Updates and Big Date
- Troy Dvorak
- Dec 3, 2024
- 2 min read
Updated: Dec 5, 2024
December 3
It has been quite some time since I posted anything about the healing journey. The short story is that all my doctors and many who know me have been shocked by how quickly I have bounced back from, as mentioned in previous posts, a really hard and sometimes debilitating course of radiation. The side effects and negative impacts the doctors told me to expect have been largely absent. For that I am, obviously, grateful.
About 3 weeks ago, unfortunately, one of the negatives appeared, seemingly out of nowhere. I now have lymphedema in my neck. This is a chronic condition I will have to manage for the rest of my life (unless I continue to be an outlier and magically kick its ass). Basically, the lymphatic system in my neck got radiated to the point of not working very well anymore. In PT I learned that the lymphatic system pulls fluids out of tissue (maintaining the balance with blood bringing it in). Now that the nodes in my neck are compromised, that balance is gone, and fluid builds up.
I am learning techniques to help coax the system to remove the fluid. It needs my/exogenous help to do its job. It involves caressing and massaging my face, neck, shoulders, and chest. Ah, if only there was a pretty girl in my world. It would feel so much better if someone else (she) did it. I guess I'm just not sexy enough to get cranked up when I do this stuff myself. LOL! I guess that isn't the point...just sayin'!
Tomorrow, December 4, is the follow up PET/CT that will show if treatment eliminated the cancer or if it is still there. I am more nervous about this than anything since the initial diagnosis. Don't get me wrong! My attitude is unflappable. Cancer is still just something I have to do and nothing more. However, hope has crept in and is complicating my feelings. I really would love to announce tomorrow that I am cancer free but am ready for the alternative. If cancer is still there, I guess I have more to do. So be it.
Until tomorrow, I remain ever grateful for your support and love through this chapter of my life. As in the picture, I am calm, centered, and grounded (Halo's love helps!). I am okay.