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Castle Point Court
Glen Allen, VA 23060
8045025506
Garth Callaghan
Napkin Notes Dad
Author
Speaker
Awesome
The Napkin Notes Blog
It's not everyday you see this response from a doctor after he reads your MRI report:
"Kick ass man. That is awesome!"
This is the same doctor that has long conversations with me about God and his plan for me.
I picture him walking through the halls with a stethoscope around his neck, a sword in one hand and a bible in the other.
I'm in great hands!
OK - really, it's GREAT news, but I wanted to undersell it. Of you don't read to the end, that's ok, but please SHARE this post so I can reach other cancer warriors!
My MRI was last Wednesday and my follow up appointment isn’t until this upcoming Thursday. That’s an awfully long time for a cancer warrior to wait for results, but I have waited longer. I fully admit I get a little edgy while waiting. I am more likely to be sarcastic (how can anyone tell?!?) and short tempered. Even my dreams take a hard turn and I dream of some funky things as I wait.
See previous post about the MRI and side effects here: http://www.napkinnotesdad.com/blog/2014/5/28/the-waiting-game
I prefer to get results as I exit the machine, but I know that isn’t realistic. We’re not just looking to see what’s currently in my body. The good doctors need to compare the new images to the previous images and look for changes.
Thanks to modern technology, my medical app alerted me to an update in the system. “You have a new message! Please go to the app to view your message.”
What could that be?!? Wow! I was getting the results from my MRI before I even had a chance to hear from my doctor. In fact, the message had come in while I was asleep. I opened the app even before I left my bed.
Reason: renal cancer metastic hx of prostate cancer evaluate adrenal and liver lesions
INDICATION: renal cancer metastatic hx of prostate cancer evaluate adrenal and liver lesions
FINDINGS:
There has been significant improvement in the multiple enhancing lesions during arterial phase imaging in the liver. Many of the lesions are no longer evident. There are 2 lesions in the right lobe of the liver segment 6 which are smaller in size measuring 1.4 x 1 cm and previously measured 3 x 2.3 cm and measuring 1.3 x 1 cm and previously measuring 1.7 x 1.5 cm.
Overall size of the left lobe appears slightly smaller... No obvious filling defects are identified in the gallbladder although CT demonstrated suspicion of gallstones.. The spleen is normal. The pancreas is normal.
The tiny nodule in the right adrenal gland is no longer evident. Patient status post left adrenalectomy and left nephrectomy. Postop seroma is smaller.. Right kidney is within normal limits..
IMPRESSION:
1. Significant improvement in the hyperenhancing lesions in the liver many of which are no longer identified. The 2 which are still visible in the right lobe are smaller.
2. The 7 mm right adrenal nodule is not identified on today's study.
3. Postoperative seroma left adrenal bed is smaller.
Let me sum this up.
WHACK! We’re winning!
The lesion on my adrenal gland isn’t seen. This is the second scan that we couldn’t find this.
The lesions we had originally observed on my liver numbered from 3-5. We couldn’t tell exactly how many. There are just two now. Those two are significantly smaller. In case you didn’t know, this is where all guys appreciate that smaller is better!
Yes, I’ll likely continue taking this medicine. Scratch that. I will continue to take this medicine. We can hold on to Plan B (and Plans C through Z) for later. I’ll have another scan at the end of summer.
These results make taking this medicine worth it! Thank goodness!
Until then, let’s celebrate this win together. Will you please share this post? I want to reach as many cancer patients as possible. We need to stick together and support each other.
WHACK!
Again, thank you for joining me on this journey.
I sit in the waiting room of St. Mary's. I have been here before, but it doesn't quite feel like "home." I haven't had any food for 6 hours and I am starting to get just a little cranky. I am definitely dehydrated. I have a short, 45 minute appointment ahead of me.
I am waiting for my MRI, a scan that will show me what is going on inside of my abdomen. I am slightly anxious. I had cancer lesions on my liver and adrenal gland. We need to see what's happening today. I just want to get this over with so I can go home, eat, and take my meds. It will be some time until I have my results. I just want this process to be finished. I need some sleep.
It's been some time since I have posted something besides my daily Napkin Note. I started to receive some emails and calls a couple of weeks ago from kind souls asking if I was ok. I am ok. I have some good days and I have some bad days. Overall, I am not feeling fantastic. I started a drug therapy program in February that is frankly kicking my butt. It's a great drug, and the leading indication is that it is killing the cancer. I knew it wasn't going to be an easy ride. The side effects are somewhat problematic:
I am thankful, yes, thankful to be taking this medicine. It represents the best possible chance for me to beat cancer. It certainly comes with some challenges. I'll take them each and every day.
Someone asked me if this was chemo. It's not. Technically, it's not anywhere close to chemo. However, it's easy to say that it's "like chemo" except that I take this every day, and I don't really get a break. I don't experience all of the side effects at the same time, but I certainly am plagued with some of the tougher ones.
I may take this for the rest of my life. Think about that for a second before you move on.
I may take this for the rest of my life. What would you do? You'd take the darned medicine. Give your body a chance to win! Live! Raise your kids! Change the world!
What would you do to live?
This, this is what I do. Medically, it's what I'll likely do for the rest of my life.
And through this chaos of medicine and side effects, I'll take a breath. I'll pack Emma's lunch. I'll write a Napkin Note. I'll connect with her one more time.
Pack. Write. Connect.
Napkin Note:
Dear Emma, Be the type of person that makes everyone you come across feel perfectly ok with being exactly who they are.
Love, Dad
Pack. Write. Connect.
Special thanks to Julie Frary Keough for the inspiration!
Special thanks to my new friend, Joel, and his daughter for this inspiration!
Pack. Write. Connect.
A flower does not think of competing to the flower next to it. It just blooms. Love, Dad
Pack. Write. Connect.
I was introduced to Rachel Macy Stafford, the Hands Free Mama, through a blog post, "Six Words You Should Say Today" and developed a deep appreciation for her parenting style. I also immediately started using her phrase, "I love to watch you play" whenever I could. Those words make a difference in my life, and I hope they make a difference for Emma, too.
I added a new phrase to my tool bag this week. Coincidentally, there are six words in this new phrase. I will say this phrase over and over.
Emma was at a sleepover with one of her softball teams. I was excited for her. This team is made up of incredibly talented girls who are also the best sports in the league. Everyone is lifted higher during their games, even the spectators.
We were warned that the house had a few animals, and Emma can have reactions from time to time. It could be a long night. As luck would have it, Emma was having some trouble early in the evening, and we collectively decided that it would be a better idea for Emma to come home.
I left our house at 10 PM to go fetch her. I was tired. It had been a long day and I am usually asleep by 10 PM on a normal day. Honestly, my meds are kicking my butt, and rest is important, but not as important as my daughter. I drove the 25 minutes, in the dark, without a single thought of my fatigue. I was happy to make this trip.
Emma hopped into my truck as I asked if she was ok. She replied, "I'd never make it the whole night. Thank you for coming to get me."
I looked her in the eye and simply said, "I will always come get you." She kind of nodded her head, and I repeated it. "I will always come get you." She thought that I believed she didn't hear me, and she acknowledged my statement. I knew she heard me, but I needed her to listen to me.
"I will always come get you."
I held her hand for a moment and let her internalize what I meant. She slowly nodded as she understood. She smiled.
I then listed some of the reasons why I might need to come get her: a flat tire, a bad date, homesickness, or even a friend that had too much to drink and shouldn't get behind the wheel ...
"I will always come get you."
I am your dad, and I will be there. Call me, no questions asked, at least until your home safely. I will never say "no."
