Hi anyone still reading! Sorry I haven't written for a while.

The first month of survival has gone by now. I have to admit that I seem to have a perpetual smile going right now. I have been back to the chemo room a couple of times over the past month to get my medical port flushed (an action to prevent it from causing an infection). Each time I walked in I had a feeling of trepidation, but the chemo nurses greeted me with open arms and even a couple of kisses. Not bad!

Yesterday I had an appointment with Dr. S my chemo oncologist. She is still pleased with me and my response to treatment. I'm to get a CT scan within the next few weeks to check to see if anything might be coming back. Keep your fingers crossed. Unfortunately, I am still on Caumadin, the blood thinner. I really dislike the way it makes me feel. If asked what it does to me, I couldn't express it concisely. I only know it makes me feel yucky (how's that for a technical term!).

I have yet to gain any significant weight. I'm told that this is to be expected as my body continues to heel from the radiation treatment. I surmise that it took quite a while to get into this skinny state, so it will take a while to get the weight back. I'll keep eating though!

I feel better everyday and although still easily fatigued, I feel strength and stamina coming back on a daily basis. I have been cleared by Dr. S to do exercises and weight training. As such I will be able to take advantage of a fantastically generous and thoughtful gift my friend Jon E gave me. He has bought me 10 visits with a physical trainer. Wow!

So, even while I claim the survivor nomenclature, the battle still continues and I still am fighting and am looking forward to continued improvements in my physical (and hopefully mental) state.

Life is still good!