dcnovice
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Joined: 8/2/2006
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June 1, 2016
From Worry to Wonder
Dear Ones ---
Shedding my work clothes last night, I felt a lump—my least favorite four-letter word—in my right armpit. It feels like a checker, and it creates a reddish “pitcher’s mound” I can see in the mirror.
As you can imagine, I was less than enthusiastic about this discovery. I knew it could be any number of things, but I also know that my history includes two kinds of cancer (the late, unlamented MiMA and my “indolent” lymphoma). Since the lump was in the area of the lymph nodes, it raised the possibility that the lymphoma was rousing itself.
Around nine p.m., I emailed my oncologist both to update him on the lung biopsy (now slated for Monday, June 6th, at 7:30 a.m.—my very own D-Day!) and to alert him to the lump. He responded in 30 minutes, saying “I could see you tomorrow.” The prompt response made me grateful—and a bit scared. I hadn’t realized it was quite that serious.
I called this morning and arranged a 10:30 appointment. (Veteran-patient tip: If you’re awaiting a crucial call from a hospital, step into the shower.) The doc examined me and wasn’t hugely worried, but he did send me down to radiology for a CT scan. The scan was a hospital hat trick, covering LiLL (lump in left lung), the probably fibrous mass above my right nipple, and the armpit lump. Not bad for a single IV stick! The tech was lovely, and I teased her about how the National Zoo’s cheetahs get treats when they’re perforated. Not that I especially craved a raw meatball.
I got to work around one and was determined to finish editing a story I should have wrapped up last week. It was a fine draft, but medical stuff has so hijacked my gray matter lately that concentration, never my forte, has been a real challenge. Despite being tired from two medical mornings in a row (yesterday’s was a wound center follow-up preceded by a 90-minute wait), I persevered and got it done. Cue studio audience to applaud.
Leaving the office just shy of seven, I went to a presentation by artist Angela Haseltine Pozzi, the creative spirit behind the new Washed Ashore: Art to Save the Sea exhibit here in town—17 stunning sculptures all made from plastic debris found on Oregon beaches. I was rewarded with a fascinating and blessedly uplifting hour. It was so cool to hear from someone who’d identified a problem close to my heart (the sorry state of our seas) and found a creative way to raise awareness of it.
The next trick—larger than the mid-Atlantic ridge—will be actually solving the problem. Haseltine Pozzi challenged us to find one way we could change our behavior as consumers. One possibility she suggested was going plastic-free on the next gift we give. Since I tend to give books, that’s feasible, though breaking my Scotch tape addiction will take some effort. I introduced myself to her afterwards, and she was thrilled about the article I'd edited about her work.
The smile broadened at tonight’s email from my oncologist. He still needs to confer with radiology, but his initial look at the scan was encouraging. He think the lump is likely irritated tissue rather than a tumor. Deo gratias!
And on that note, I’m calling it a night. Sweet dreams to us all!
Cheers,
DC
_____________________________
No matter how cynical you become,
it's never enough to keep up.
JANE WAGNER, THE SEARCH FOR SIGNS OF
INTELLIGENT LIFE IN THE UNIVERSE
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