happy cancerversary

I got the results of my last CAT Scan today.

We're cool.

Tomorrow, the 25th, is the two-year anniversary of my last radiation treatment. I should probably have some wise and wistful words to spout, but I'll just leave it at this: yayyyyyyy.

From here on the checkups are less regular. The next CAT Scan and blood work will be in January, but after that it varies which times I get a CAT Scan vs. just a chest X-ray vs. just blood work vs. any combination of those. That will go on for another five years, at which point I'm mostly safe, although I would still have checkups every few years.

I'm also considering joining the Cleveland Clinic's "4th Angel" program, which was started by ice skater/Ohio native/cancer survivor Scott Hamilton. It's a mentoring program that matches survivors with similarly-situated diagnosees (e.g. in my case, a 20-something male with Hodgkin's) who seek comfort and reassurance, have questions, and just want to talk with someone who has walked that path. It's all done over the phone, so they have Angels -- about 500 now -- across the country who help encourage and inspire newly-diagnosed cancer patients. Seeing as I'm doing so well, I think it would be rewarding and fulfilling to be a part of that team.