Latest Checkup
 

So I went to City of Hope (cancer center) for my quarterly scans and checkup. Normal routine. Blood work first, then a CT scan of my chest, then a checkup with my Oncologist. It's always a little nerve-wracking until the Onc says "all good". Yesterday, he said it again. Have to admit, I'll never get tired of him saying "all good". Sure beats the alternative, which I've heard once too many times in my life!

Anyway, he immediately followed up "However....." (Uh.....I don't do "howevers" :eek::notamused:). He went on to say my "liver counts" were elevated and showed signs of &*(_#^(_&*. Don't remember exactly what he said, but you get the idea. He said I've gained a few pounds and my liver is showing it. The fat is building up around the liver and affecting its effectiveness. He went on to say that I need to get it taken care of before it causes permanent damage. If I lose weight, he expects the liver numbers to come back down, too.

My bathroom scale read 240 this morning. I know it's low, but ignorance is bliss. I'm up 10 pounds since the end of my chemo just over a year ago. So, I got up this morning and got about 20 miles in and am sitting here eating Costco chicken, carrots and peaches. Guess I have to get serious about this. I don't like the sound of "permanent damage".

However, in the grand scheme of things, I guess having my Oncologist tell me to drop some weight is the best "bad news" he can deliver, considering he is well qualified to deliver MUCH worse news to people!

GMR 3 times a week will get your weight down! :D

:eek::eek:

Let's see. 168 hours in a week - that's 56 hours each climb. Nope, not enough time in the week for me to do GMR 3 times a week! :roflmao2:

It's all good. I have learned to like chicken.

The chicken's not the problem. It's the donuts and ice cream that I'll miss! :cry:

Happy to hear you got the best bad news an oncologist can tell you. If that makes any sense.

I like chicken also. Had it for supper tonight as a matter of fact. I'm glad the Doc said alls nearly well. I hope pounding a few more miles will take care of the issue. Best wishes from PA!

Mark Shuman

I'm having trouble with cookies and ice cream...it's my kryptonite no matter I try to "make up" and ride more.

Glad to hear you are in the clear, now schedule the next GMR meet up :p

Man, what an awesome excuse he gave you to be able to go ride your bike more. Now you have a doctor's excuse! :)

Congrats on the otherwise clean bill of health. Going through all of the post-cancer follow-ups with my mom. I understand your stress.

Congrats on your, uh, requirement to ride more.

Say, if your liver needs specific training, I'm here to help. I'm only half Irish but I embrace it!

:roflmao2:

COH is in Baldy's shadow. Wanted to go do it after my checkup. Two things stopped me. I had no bike with me and I had to go right to a sales call. Otherwise - I would have shattered records! :rolleyes:

During my treatement - I had never done it before, but many of my rooms had a good view of the mountain. Kept me "focused". Other rooms had a view of the 605. That was just depressing.

thats twice I heard the same excuse.....you need to see if Lynskey makes a Ti folding bike to keep in your trunk or large suitcase at all times;)

He drives a freaking FULL SIZED PICKUP!

Stick it in the back, punky brewster!

Congrats on the 'best bad news'

Now throw the bike in the back of the truck and drop Trojan Horse on GMR

TH may be onto something. Does drinking whiskey in excess burn off excess liver fat? :)

Also, are you on for Cool Breeze? It's about a month away.

I am waiting on more blood tests on some higher liver counts that my doc noticed at my physical a month ago. She had me go in for a ultrasound on my liver, the report was my live size was "grossly normal". Who uses grossly like that?

Any way I am still waiting to here back on the second round of blood tests. So I know the anticipation of an all clear message.

Good to hear the good news!

As for the liver I wonder what Doc would say as to affect chemo may have had on liver? medications are often metabolized in the liver making it work harder. My brother had serious health issues requiring lots of meds....his liver failed. He was not a drinker either.

Can't wait for next GMR ride

A MONTH AWAY???!!!!********** Uh....I guess there's another reason to get riding. I really want to. The best I can say right now is "I'll try". You doing it?

I know he watches me carefully and this is the first time he's been at all concerned. But yes, the residual effects of chemo can mess with a lot of stuff. I still have either no feeling or a constant ache in my toes. The ache is a new thing, so I think the neuropothy is finally starting to subside.

Yes. I signed up for Cool Breeze right after the Tour de Cure,

Man I'd drive around with that Lynskey Ti in the back of that truck, like some college kid toting around his dirt bike in his prerunner in the middle of summer :roflmao2:

I have severe neuropathy in my lower left leg and foot from spine/ spinal cord issues (I have a spine full of titanium implants). About the only thing that really helps mine is for me to be riding regularly. I have no idea how or why pedaling a bike helps, but it really does. Just one more side benefit of cycling, I guess.

Which route are you planning on?

Having only completed a metric, I am planning on riding the full century but my plans are always subject to change :)