Saturday, January 22, 2011

Sit down and listen

So, they say this is a good idea, so I'll try it.  Where to begin, I guess where my life turned upside down and has never been the same, I guess it never will be.  I am on a road that has been well traveled by many, and they are my companions in this new journey through cancerland.
I remember the Dr calling my house right after I came in from having an ultrasound of my abdomen.  This ultrasound was ordered many months before I actually had it done.  It was to get a baseline view of my aorta because my Mom had an aneurysm. Of course I didn't think it was important so....I put it off, until I actually had to go see him and I knew he would want the test results.
His voice was so concerned, he told me to sit down,  they had called immediately to tell him that I had a large mass on my  left kidney.  His first question, "Didn't you have back pain",  my response was a simple one, all RN's have back pain.
The next month was a blur, testing, Dr visits, specialists etc.  In the end I was diagnosed with Renal Cell Carcinoma, stage 3, grade 2.   Signed up for the ASSURE trial, testing drugs to do research (so very important!) and dealing with a total life change.
This is my journey and I guess the Good Lord thinks I can deal with it, so I do, not very well sometimes, but I am doing it.

1 comment:

  1. I admire you more than ever Kathleen, I wouldn't trust myself to keep up a blog like this.
    I didn't know you were stage 3 grade 2 like me, don't think you are now are you? I need the rest of the story.
    Manuel's blog was so good, I wish there was a way it could be published or preserved.
    Love you,
    Helena.

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