Wednesday, April 6, 2011

"Good News"

I just got back from a post-operative follow-up with my newly acquired thoracic surgeon, who shall be forever known as Dr Cuteness.  The man looks like he literally stepped off the Grey's Anatomy set, or the cover of Cute Doctors Monthly.


Even my beloved seems to have developed a deep DoctorManCrush on the guy, even going so far as to Googlestalk him to see what he earned, his career history, where he was born, whether he was married, social security details, type of car he drove, all in the vain and pathetically desperate hope we might somehow be able to engineer a new friendship with him.   That's not weird is it?

But let's get back to business.

Good news!  I survived a major pericardial effusion,  the likes of which Dr Cuteness seems to think is some kind of medical miracle.  In his words, "I don't know how you're not dead". Because you saved my life Dr Cuteness.

Even better news! The major pericardial effusion was not caused by malignancy!

Probably some kind of infection, given the speed at which it took hold, but who really knows?

And that's the crazy world of cancer.  Where a suspected infection of the heart is GOOD news.

The kind of news that makes you want to break open a bottle of bubbly, go spend a lot of money on something really frivolous, go skydiving or bungee jumping, kiss your enemies, dance through the woods all Disney-like, frolic on a white sandy beach somewhere warm and tropical, get another dog,  count your blessings and find religion, give away all your worldly possessions to go live in that dream off-the-grid cabin on the side of a mountain somewhere, get that vintage Red Karmann Ghia, shout to the world your joy to be alive.

But wait, the BAD NEWS is you still have Stage IV breast cancer.

To hell with it.  Maybe I'll just do all that stuff anyway.

20 comments:

  1. a heart infection? AWESOME NEWS!!

    seriously though... i say pick one or two things off of your frivolous list and DO THEM! life is for the living, and you, my dear, are living. YAY!

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  2. My that's a lovely non-malignant pericardial effusion you're wearing, Mrs. Rachnel....

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  3. Love it - that pericardial effusion (or rather that you survived and it wasn't cancer) needs to be celebrated. I remember the intense joy I felt when they said I had arthritis at the age of 47 not bone mets. I think its hilarious how much our perception changes so that things like this are good or great news

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  4. Yahaay! Lovely post Anna! GET THE CAR!!!!

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  5. I never thought I'd be so excited to hear about a heart infection. You rock, sister!

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  6. Go frolic, and dance...drink wine 'till your dizzy..Whats a little heart infection know? YOU are a survivor from your head to your cute little toes! Such great news, I'm glad you shared...now, where can I find this Dr.Cuteness, I'm the SINGLE one, lol...
    LOVE YOU!

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  7. Oh, thank goodness it was NOT cancer!! Oy, girl!!

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  8. Love your list, and your result, Anna - and...it's like - John and George are still with us and the Beatles get back together solely to celebrate you and begin the gig with 'It's getting better all the time'. Followed by Mahatma Gandhi saying 'See, I told you to be the change you wish to see in the world!' And then Elvis, singing it's you. 'The wonder of you' xxx

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  9. LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this posting. Hooray for you: just a heart infection!! I agree with ChemoBabe that you should do some frivolous things. Why not? You earned it.

    Regarding Dr. Cuteness, WOW. Maybe his cuteness did heal your heart!

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  10. This is AWESOME. You just keep on rocking, girl. YOU. ARE. A. LIFE. FORCE.

    Hey, about Dr. Cuteness--we want pictures! I took pics of all my docs during my b/c adventure. He might be a little startled but I bet he'll do it. On the other hand, from what he sounds like he may have groupies and won't be startled at all ;)
    GREAT BIG HUG TO YOU!!!!
    -Jacks

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  11. Look you have to pick your battles with the Pink Mafia if you really want to make an impression. I agree that those I love Boobies and Save the Tatas paraphernalia are annoying especially when left in the hands of adolescent males but they speak for themselves. Most women will find them repulsive without you saying anying. Hit them with what you can. When Nancy Brinker is in public, she tends to give "feel good" answers rather than those of substance. Hit them wth that instead. Godspeed.

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  12. Yaaay! Hands up! I couldn't be happier for you. Please, please, please do something, anything on your list and then get right back here and tell us about it. Oh, and please stop scaring your Sherpas. We can take it, but we'd rather not have to.

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  13. Hooray for heart infections! (I can honestly say, I thought i'd never put these words together and actually mean it)

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  14. Wonderful news for you!!! I have said this before to you-your attitude is infectious and inspirational! So happy for you and to boot-a great looking doc to give you the news :)

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  15. That is great news! As a fellow metatastic survivor, I can certainly relate! I celebrate arthritis as not being bone mets. It's all your perpesctive.

    I can also relate on the cute doctor thing. I had a radiation oncologist who was hunky and caring.

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  16. Anna,
    Ditto to what everyone already said! I think even I've been smiling more after reading your post!

    Oh, and I'd vote for getting the second dog!!

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  17. So, so glad to hear your news! I read your post the day before my last echocardiogram and had panic attacks for the rest of the day!! things went well for me and now I hope they will continue for you!

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  18. Great news! Definitely do "that stuff" and keep up the fantastic blogging and work.

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  19. Whoo-Hoo! Tossing confetti and high-fiving the screen for you, darlin'!! (and I never in a million years thought I'd be saying that about someone's heart infection. cancer definitely changes things, that's for sure)...

    BTW, tell Dr. Cuteness that your pericardial effusion obviously did not KNOW who the heck it was messing with...

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