The Arizona Report, Part 2

I flew down to Tucson yesterday for a visit with the doctor I still consider MY doctor, Dr. Robert Livingston, who was my medical oncologist for eight years until he accepted a new position here in Tucson at the University of Arizona.

Before he left Seattle, Dr. L suggested that he continue to supervise my treatment and said that I could come and see him whenever I needed to. Today's appointment was the second time I've done this, and it was so worth it, and so necessary after my recent meltdown.

So during today's appointment, Dr. L listened to me cry and whine and bitch for almost an hour, with complete understanding and sympathy, and then he said that he thinks my disease is stable enough that I can take a break from treatment--WITHOUT DOING MYSELF ANY HARM!

This is such an incredible gift. I started to cry. It's been almost nine years since I was first diagnosed with breast cancer, and five and a half since my cancer metastasized, and I have not had a break from treatment since the metastases.

I've been so worn down, from treatment plus my recent diagnosis of a second cancer, melanoma, plus the side effects, including anemia, that really whacked me in the past couple of months.

So I cried (and smiled) all the way out of the cancer center. Then my friend Monica, who came with me from Seattle, and I went to a wine bar and sat outside (mid-90s, heavenly! and yes, I am wearing sunscreen) and drank a bottle of wine and ate a pizza. And I cried some more.

Then I came back to the hotel, exhausted by all the emotion, and read an entire book, the most amazing novel, "Woman at Point Zero," by the Egyptian novelist/doctor/feminist Nawal El Saadawi.

@ Jeanne Sather 2007.

Comments

[Jacqueline]

Stable?! AND a break from treatment?!
WOOHOOOOO!!!!!

[Sara]

YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY!!!!!!!

Enjoy.

[Jennifer]

Wonderful! Sounds like Dr. Livingston is more than worth the trip.

[Lynne Dahlborg]

Jeanne - What good news! I am so happy for you. Sounds like the travel took its toll, but, as you say, was well worth it. A Chemo Vacation. Yeaaaahh!

Keep us posted on your gardening. I am so envious that things are so far ahead of us here in Massachusetts. I'm hoping to feel well enough, and have weather dry enough, to plant my summer blooming bulbs soon. Today, we're having a monsoon!

Enjoy the chemo vacation. May it give you strength for some of the other challenges you are facing.

Lynne

[Jeanne]

Thanks, everyone, for the good wishes. I still can't quite believe that I get a break, as Lynne says, it will help me cope with the other big issues on the horizon.

And have more energy for blogging!

Jeanne