40 days or 40 years

Ron's biopsy was positive. The word is now official that the cancer has spread from his bladder via the blood stream. We expected this. He starts chemo on May 14th. The chemo cycle is three weeks, with chemo once a week for two weeks then one week off, during which time blood will be drawn for testing. There will be four of these cycles, and at the end of the 12 weeks, a CT scan will be done to determine if the chemo has deterred the spread.

As previously told to us by the doctor, this is not a cure. This cancer cannot be cured, cut out or eliminated. Chemo treatments are just that --- treatments which, with any luck at all, will keep the cancer in abeyance.

For how long in abeyance? We don't know. The doctor didn't offer his educated guess and we did not ask. It was an unspoken given that the first major round of chemo -- the four cycles of two weeks on/one week off -- will give us an idea as to the prognosis.

Ron continues to live his life as if he is 40 years old and will live another 40 years. This is how Ron always lives his life, whether he has cancer or not. He is doing exactly what he would do if he wasn't potentially on the brink of death in a few months. Tomorrow he's going to camp for four days, returning earlier than usual only because we have "chemo school" to attend Monday.

Now I don't believe that Ron is on the edge of death. I think that this cycle of chemo will be effective and probably the next cycle, whenever that is. I do think, though, that each successive cycle, whether it's one additional or two or three, will be less effective and we'll see the cancer spreading quicker each time. Of course since I don't know what I'm talking about, other than from a lay person's perspective and experience, I could be totally wrong. Whatever, today Ron is feeling great and you'd never know by looking at him that there are several hot spots of cancer in his body.

I've got a cold. Itchy sneezy nose, dry throat, and general blahs. Em has it also. I hope Ron doesn't catch it.

Tony's flu has flown away, and he's feeling much better. He went nine days without seeing Em so this week he has her every night into Saturday morning. He is such a good parent. He takes Em's attitudes and 3-year-old boldness in stride but directing it so that she doesn't go overboard. I am very proud of him.

Tomorrow night I meet "the girls" for supper at Applebee's in Glenmont. I put it out there that it would be really nice if we could do closer to my home than not, and they agreed.

Friday I have Ember. I think the rain will stop long enough for us to get some outdoor time. if not, I may take her to the Children's Museum in Saratoga Springs.

Saturday Michele and Tony have invited me to have lunch at Michele's house for Mother's Day. Each Mom's Day has been different ever since they returned from North Dakota. I'm very pleased to be spending time with them.

In between all this, I'll be cleaning, doing laundry and general puttering around. I haven't found the heart or desire to start spring cleaning. It may hit me or it may not. ::shrug:: The curtains can stay dusty until the fall if that's the way it goes. My house is cleaned regularly so spring cleaning doesn't do anything in particular that anybody would notice.

Weather - It's been chilly and damp. Of course, if we had 55 degree weather in January it would be warm, but with no sun and showers, 55 is unpleasant.