What Happened to You, Tig?
Where'd you go?
CW: medical stuff including hospitals, diagnoses
The short version is that I got sick in March and I'm finally coming out the other side of it. Keep reading for the full story.
In March, I was diagnosed with multiple small pulmonary embolisms (blood clots in the lungs). I'd been concerned that my feet had been swelling since January, and had started walking more, but it was too little, too late, and I was hospitalized. Unfortunately for me, the CT scans showed more.
It took us a month to get an official diagnosis, but after some struggles with insurance and a biopsy, I was diagnosed with seminoma, a form of testicular cancer that had metastasized and attacked the lymphatic system in my torso. I received my diagnosis on a Thursday, and the following Monday, I was scheduled for my first hit of chemotherapy.
The treatment plan was originally four rounds of intense, short-term chemotherapy, which honestly wasn't that bad. It had its moments, but overall it was tolerable. Because it was testicular cancer, my cancer doc wanted a urologist on board, so we saw one who specialized in my diagnosis. He shortened my treatment to three rounds from four, and told me my case was unusual in a few ways.
I had my final episode of chemotherapy three weeks ago. I've been recovering since. I had originally thought that the extra time off from work would be a great time to work on my art or my writing, but the chemo played havoc with the skin on my hands, making holding a pencil rough, and mucked up my concentration, making writing a challenge. Even playing games has been a challenge. I've been going through chemo throughout May and June, and recovering all July.
Now I'm facing the leftover issues associated with my situation - we're on watch to see how the tumors are responding to the chemo (which has been very positive over the course of chemo), and are prepared to surgically remove them if they continue to expand post-chemo.
My recovery is going well. I can think clearly and my skin is clearing up. I'm feeling almost normal again. Knock on wood that the tumors just continue to shrink and we're done with treatment.
As for my creative outlets, I'd like to get back into things soon. I desperately wanted to write over the past few months, I just didn't have the energy or concentration for it. I wanted to sketch, but my fingers were on fire all the time. But now my extra time is starting to feel empty. It's time I got back to work on things I enjoy.
If you read all this, thanks. I should start being a tad more active from now on. While I'm not "cured" yet, I can see the light at the end of the tunnel.
Oh, and fuck cancer.
