2nd Medical Oncology Report/Updated 2:15 PM

December 2nd was my second follow-up with Dr. C; I went to it knowing all is not well.  Good as always my blood pressure, heart and lungs are terrific.  What's not up to par is the constant rash all over my body which no amount or type of anti-itch product helps.  Also the swelling from my kneecaps to the tips of my toes is not abating and the pressure from it makes my bones/joints feel deeply bruised and the skin to itch, too. Many times I cannot get any footwear on.  Most days I need to use my anti-nausea pills.  The biggest issue is my poor blood test results; they are now 3 points lower since November 11th.  Being tired, short of breath and bones hurting are daily things to cope with; also this cold weather affects me terribly.

Dr. C has no idea why these things, especially the blood issues, are occurring and doesn't think they they're related to my cancer treatment/recovery; however she did say the PET scan will give a better idea if she's right.  So at this point she won't transfuse me and referred me to an internist.

Frankly I'm frustrated with that.  I never had any of these things until cancer/treatment.  I firmly believe the rash is directly related to poor blood counts; after all, I began getting a serious rash when I was bleeding and after transfusions the rash began to go away.  For that matter I think my body is just screaming out loud for a normal blood level; something it hasn't had in most likely nearly 2 years, and for certain a minimum of 1 year!  I was bombarded with many huge doses of radiation only because my monster couldn't be surgically removed; this means it's aftereffects are coursing through my body, using up blood resources to heal me.  It's my belief that if I was given 3 to 4 transfusions my body would begin to heal faster.....but I'm not the doctor.

This I do know:  God's Word tells me "Ye have not because ye ask not".........my PET scan is December 7th, the results will be ready in a couple of days from that and I plan to ask on the 10th what the results are instead of waiting until the 15th when I'm scheduled to see Dr. B.  Today I will make an appointment with the internist as it may take awhile to get in and can be canceled if the PET scan shows answers.

Lastly, I also need to make an appointment for my first post-treatment PAP, I'll need these every 3 months for the next 2 years. Having these exams would not even be possible were it not for something I've been required to do which until now I've not mentioned to you.  Again, cervical cancer is not for the squeamish folks so please bear with me because this part of treatment is of vital importance and I would be remiss to not mention it simply because of embarrassment.  In order to be able to do a female pelvic exam, including PAPs, the woman's body requires a proper opening.  Pelvic cancer radiation alters the woman's physical landscape in that area.  Those alterations are internal and may also somewhat affect the external area.  Severe shrinking and scarring take place.  After my treatments, without a means to stretch my tissues my pelvic opening was sealing closed, so Dr. B ordered, and I do mean ordered, me to use a medical dilator daily to prevent closure.  Apparently great numbers of women refuse to do this for whatever reasons and the result is exams (and yes, sexual relations) are no longer possible, there is no surgery to correct this condition.  My goal is to stay alive and if exams cannot be done just because I might have been embarrassed to use this solid plastic cylinder then if another monster attacks me how would I be able to fight it?  For More Info On This Medical Device  (Well I think we got through that without anyone fainting, eh?)

So that's the current report, just remember as do I that life still holds immeasurable daily blessings.  We've now entered into the Christmas season and knowing I have the gift of salvation for eternity makes this journey less bumpy to make.  Even though I'm physically weaker right now the fact is I've never been spiritually stronger!

If ever there is tomorrow when we’re not together.. there is something you must always remember. You are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think. But the most important thing is, even if we’re apart.. I’ll always be with you.
-- Winnie the Pooh

Update:  My PET scan has been canceled, the government needs to approve MY NEED for having it!  Here's where the glitch supposedly came into play:  the imaging office needed to be told 2 weeks in advance that I had medicaid coverage (my type of medicaid is ONLY good for any medical tests/treatments/procedures/follow-up care directly related to my monster).  Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr, this appointment was made over 2 weeks ago and, ummmmm, it was clearly in my records at the imaging office that I have medicaid.  Here's the rest of the story:  It will most likely take medicaid 20 days to approve this vital procedure. By then of course it will be Christmas/New Year's time and most likely I won't get an appointment until after those holidays.  I was willing to wait for answers until the 10th of December but I will not wait longer....in the past all that waiting only ended up with me in critical condition and that's not happening again.