Wednesday, September 19, 2012

Sometimes you don't even realize you've been holding your breath.

I saw my surgeon again last week ago for a follow-up. A year ago, I'd gone and then later received a call saying there were abnormal cells again and I should come back in six months instead of a year. It was upsetting, but a call I'd gotten several times before. Bad results, biopsies, surgery, more bad results, more biopsies, bigger surgery. I'd hoped that would be it.
When I returned six months ago I asked my doctor if this would just keep coming back until it killed me. She looked startled and said, "No!" And I do know that people don't often die from cervical cancer. I just was feeling unsettled by the continued bad path results. But that time, there were no abnormal cells and she said she thought the previous results were just because I was still healing from the hysterectomy. However, she wanted another test in six months to be safe given that I'd had a recurrence after the first cancer.
I thought I wasn't even really worrying about it when I left her office last Friday, but I've been checking my phone to see if the nurse had called. Yesterday, she did and said, "Just calling you to let you know the results are negative, we'll see you back in a year!"
Looks like I'm done with it. I found myself finally exhaling.

38 comments:

  1. woohoo...great results...and def take a deep breathe...i am def happy for you...smiles..

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  2. so so so so so so so so so glad.


    kj

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  3. What a blessing. This is the best, best, best!

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  4. that's great news :) really glad to hear that.

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  5. Great news! Congratulations. Spectacular sunflower pictures by the way!

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    1. Thank you - those were just down the road from me, on either side of the highway.

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  6. That was a lot harder for you than I was expecting. Seemed like most of the women I know didn't have to worry much after the surgery.

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  7. aaaahhhhhh, breathing with you. so glad for good results and a reassuring surgeon. that's great news!

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  8. Excellent, excellent news. I know the waiting to exhale part well; my wife had breast ca. I'm glad the weight has lifted.

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  9. I'm exhaling now, too, and I didn't even know I was holding my breath. But I am delighted and relieved that you can feel out from under the shadow of this--ready to turn your face to the sun.

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    1. Me and the sunflowers, always happiest with our faces to the sun. :-)

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  10. Glad to hear the good news. That sort of test is always nerve-racking, however likely a negative result may be.

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  11. such wonderful news!
    I love the way you weave your photos into your story.

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    1. Thank you. I saw the sunflowers as I was driving the day before and had to go back to get some photos of them - and then they just seemed to fit.

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  12. great news - looks like you are on the sunny side of the road.

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  13. So glad you are OK. I have to be tested yearly because I've had abnormals and know the relief of the 'all clear'.

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  14. I think too many of us can relate to the "all clear" feeling. So glad that you are okay! Such a relief I'm sure.

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    1. I think once you have had any sort of cancer, the "all clear" takes on an urgency.

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  15. With happy tears in my eyes I say Amen!
    I love sunflowers, your pictures are amazing.
    You know when I comment to your comment it doesn't go through:(

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    1. Thank you. Those sunflowers just begged to be photographed.

      I have no idea about the comment situation - it's a mystery to me.

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