All Seems Well (... but let's check that liver)

Thursday - October 3, 2013

Today's check-in with my oncologist meant a noon visit to the UCSF clinic in the city.  Having juggled my schedule with very supportive colleagues, I left my students with familiar teachers rather than a substitute and got in the car at 11 to head south down the 101.  Many positives came to mind as I headed in for this let's-hope-it's-banal visit:

• I am feeling just fine.  No symptoms  prompted this trip.
• This commute is even closer than that familiar trek to VCU - and of course - I reap the happiness that comes from traversing the Golden Gate, viewing the crystal clear city from the Marin Headlands, and taking in the great architecture as I head up to Parnassus Heights.
• Every month ... week ... day! ... that passes without relapse brings me a bit more hope that this dread lymphoma might have proven defeatable or might be banished once again if it does indeed recur.

So, my port is now newly flushed on both sides, my vitals are confirmed as normal, no lymph nodes are palpable and worrisome, and my blood work shows... - RATS!  Again, a small blip on the health radar screen.  Those pesky liver enzymes continue their downward trend but remain elevated.  Yes they are on the decline but they have not returned to normal after last autumn's 2 rounds of high-dose methotrexate.  Just to be sure that my liver inflammation is methotrexate-induced and not a symptom of anything else, my oncologist is referring me for a liver ultrasound and follow-up with a specialist. This procedure will be scheduled for my next scan day:  on Oct. 21, I will be getting my next PET and MRI scans as well as this liver ultrasound.  It will be a full medical day :)

In anticipation of those scans, we discussed possible options IF the scans continue to be clear.  At that point, I may go to scans every 6 months and will have the option of having my port removed.  Hmmmm.... my love / hate relationship with the port continues. Yes, I want it OUT.  Who wants a foreign object in their body with a direct link to your aorta?  However, once it's out, I cannot imagine how devastating it would be to have to get it reimplanted for treatment in case of a relapse.  Relapse made real.  I need to think this option through carefully.... but let's get another clean scan first.