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| Enjoying life on the 30,000 Island Cruise! |
So here is the latest. I seen Dr. Kanjeekal my medical oncologist this past week, and blood work was fine. We discussed my second opinion with Dr. Ramchandren in Detroit and also what they discussed between themselves.
I can say that after talking with Dr. Kanjeekal about the opinion of Dr. Ramchandren that I have an Allogenic stem cell transplant sometime in the near future, I have come to the conclusion that is is just too risky and now have to look at it as a quality of life issue. My discussion with Dr. Kanjeekal just reaffirmed my thoughts about what the transplant would do to me physically. I did however discuss going on the donor list for a stem cell match. I had the HLA blood test required to go on the list yesterday.
It had come down to, do I want to do the transplant and the risks associated with it to get a 50/50 shot at a cure or maybe ten more years of life, but with the physical pain that will come with that. Or, do I want to do the watch and wait, do chemotherapy as necessary and keep things at bay for two to three years or maybe longer as I am now, and not with the increased lasting pain of the transplant.
So I have decided on the latter and will do the watch and wait with chemo as necessary. I have already thought and researched this over the past year in the event it ever came to doing another transplant. So this is not a quick decision, but rather something that I have researched and thought out very, very carefully. I have also had conversations with all of my doctors about this.
So I shall do what Dr Kanjeekal suggested on my previous to last visit, and that is, "go enjoy life!" Not as simple as just that though because on a disability pension you just don't have enough left to travel, or do things at will. We will find things to do though that are enjoyable. I will keep entering contests, which has become a hobby for me as of late. I have won a few, but currently in a "dry" spell! I'm sure something I forgot about will pop up as win from a contest I entered and forgot about. Who knows there's always the lottery.
Did you know the most common name for significant lottery wins by males is Tim! So there, I already have an advantage that cuts down the odds. Yeah, I know big dreamer but you never know! Can't win if you don't have a ticket either.I do have the actual Million Dollar Bill pictured here. It's around somewhere, Brenda asked me one year what I wanted for either my birthday or Christmas and I replied, "a million dollars!" Well to my surprise I got that million dollars, non-negotiable of course.
Speaking of photos, the one at the top of Brenda and myself on the cruise was taken when we were up north on a getaway we took after my transplant and also just after Brenda's surgery. The trip was possible through Cottage Dreams Cancer Recovery Initiative. They have getaways all over Canada for cancer survivors and their families at no cost! You just have to get your own way to the cottage and buy your own groceries. They are a great organization doing great things for survivors
So as you can see by that, there is things you can do without costing you a lot of money, or in some cases nothing at all. You just have to search them out or ask. Never be afraid to ask, I've always said, "what's the worst someone can say? No. Your already at no!".
Just to add, as I said the van is gone to the scrap man, and we are in the process of working on a new vehicle, maybe by next week we can have something of our own to ride in. It has been through family and friends that we have currently been getting around and we thank you all for your help and assistance. It is very much appreciated. Besides, we've had Brenda's mom's car for most of the time, and that means she's grounded while we have it . The bingo halls are missing her and have been struggling since! A little humor there.
So I leave you with love and hugs no matter where you are in your journey.
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