Quick Update

First of all, I want to express my most sincere appreciation for all of the positive thoughts, energy and prayers for me. Not only was it a great comfort to me, but it worked out better than I could have expected…no surgery! I was completely prepped for surgery and waiting to meet the surgeon, (since we live so far away and the limiting of office visits due to covid, the surgeon agreed to postpone meeting me until the day of surgery), when he came in to feel the lump in my neck for the first time. It is relatively small, about the size of an almond nestled back behind the juggler vein on the left side of my neck. After reviewing my history of ultrasounds and CAT scans which confirmed my account that it did not seem to be growing, he said that while he would remove the lump for biopsy if I wanted, but that it would be “good medicine” to not do surgery if not absolutely necessary—I agree! With some added caveats: That I have another ultrasound as soon as we return from Mexico, that I continue to monitor/measure yearly by ultrasound, and that if there are any changes, growth, or additional lumps that I come back right away to discuss surgery again. The surgeon is comfortable in saying that if my lump has not changed or grown significantly in a year’s time, while it is abnormal it is not cancerous because cancer always grows. I plan to follow doctor’s orders; however, I am confident of continuing a healthy and cancer-free life. I am writing this from Mexico and will be posting another one soon recounting our latest stories and adventures, but I didn’t want to wait any longer to voice my good news and appreciation.