In Eight Steps to Happiness Geshe-la says "'Self' and 'other' are relative terms, rather like 'this mountain' and 'that mountain ... 'This' and 'that' therefore depend upon our point of reference. This is also true of self and other. By climbing down the mountain of self, it is possible to ascend the mountain of other, and thereby cherish others as much as we presently cherish ourself."

Friday, June 3, 2011

Re-Mission Accomplished

Last night my oncologist called me at home to give me my results:
My PET/CT scan showed nothing suspicious and my CA-125 is now 11.8 (where anything under 35 is normal). Hooray!
A few weeks ago I had a brain MRI, which was clear.
I'm now officially N.E.D. (no evidence of disease).
I was so happy I had trouble sleeping.

My doc had talked several times about giving me 2 other tests, but now thinks they're unnecessary.

This first (and let's hope only) recurrence has been a journey - from brain surgery last Oct and then targeted brain radiation; to a month of whole-brain radiation along with chemo (3 weeks on, 1 off); to 3 more months of "just" chemo.

My energy  even seems to be coming back faster than I thought it would, and I am feeling more like myself since I've been off chemo.

Thank you all for your support - it makes such a difference.
Thank you to Medicine Buddha and all his emanations. I am so grateful.

I want to tell you that there are easier ways to purify negative karma than cancer; personally, I like the practice of taking. I know a lot of practitioners are drawn to Vajrasattva. I am planning to attend Fall Festival to get a boost for that practice. I hope you can make it.

To celebrate my remission, I'm going to pass along one of my favorite jokes. You may or may not find it funny - it's from the quirky comedian Steven Wright.
"I plan to live forever . . . so far, so good."

Now to grow some hair ...

~M.