technical update: good news

My oncologist somehow materialized from the stratosphere bright eyed and bushy tailed, and having read the CT, told me that what we had seen was likely dead tumor mass. It apparently can take some time for dead tissue to be cleared away, even after tumor markers fall. So there is no change in the treatment plan, which means the cycle happening Feb 19-20-21 at Stanford will be (fingers crossed, holy water sprinkled, baruchas said, offerings burnt, voodoo dolls poked, vestal virgins... um...) the end of it! And the best news is that I still have an excuse to have a little pot belly, at least for now. I am also thrilled to say that my PICC line (the plastic tubing which has been sticking out of my arm for the past three and a half months) was finally removed, and I have been taking normal showers, unencumbered by plastic wrap and stress about having to keep my dressing dry. Just standing in the shower, under the running water, is an incredible pleasure. Hot tub, here I come! Despite all sorts of continuing and strange body issues caused by the chemo, I am ecstatic with each baby step back toward normalcy.