Substantial and Gratifying

During our time in Cancer Club, we've consistently had to wrap our heads around the brittle and dry terminology of all the various test reports. Blood tests, MRIs, PET scans, and more, all presented to us in a very professional, clipped and to-the-point manner. It's a weird, very distanced way to receive news that tends to be literally life and death.

So when we got the report from Karen's PET scan from this past Monday, we were struck by the comparatively effusive language it used. "Substantial and gratifying response to therapy." And it goes on from that relatively gushy beginning to explain that there is essentially no cancer currently taking up space inside Karen.

This is about as fantastic a result as we could have hoped for. Two months in with the Zykadia and it is kicking major cancer ass. So the big question--which we are disinclined to ask right now--is how long will it last. But since we AREN'T asking, we're just going to enjoy the relative normalcy we've got going on at the moment. Karen's shoulders and arms continue to hurt pretty much all the time but her energy is better and she's generally feeling quite well. So, hooray and all that.

Quick Note: Karen wants to thank everyone for their kind thoughts and their prayers. She is certain that they have helped her throughout this ordeal. Hellbound infidel that I am, I'm more than a wee bit skeptical that they've really made an impact but I can say that the support they represent and the caring they clearly convey has been a boon to us all and has made the last 22 months infinitely more bearable than we ever thought they'd be.

So thanks! You're awesome!

No really...you are!