Today another trip to Johns Hopkins. First an appointment with the speech therapist, who says the difficulties I’m experiencing with eating and dry mouth are all related to lack of saliva. All hope is not yet gone–there is an acupuncturist who used to work as an oncologist we will be in touch with, and time has not yet run out on recovery of salivary gland function. Plus, it was very affirming for me to hear that the symptoms are real and have a source outside my own madness.
Then the really great news. We saw the radiation oncologist and the chemotherapy oncologist. They looked at the PET scan and into my throat with a laproscopic imaging device and they both feel that the tumor is gone, no activity! There is still healing/damage in the back of the throat, base of the tongue, bottom of the ear canal, and there is some scarring at the top of the lungs, but they don’t need to see me for six more months! It’s done! They feel confident that the cancer is gone!
And, we have crocus, forsythia, and daffodils blooming in the yard. Timing is everything.