Celebrating a Clean Cat- Scan-the Four Spots Are Gone.

To say I'm in a great mood doesn't even come close to how I am feeling today. I'll get more into my manic state later in this article but for now I need to give you some background information. I'm a lung cancer survivor of eight years this coming St. Patrick's Day. I usually get routine cat scans every six months unless they see something that looks suspicious. I have had my share of 'ify' scans in the past that have shown spots on my lungs. Thankfully the spots have always disappeared when I go for the follow-up scan. In December of 2011 I had one of those scary scans. The kind that makes you stop breathing. The scan revealed four spots on my right lung which is the lung that had a tumor in 2004. I had experienced one or two spots before but nothing like this. I sat there crying my eyes out as the oncologist tried to set up the follow-up cat scan. Those three months of waiting was really hard for me and my family. I prayed, cried and hoped the cancer had not come back. This past June was my re-scan and appointment with my doctor. I seldom bring my sister to these appointments but this was one time I needed her to be there for moral support. We needed to be together in case the news was bad. We screamed when the doctor announced that the four spots were completely gone. We celebrated the wonderful news by doing 'the happy dance.' My doctor said since I was coming up on eight years cancer free, I could choose either six months or one year for the next scan. I chose six months to be safe. We agreed if everything looked clear, I would graduate to yearly scans.

According to Medical News Today, the definition of Lung cancer is:

The uncontrolled growth of abnormal cells that start off in one or both lungs; usually in the cells that line the air passages. The abnormal cells do not develop into healthy lung tissue, they divide rapidly and form tumors.

It's typical for me to have a hard week when it's time for the dreaded cat scan because you never know what will happen. Being a cancer survivor means facing your mortality at a deeper level than most. As scary as it is, you learn an important lesson; to live every moment to the fullest and not take any day given to you, for granted.

I had the cat scan at 8:20 A.M yesterday. Afterwards, sis and I went out for our ritual breakfast to help build our confidence and get us through the tough week ahead. Time goes by slow as molasses when your waiting for the results appointment. I usually don't sleep much the next couple nights as my head goes over and over the 'what if's.' I had no idea the gift that was in store for me. A few hours after my scan, the phone rang. "Hi Linda, your scan has already been read and everything looks great." Your doctor knows how nervous you get waiting for the results and asked me to call." I told her how grateful I was and added, "God Bless you, you made my day."

The appointment with my oncologist is tomorrow morning, but this time, I won't walk in with fear and dread. I'm sure we'll be firming up my hard earned yearly cat scans. YIPPEE and what a St. Patrick's Day this is gonna be. Here's to the luck of the Irish and to a loving God.