Magic 8 Ball

I'm killing time here on my blog while I wait to head to Penn for a CT scan.  It was an abdominal CT scan that originally discovered cancer's attack on my liver on June 12, 2011, but for whatever reason my subsequent scans have been a bit cloudy.  Dr. Fox sort of insisted on this one, even though he admitted he'll take the results with a grain of salt.  My last two scans were in January and April.  Both of those were identical, showing only a trace amount of cancer in my liver.  I can tell you I expect today's result to be about the same.  Cancer in my liver makes me nauseous, and I am not nauseous.  My bilirubin numbers have been normal for nearly a year.  So do I still have cancer in my liver?  Hand me a Magic 8 Ball, it would probably be as effective, and $200 copay less, to ask it rather than endure that horrible white stuff I have to drink for 45 minutes.  Dr. Fox insists on occasional CT scans, but said I can put off the next one until 2013 if this one is fine.  I'm cranky because I'm thirsty and about to have my port accessed for the second time since Monday, and I'm thirsty, and I don't feel like driving to Penn again, and I'm thirsty, and not thrilled to be exposed to more radiation, and I'm thirsty.  But I trust my oncologist with everything that is in me, and if he says CT scan, I'll (choke) have it.  Followed by a couple quarts of water.  And later, my reward:  the glass of wine I'm allowed to have at my book club meeting tonight!

To update, I did ask Fox on Monday what would happen if I go into remission.  There are three possible answers, and I think for the most part I would have the choice to make.  First, I could choose to stay on the chemo, knowing it works in keeping the cancer away.  Second, I could choose to take a break from treatment of any kind.  Third, I could choose to take a hormonal pill.  Because I clearly didn't react well to Tamoxifen, I would have to go on a postmenopausal pill.  Which means I would need to be postmenopausal.  Dr. Fox can put me through menopause with a few months' worth of shots, apparently!  Yes, this is the way to go.  So if I hit remission, I'll have bionic menopause.  Should be interesting!

I have nothing else to report.  Oh yes, yesterday I took Jason to Hair Cuttery and now his hair is black, with the exception of a very few strands of blue left in the front.  It looks 100% better.  And he had "midterms" in summer school, got As in both classes.  Go Jason!  He's planning out his blog entry.