GOOD NEWS DAY

Yesterday was both tense and euphoric. As I have previously stated, I am a bladder cancer survivor. Bladder cancer is one of the easier cancers to live with but also one of the most frustrating for it will come back. Not might, but will.

Vigilance is the main defense. I was diagnosed nine and a half years ago and in that time I have had eight surgeries to remove 22 cancerous tumors. Now these are out patient surgeries but you are still put under general anesthesia.


The trick to bladder cancer is to catch it before it penetrates the lining of the bladder and can spread. This means a cystoscopy every three months so that any new cancers can be caught and surgically removed. For most of the three months, I can put cancer on the back burner and pretty much ignore thoughts of out of control cells.


As appointment time nears, I do get anxious. Last year at this same time, I found out it had returned after 4 years of clean check ups. That finally convinced me that I would never be able to put this totally behind me. I can live with this only by "living with it". Diabetes and high blood pressure don't go away. They are controlled and medicated. People live "with" them. Such is my cancer.


I do know how very lucky I am. I have friends with much more virulent forms of cancer who are fighting a horrific battle. One that takes all their will just to get through each day. I have lost friends and family members to this disease. Sometimes I feel like someone with a hangnail moaning to someone with an amputated arm. So, I usually don't say much to anyone. My general health is quite good. No known serious problems, no regular medications, just a bit too fat which is curable. Yes, I am one lucky girl.


So yesterday came and went. I know my urologist quite well and knew before he had finished my exam that the news was good. Neither of us tried to hide our grins. Suddenly the weights are gone and life is good again for at least 89 more days. Today I am a bit giddy. It is safe to buy green bananas again.