imagine me uptight!!

She's a lovely lady, and had the scan report in her hand and we went over it together.  There were a zillion " hot spots" areas that could be a something but for which the report states, " could be due to delayed radiation changes, tumor is a consideration."

The doctor goes with the feeling they are due to radiation.  God knows I had enough of it, two years in a row!

Some areas the report says, " probably vascular in origin.."

One area the doctor does want me to have checked ASAP.  Of all places in the lower left jaw right where I have nursed , for months now, a bone loss and the future loss of a tooth and the cost of an expensive partial and dental bill. I had the area xrayed in March and saw the bone loss but the dentist assured me I could still wait it out since it wasn't giving me any trouble, no tooth aches, no loose tooth --- yet!

Well this report on the pet says elevated activity in the lower left jaw area " most likely due to dental problem but tumor can not be excluded."

Dr. wants me at the dental office, asap for xrays and probobly pull that tooth sooner rather than later and then have the dentist watch that area very closely.  I already have a call in to the dentist and they will either work me in on Monday or Tuesday. The only reason the work in isn't tomorrow is cus the dentist is out of town.

Over all , how do I feel? Relieved.  Worried myself sick this a.m. that the PET report would not be good, had a stiff back last night and this morning, so was worried and also get a stiff neck now and then but the doc had an answer for that -- nerve damage going back to my radiation and chemo and the fact I have neuropohty from chemo that attacks my feet and legs.

I see the oncologist again in August and we will just watch me closely. This is not the first time I have had results with some hot  spots here and there and they went away or didn't change.. hopefully this will be the case this time, too.

Now, if I were a drinker would go have a stiff gin and tonic.  Those of you who have been through the traumas of PET scans know how I feel and felt.  This is the first time since 12/03 that I have gone so long without cancer activity so that is reason to celebrate -- so go have a drink for me, okay??

 

The Prize at the End...

As I finished off my four hour ordeal at the imaging center, the tech presented me with this card for coffee and a grab bag full of snaks cus I had been such a good and understanding patient.

The understanding part was because they had computer problems and I had to endure an hour or so more than normal.  What's a girl to do, other than stay there and go through with it all??

Happy to be back in my little apartment now... and will let you know the results of the tests in a week when I find them out...

Thanks for all the good wishes!

PET Day

Today is "D" day, D day I have my PET scan.  The imagining center called yesterday with all the instructions on me not having a lot of sugar 24 hours prior, drinking tons of water this morning, to wear warm clothes ( it is freezing in that tube!)..... 

So here I am, at 8 a.m. on the 12th, wanting a cup of coffee, which is a no-no on scan day... still in my jams reading the blogs of my kids -- Linda who had been in Minnesota to spend time with Rosie O'Donnell, Karen in Long Beach while her son was in a little film, Lee who is getting ready to head to the south for a confab, and Tod who is on his way right now to Bennington College in Vermont for more work on his masters.... 

My friend Lori is cruising the Greek Islands and I'm jealous, wishing I were on a cruise today. Instead I will cruise out of here about 10 and head to Oxnard, a short drive from here, and to the imaging center for my dreaded scan.  You'd think I would be used to them by now, been having them every 4 or 6 months for years, but it always scares me, makes me sick.. and then the nerve wrenching days of waiting for the results.  I'll get them on the 19th and,yeah, I'll let you know what they are but let's all think positively that they will be fine, okay?

What have I been doing? I mean up to this a.m...  Fighting allegies and found the solution, take a Clariton every night before bed, stops that running nose in the morning and keeps me pretty dry all day and night long.  And, I have been reading a lot. Both Lee and Tod overloaded me with books for mother's day and then Lee added to that getting me books at the big Book Expo in LA a week ago, so , yeah, been reading day and night.  Not been to the beach , mainly because it is June and June here meens " gloom" -- foggy and chilly.  Shan't complain because if I was in Seattle I'd be looking at on going rain, if in the East would be looking at the AC wondering why it couldn't battle the 100 degree heat and humidity.

Okay, I better wrap this up and get dressed and drink another bottle of water. Part of my instructions were to drink three big bottles of water before my scan..  Guess I will be cruising there, water logged!