Super Quick Doctor Report

I had my last check-in with the radiation oncologist (I had to leave Loudoun at 2:00 in the afternoon to go all the way into Arlington, stopped on the way home and changed into clean clothes so as to make a good impression).  First I had to fill out a form listing all my complaints (none) and all my side effects (none) and all my concerns (none).  Then he came in and told me that my treatment had been 100% on target, perfect in every way, they didn't touch anything that was nearby, and everything went exactly as planned. He showed me the pictures, saying that they wouldn't mean anything to me (true) but he was so pleased that he had to show me the textbook-level images.

Then he very seriously told me that the odds of my having any sort of relapse are less than 1%. He said I will die of something other than endometrial cancer.  He also said that it is the most common reproductive cancer there is -- and people do die of it -- but this treatment of surgery and radiation is so effective that almost everyone survives.

Before we said goodbye, he said " I see a lot of sick people. You are not one." And he gave me a hug and went back to his sick people.

My next encounter will be with Dr. Singh in August and she will actually take a look around and see if everything looks good.

I told the radiation doctor that I have not felt like a patient for two months now, and in fact I did not feel like a patient on the day I last walked out of the radiology lab.  I know how fortunate I am, and I don't know how I got so lucky, but I am not going to waste this reprieve.  I know better.

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