I managed to get back in the pool today, for the first time since I began this whole cancer adventure.  I’m at the Sheraton in Toronto, and on a cold & rainy Saturday, the pool was abuzz with a cacophany of children.  I “mind over matter”ed my way through six lengths of the pool, and was only kicked in the head once by a seven-year-old.  (There were designated lap lanes, but neither beach balls nor small boys are all that adept at respecting arbitrary boundaries. 🙂 )

I will be starting radiation therapy the week after March break.  By the way, Dr. A. rocks!!  Even though she was away on holidays, she emailed me when she heard from the lymphoma specialist at PMH.  She wanted to let me know that  a decision had been made and that she could begin my treatment after the break.  That way, I could come on this trip without worrying.  What a kind and thoughtful thing to do!

So here I am, knowing that I have another round of arduous (albeit hopefully far milder than chemo) treatment to get through. With that in mind, I am planning to thoroughly enjoy my time in Toronto.

Dinner reservations tonight were my responsibility, so we’re going to an upscale restaurant in Yorkville that specializes in CHOCOLATE.  ML, I wish you were here with us!  (They’ll do everything nut-free if you notify them ahead of time.)  Someday, my dear, you and I are going there for afternoon tea, which is supposed to be rather extraordinary.  Hmmm. . .  I think I’ll start saving my airmiles. . .

After dinner tonight, I plan to visit with all the Toronto friends who have sent me cards on a regular basis throughout the past long months.  It has been far too long since I have seen them, and they are all wildly busy.  I’m going to cherish every moment that we can steal together.

On that note, I had better go wash the chlorine from my hair sprouts and get all “dolled up”.  I’m going to wear the bracelet that LA brought me from Chile.  I’ll be having dinner with her husband tonight, but oh, how I wish she were here too.

I’m sending love and chocolate wishes to each of the amazing people in my life.  I wish I were better at telling you how much I love you. ( On that topic, Karrie, as soon as I’m done with radiation, I’m coming to school.  You have no idea how much I have missed you and that beautiful smile.)

xoxoxo!!

Long, long ago in a far distant land (okay, it was only seven months ago and a seven minute drive, but who’s counting?), I was referred to Dr. A., a radiation oncologist.  My surgeon called her about me, and my family doctor wrote her a letter.  An administrative underling at the cancer clinic (not Dr. A herself) decided that she was too busy to see me, so I was given an appointment with Dr. R, who decided against radiation therapy for me because I have lupus.

Now, however, because of the poor prognostic factors associated with my tumor (both CD43 expression and MYC trisomy 8), Dr. L referred me to Dr. A to once again discuss radiation.

I saw Dr. A today, and she seemed wonderful.  She is clearly far more experienced than Dr. R., who is very nice but also very young and new.  (He began his practice just last July.)  Dr. A believes it is reasonable to do 20 radiation treatments, in the hope that we can keep my lymphoma from recurring.  However, because she didn’t want to step on Dr. R’s toes, she called him to discuss my case.  Dr. R continues to be opposed to treating me with radiation.  Ultimately, Dr. A suggested that they defer the decision to a lymphoma specialist at Princess Margaret Hospital in Toronto.  Dr. R agreed to that solution.

So the waiting begins anew.  I have complete confidence in Dr A, and will abide by her decision.  I just hate the limbo part.  It’s always better to have a plan.  Unfortunately, both Dr. A and I are going out of town for the next little while, so nothing is going to happen quickly.  Ah well, to quote Doris Day and my friend Sandy, “whatever will be will be”.  And whatever that is, I’ll keep you posted!