I had the first of many follow up appointments with my oncologist.
He is still happy with how well I did with chemo. He ordered a PET scan for next week, with another follow up after. If my scan is clear, I'll officially be in remission! Then I'll have to go in every three months for the next two years. If I stay cancer-free, it will go to every six months for another three years, and once a year from then on. He's pretty sure I can be considered cured if I go five years without any sign of it returning.
He gave me the okay for travel, and if everything looks good after the scan, we can plan to have my chemo port removed.
It's not over. I have to be vigilant about keeping my appointments and paying attention to signs of a possible relapse. I have no idea what will happen if anything shows up in the scan, but I don't want to think about that. My oncologist and his nurses/PAs are optimistic, and that assures me.
He is still happy with how well I did with chemo. He ordered a PET scan for next week, with another follow up after. If my scan is clear, I'll officially be in remission! Then I'll have to go in every three months for the next two years. If I stay cancer-free, it will go to every six months for another three years, and once a year from then on. He's pretty sure I can be considered cured if I go five years without any sign of it returning.
He gave me the okay for travel, and if everything looks good after the scan, we can plan to have my chemo port removed.
It's not over. I have to be vigilant about keeping my appointments and paying attention to signs of a possible relapse. I have no idea what will happen if anything shows up in the scan, but I don't want to think about that. My oncologist and his nurses/PAs are optimistic, and that assures me.