June Update

I feel bad that I haven’t posted anything but updates lately (I have several posts waiting for revision when we get a rainy day), but I very much enjoyed the wonderful spring instead of spending time with my laptop. I thought another update was in order, however, since corrections are necessary after my consultation in New York.

The spectacular sunrise reflection as seen from my park-side hotel room, thanks to my generous dad. After seeing this I set my alarm for 5 am each morning to treat myself to the dawn views.

I was a little doubtful about the scan report I wrote about last time, since it indicated that my tumours had, contrary to all expectations, pretty much disappeared. Another radiologist has since looked at those scans and seen multiple tumours of various sizes as before, some shrinking a little, some growing a bit. This reading is much more in line with what I was feeling in my body as well as what everyone thought would happen. I’m not sure why the scan was so misread the first time, though I know I was given only two of the three prescribed contrasting drinks before the scan, since the technicians somehow forgot one. In any case, the revised reading makes much more sense. It is also more aligned with the scan I had done last week, which shows similar masses.

I have decided to take a break from chemo with the NY specialist’s advice. Hopefully I will get a couple of months without too much disease progression before having to make more decisions about treatment. I really don’t enjoy time spent thinking, writing, or talking about this disease or how to treat it—nor time in treatment. So now I will go back to spending precious time with my dear loved ones as well as enjoying my garden and taking photos of the flowers. You can see what I’ve been looking at on my instagram page.

One of the beautiful daisies Cheryl, Roy’s ex, gave me—one of so many kind gifts I have received from her.

I was so fortunate to feel well enough to enjoy this recent trip to New York, unlike the previous two for medical consultations. This was a real vacation, with lots of walking through Central Park and the art museums and galleries with Roy. Since art and nature are two of my favourite things, I was very happy! The weather was also spectacular, so we enjoyed our porridge (there was a healthful take-out restaurant right on the corner) by the lovely lagoon in the park every morning.

We also saw Swan Lake from the second row at the Metropolitan Opera House! And some inspiring work at the MoMA! And an exhibition of Jenny Saville’s huge, fleshy paintings! (I once wrote a paper on her for a contemporary art history class, so I was delighted to happen upon this show in Chelsea.) Plus we enjoyed a relaxed Saturday afternoon lying on the lawns of Washington Square Park, where I was so happy to see young people reading books, and a day wandering Brooklyn. So many highlights to this trip!

Passersby and young women reading in Washington Square Park on a sunny Saturday afternoon.